ASU vs. JMU

Deciding between Arizona State 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 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Arizona State University
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ASU Tempe, AZ
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • ASU Midsize City
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • ASU 79,818
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • ASU Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ASU #398
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ASU -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • ASU Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ASU
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ASU $12,223
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ASU $33,139
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • ASU $16,712
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • ASU $17,779
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ASU $12,172
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ASU 89%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ASU 70,928
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • ASU 63,756
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ASU 89.9%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ASU 22.1%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ASU 1210
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • ASU 24
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • ASU 3.54
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ASU B+
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ASU Challenging
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • ASU
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • ASU 21/28
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • ASU 1100/1320
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ASU Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • ASU
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ASU 18:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ASU
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ASU 57%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ASU $52,600
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ASU 57%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ASU $20,278
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ASU $209
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ASU 10%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • ASU 8%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ASU High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • ASU No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • ASU 52%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • ASU 7%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • ASU 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • ASU 19%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • ASU 1%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ASU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ASU 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • ASU 12%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ASU 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ASU 63%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ASU 30%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Arizona State University is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (79,818 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Arizona State University is located in Tempe, AZ (Midsize City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Arizona State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Arizona State University 18:1; James Madison University 17:1.

ASU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ASU 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 Arizona State University than JMU ($17,779 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 21.9% lower than at Arizona State University ($13,056 vs. $16,712).
  • James Madison University is 16.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ASU (about $2,027 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $12,223.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.9% higher at ASU than at James Madison University (about $1,535 more per year; $33,139.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Arizona State University than at James Madison University (89% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arizona State University students is 0.5% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($12,172 vs. $12,114).

ASU vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ASU 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 ASU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 50 points higher than at ASU (1210).
  • Incoming JMU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at ASU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 1100/1320; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Arizona State University 21/28; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ASU - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); JMU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at ASU (3.54).
  • ASU has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.1% at ASU vs. 18.2% at JMU.

ASU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ASU 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 Arizona State University's (57%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $7,700 more per year than ASU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $52,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Arizona State University graduates have a $621 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($20,278 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, ASU graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($209 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ASU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 57%)

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.