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Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Elon ASU Penn State| Ball State University | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
BSU | JMU | ||
| Location | Muncie, IN | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 19,777 | 22,224 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #547 | #260 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bsu.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BSU | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,434 | $7,684 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,918 | $24,744 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,904 | $12,040 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $12,615 | $18,274 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,418 | $10,081 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 33% |
Admission |
BSU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 22,859 | 30,727 | ||
| Admitted | 15,761 | 24,062 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 68.9% | 78.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.1% | 20.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.52 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/28 | 23/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1090/1260 | 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, 2024 |
Academics |
BSU | JMU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
BSU | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 55% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,500 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $216 |
Diversity |
BSU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 35% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 65% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 81% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 8% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 3% |
Students |
BSU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 9% | 26% | ||
Campus |
BSU | JMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- James Madison University is larger than than BSU based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 19,777 students)
BSU vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BSU or JMU?
- Ball State University is 9.8% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($8,434.00 vs. $7,684.00)
- Out of state tuition is 4.7% higher at BSU than James Madison University ($25,918.00 vs. $24,744.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ball State University than JMU ($12,615 vs. $18,274)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ball State University are 10.4% lower than costs at James Madison University ($10,904 vs. $12,040)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Ball State University than James Madison University (97% vs. 33%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Ball State University students is 13.3% larger than aid received James Madison University ($11,418 vs. $10,081)
BSU vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, BSU or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or BSU .
- The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 64 points higher than at BSU (1070)
- Incoming JMU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at BSU (22)
- Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at BSU (3.52)
- JMU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than BSU (68.9%)
BSU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, BSU 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 BSU.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Ball State University (81% vs. 55%)
- Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $17,800 more per year than BSU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $42,500)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $4,101 lower median federal student loan debt than BSU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $25,000)
- JMU graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than BSU graduates. ($216 vs. $258)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BSU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/