WCU vs. JMU

Deciding between West Chester University of Pennsylvania and James Madison University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

West Chester University of Pennsylvania
James Madison University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WCU West Chester, PA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • WCU Large Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • WCU 17,171
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WCU #505
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WCU -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • WCU Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WCU
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WCU $10,775
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WCU $22,599
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • WCU $14,828
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • WCU $22,546
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WCU $5,709
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WCU 73%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WCU 17,193
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • WCU 13,479
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WCU 78.4%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • WCU 22.4%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WCU 1190
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • WCU 26
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • WCU 3.43
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WCU B+
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WCU Average
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • WCU
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • WCU 24/28
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • WCU 1100/1270
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WCU Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WCU
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WCU 20:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WCU
    • Business (16%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WCU 68%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WCU $49,000
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WCU 75%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WCU $23,500
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WCU $242
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WCU 40%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • WCU 60%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WCU Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • WCU No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • WCU 78%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • WCU 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • WCU 11%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • WCU 5%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • WCU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WCU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WCU 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • WCU 0%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WCU 0%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WCU 86%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WCU 13%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • WCU Yes
  • JMU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • WCU No
  • JMU No
  • Meal Plan
  • WCU Yes
  • JMU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • WCU No
  • JMU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • WCU No
  • JMU No

Comparable Facts

Compare West Chester University of Pennsylvania in West Chester, PA with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

James Madison University is larger than WCU based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 17,171 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania is located in West Chester, PA (Large Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: West Chester University of Pennsylvania 20:1; James Madison University 17:1.

WCU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU or JMU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than WCU ($18,856 vs. $22,546).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 12% lower than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($13,056 vs. $14,828).
  • James Madison University is 32.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $3,475 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $10,775.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 39.8% higher at JMU than at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (about $9,005 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $22,599.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than at James Madison University (73% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 112.2% larger than aid received by West Chester University of Pennsylvania students ($12,114 vs. $5,709).

WCU vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WCU or JMU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between JMU and WCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 70 points higher than at WCU (1190).
  • Incoming WCU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 26) as students at JMU (26).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: West Chester University of Pennsylvania 1100/1270; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: West Chester University of Pennsylvania 24/28; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WCU - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at WCU (3.43).
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (78.4%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.4% at WCU vs. 18.2% at JMU.

WCU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WCU and JMU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • James Madison University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than West Chester University of Pennsylvania's (68%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $11,300 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $2,601 lower median loan debt than WCU graduates ($20,899 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WCU graduates ($216 vs. $242).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.