Wilkes vs. JMU

Should I go to Wilkes University or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Wilkes or JMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Wilkes University vs. James Madison University comparison
Wilkes University James Madison University College 3 College 4
Wilkes University James Madison University
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Overview

Wilkes JMU
Location Wilkes-Barre, PA Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 5,207 22,224
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #478 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wilkes.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Wilkes JMU
Tuition (In State) $39,134 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $39,134 $24,744
Room & Board $15,850 $12,040
Avg Net Price $27,918 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $29,441 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 33%

Admission

Wilkes JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,798 30,727
Admitted 4,517 24,062
Acceptance Rate 94.1% 78.3%
Enrolled % 10.6% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.56 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Average Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26 23/29
SAT Range 1060/1260 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

Wilkes JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

Wilkes JMU
Graduation Rate 58% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,200 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $268 $216

Diversity

Wilkes JMU
% Men 31% 42%
% Women 69% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 76%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 9% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Wilkes JMU
% In-State 75% 73%
% Out-of-State 24% 26%

Campus

Wilkes JMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • James Madison University is larger than than Wilkes based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 5,207 students)

Wilkes vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wilkes or JMU?

  • Wilkes University is 409.3% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($39,134.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 58.2% higher at Wilkes than James Madison University ($39,134.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Wilkes ($18,274 vs. $27,918)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 31.6% lower than costs at Wilkes University ($12,040 vs. $15,850)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Wilkes University than James Madison University (97% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 192% larger than aid received James Madison University ($29,441 vs. $10,081)

Wilkes vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wilkes or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or Wilkes .

  • The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 81 points higher than at Wilkes (1053)
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Wilkes (3.56)
  • Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (94.1%) than JMU (78.3%)

Wilkes vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Wilkes 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 Wilkes.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Wilkes University (81% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $2,100 more per year than Wilkes graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $58,200)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $5,101 lower median federal student loan debt than Wilkes graduates. ($20,899 vs. $26,000)
  • JMU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Wilkes graduates. ($216 vs. $268)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wilkes 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/