Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU Old Dominion Temple Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Elon| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WCU | JMU | ||
| Location | West Chester, PA | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 17,275 | 22,224 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #496 | #260 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcupa.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,716 | $7,684 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $19,290 | $24,744 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,228 | $12,040 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,973 | $18,274 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,443 | $10,081 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 64% | 33% |
Admission |
WCU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,778 | 30,727 | ||
| Admitted | 12,982 | 24,062 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.8% | 78.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.2% | 20.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.43 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/30 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1080/1260 | 1140/1320 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
WCU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
WCU | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 68% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,000 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 75% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,500 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $242 | $216 |
Diversity |
WCU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 0% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 3% |
Students |
WCU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 87% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 12% | 26% | ||
Campus |
WCU | JMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- James Madison University is larger than than WCU based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 17,275 students)
WCU vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or JMU?
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania is 0.4% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $7,684.00)
- Out of state tuition is 28.3% higher at JMU than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($24,744.00 vs. $19,290.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than WCU ($18,274 vs. $22,973)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 18.2% lower than costs at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($12,040 vs. $14,228)
- More students receive financial grant aid at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than James Madison University (64% vs. 33%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 85.2% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($10,081 vs. $5,443)
WCU vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, WCU or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or WCU .
- The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 62 points higher than at WCU (1072)
- Incoming JMU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WCU (24)
- 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 (87.8%) than JMU (78.3%)
WCU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, WCU or JMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between JMU and WCU.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (81% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $11,300 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $49,000)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $2,601 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $23,500)
- JMU graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans 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/