Colorado State vs. JMU

Deciding between Colorado State University Fort Collins 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.

Colorado State University Fort Collins
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colorado State Fort Collins, CO
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Colorado State Midsize City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colorado State 34,096
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Colorado State Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colorado State #354
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colorado State -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Colorado State Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colorado State
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colorado State $13,373
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colorado State $34,783
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Colorado State $16,817
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Colorado State $21,011
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colorado State $10,160
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colorado State 69%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colorado State 38,465
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Colorado State 34,057
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colorado State 88.5%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Colorado State 16.1%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colorado State 1190
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colorado State 26
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colorado State 3.68
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colorado State B+
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colorado State Challenging
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colorado State
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Colorado State 23/29
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Colorado State 1080/1290
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colorado State Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Colorado State Jul 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colorado State 17:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colorado State
    • Business (15%)
    • Work and Family Studies (10%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colorado State 64%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colorado State $51,800
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colorado State 69%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colorado State $21,004
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colorado State $217
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colorado State 42%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Colorado State 58%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colorado State Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Colorado State No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Colorado State 74%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Colorado State 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Colorado State 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colorado State 11%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Colorado State 1%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colorado State 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colorado State 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Colorado State 3%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colorado State 4%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colorado State 69%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colorado State 30%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Colorado State University Fort Collins in Fort Collins, CO with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Colorado State University Fort Collins is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (34,096 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Colorado State vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colorado State 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 Colorado State ($18,856 vs. $21,011).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 22.4% lower than at Colorado State University Fort Collins ($13,056 vs. $16,817).
  • James Madison University is 6.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Colorado State (about $877 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $13,373.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.1% higher at Colorado State than at James Madison University (about $3,179 more per year; $34,783.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colorado State University Fort Collins than at James Madison University (69% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 19.2% larger than aid received by Colorado State University Fort Collins students ($12,114 vs. $10,160).

Colorado State vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colorado State 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 Colorado State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 70 points higher than at Colorado State (1190).
  • Incoming Colorado State students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 26) as students at JMU (26).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colorado State University Fort Collins 1080/1290; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colorado State University Fort Collins 23/29; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colorado State - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); JMU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colorado State Jul 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Colorado State students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • Colorado State has a higher acceptance rate (88.5%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Colorado State vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Colorado State vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colorado State 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 Colorado State University Fort Collins's (64%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than Colorado State graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $105 lower median loan debt than Colorado State graduates ($20,899 vs. $21,004).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colorado State graduates ($216 vs. $217).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colorado State students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 69%)

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.