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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 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WCU | JMU | ||
| Location | West Chester, PA | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 17,076 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #532 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcupa.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,716 | $7,914 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $19,290 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,474 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,684 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $5,503 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 70% | 81% |
Admission |
WCU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 16,467 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 13,042 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 79.2% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.7% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.43 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 24/28 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1100/1270 | 1170/1320 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
WCU | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 17:1 | ||
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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 | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 5% | ||
| 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 | 13% | 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 (22,758 students vs. 17,076 students)
WCU vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or JMU?
- James Madison University is 2.6% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($7,914.00 vs. $7,716.00)
- Out of state tuition is 30.3% higher at JMU than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($25,128.00 vs. $19,290.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than JMU ($21,684 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 0.9% lower than costs at James Madison University ($12,474 vs. $12,584)
- More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (81% vs. 70%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by West Chester University of Pennsylvania students is 23.5% larger than aid received James Madison University ($5,503 vs. $4,456)
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 (79.2%) than JMU (76.2%)
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/