Xavier vs. JMU

Deciding between Xavier 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.

Xavier University
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Xavier Cincinnati, OH
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Xavier Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Xavier 5,501
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Xavier Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Xavier #269
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Xavier Roman Catholic
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Xavier Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Xavier
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Xavier $50,640
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Xavier $50,640
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Xavier $13,920
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Xavier $33,623
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Xavier $32,088
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Xavier 100%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Xavier 14,631
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Xavier 12,642
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Xavier 86.4%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Xavier 7.3%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Xavier 1210
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Xavier 25
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Xavier 3.68
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Xavier A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Xavier Challenging
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Xavier
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Xavier 22/29
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Xavier 1103/1310
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Xavier Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Xavier
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Xavier 10:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Xavier
    • Business (28%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (17%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Biology (5%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Xavier 77%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Xavier $54,500
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Xavier 72%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Xavier $27,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Xavier $279
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Xavier 42%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Xavier 58%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Xavier Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Xavier No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Xavier 72%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Xavier 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Xavier 10%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Xavier 5%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Xavier 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Xavier 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Xavier 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Xavier 2%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Xavier 5%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Xavier 45%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Xavier 53%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Xavier Yes
  • JMU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Xavier No
  • JMU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Xavier Yes
  • JMU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Xavier Yes
  • JMU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Xavier No
  • JMU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH 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 Xavier based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 5,501 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Xavier University is located in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Xavier University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Xavier University 10:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Xavier vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Xavier 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 James Madison University than Xavier ($18,856 vs. $33,623).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 6.2% lower than at Xavier University ($13,056 vs. $13,920).
  • Xavier University is 255.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $36,390 more per year; $50,640.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 60.2% higher at Xavier than at James Madison University (about $19,036 more per year; $50,640.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Xavier University than at James Madison University (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Xavier University students is 164.9% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($32,088 vs. $12,114).

Xavier vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Xavier 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 Xavier.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 50 points higher than at Xavier (1210).
  • Incoming JMU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Xavier).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Xavier University 1103/1310; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Xavier University 22/29; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Xavier - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Xavier students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • Xavier has a higher acceptance rate (86.4%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.3% at Xavier vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Xavier vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Xavier 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 Xavier University's (77%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Xavier graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $54,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $6,101 lower median loan debt than Xavier graduates ($20,899 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $63 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Xavier graduates ($216 vs. $279).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Xavier students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 72%)

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.