WMU vs. John Jay

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI with CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Michigan University is larger than John Jay based on total student enrollment (16,744 students vs. 13,763 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Western Michigan University is located in Kalamazoo, MI (Small City setting); CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Western Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Michigan University 16:1; CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice 16:1.

WMU vs. John Jay Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WMU or John Jay? 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 CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice than WMU ($4,082 vs. $17,331).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 45.3% lower than at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice ($12,174 vs. $22,260).
• Western Michigan University is 104.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than John Jay (about $7,782 more per year; $15,252.00 vs. $7,470.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.4% higher at WMU than at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice (about $3,614 more per year; $19,034.00 vs. $15,420.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Michigan University than at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice (94% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Michigan University students is 10.9% larger than aid received by CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice students ($11,048 vs. $9,966).

WMU vs. John Jay Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WMU or John Jay? 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 John Jay and WMU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Michigan University (1110) is 30 points higher than at John Jay (1080).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Michigan University 990/1220; CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice 930/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Michigan University 20/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WMU - Test-free; John Jay - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman WMU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at John Jay (3.24).
• WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than John Jay (57.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at WMU vs. 19.4% at John Jay.

WMU vs. John Jay Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WMU and John Jay? 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).

• Western Michigan University's six-year graduation rate (56%) is higher than CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice's (39%).
• Graduates from Western Michigan University earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than John Jay graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,900 vs. $47,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice graduates have a $16,633 lower median loan debt than WMU graduates ($10,000 vs. $26,633).
• Among borrowers, John Jay graduates have an estimated $172 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WMU graduates ($103 vs. $275).
• More WMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former John Jay students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 52%)

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.