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Mason Virginia Tech VCU ECU UVA CNU ASU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Elon| Western Carolina University | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
WCU | JMU | ||
| Location | Cullowhee, NC | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 11,635 | 22,224 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #763 | #260 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wcu.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
WCU | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,000 | $7,684 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $5,000 | $24,744 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,173 | $12,040 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,022 | $18,274 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,526 | $10,081 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 33% |
Admission |
WCU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,917 | 30,727 | ||
| Admitted | 15,201 | 24,062 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 84.8% | 78.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12.7% | 20.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.44 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1020/1240 | 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 | Mar 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
WCU | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
WCU | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,100 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 58% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,010 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $216 |
Diversity |
WCU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 41% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 59% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 79% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
WCU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 18% | 26% | ||
Campus |
WCU | JMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- James Madison University is larger than than WCU based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 11,635 students)
WCU vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, WCU or JMU?
- James Madison University is 668.4% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($7,684.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 394.9% higher at JMU than Western Carolina University ($24,744.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than JMU ($13,022 vs. $18,274)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 7.8% lower than costs at James Madison University ($11,173 vs. $12,040)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Western Carolina University than James Madison University (99% vs. 33%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 122.7% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($10,081 vs. $4,526)
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 102 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming JMU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at WCU (3.44)
- WCU has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) 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 Western Carolina University (81% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $21,200 more per year than WCU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $39,100)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $1,111 lower median federal student loan debt than WCU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $22,010)
- JMU graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than WCU graduates. ($216 vs. $227)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 58%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/