WCU vs. JMU

Deciding between Western Carolina University 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.

Western Carolina University
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WCU Cullowhee, NC
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • WCU Distant Town
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • WCU 11,686
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WCU #698
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WCU -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • WCU Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WCU
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WCU $4,630
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WCU $8,630
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • WCU $12,354
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • WCU $13,767
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WCU $5,993
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WCU 81%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WCU 19,742
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • WCU 16,154
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WCU 81.8%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • WCU 12.7%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WCU 1180
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • WCU 22
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • WCU 3.44
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WCU B+
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WCU Moderate
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • WCU
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • WCU 19/25
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • WCU 1080/1270
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WCU Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WCU Mar 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WCU 16:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WCU
    • Education (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WCU 50%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WCU $39,100
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WCU 58%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WCU $22,010
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WCU $227
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WCU 41%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • WCU 59%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WCU Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • WCU No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • WCU 79%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • WCU 1%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • WCU 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • WCU 6%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • WCU 1%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WCU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WCU 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • WCU 1%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WCU 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WCU 75%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WCU 22%
  • 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 Yes
  • JMU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC 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. 11,686 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, NC (Distant Town setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Western Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Carolina University 16:1; 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 Western Carolina University than JMU ($13,767 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 5.4% lower than at James Madison University ($12,354 vs. $13,056).
  • James Madison University is 207.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $9,620 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $4,630.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 266.2% higher at JMU than at Western Carolina University (about $22,974 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $8,630.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Carolina University than at James Madison University (81% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 102.1% larger than aid received by Western Carolina University students ($12,114 vs. $5,993).

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 80 points higher than at WCU (1180).
  • Incoming JMU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 22 at WCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Carolina University 1080/1270; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Carolina University 19/25; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WCU - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WCU Mar 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (81.8%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% 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 Western Carolina University's (50%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $21,200 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $1,111 lower median loan debt than WCU graduates ($20,899 vs. $22,010).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.