Dickinson College vs. JMU

Deciding between Dickinson College 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.

Dickinson College
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Dickinson College Carlisle, PA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Dickinson College Distant Town
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Dickinson College 2,314
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Dickinson College Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Dickinson College #76
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Dickinson College -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Dickinson College Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Dickinson College
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Dickinson College $17,100
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Dickinson College $38,483
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Dickinson College $44,479
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Dickinson College 96%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Dickinson College 7,258
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Dickinson College 3,055
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Dickinson College 42.1%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Dickinson College 21.1%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Dickinson College 1390
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Dickinson College 31
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Dickinson College -
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Dickinson College -
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Dickinson College Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Dickinson College Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Dickinson College 30/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Dickinson College 1310/1460
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Dickinson College Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Dickinson College 11:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Dickinson College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Ethnic Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Dickinson College 84%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Dickinson College $62,000
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Dickinson College 89%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Dickinson College $21,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Dickinson College $217
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Dickinson College 40%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Dickinson College 60%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Dickinson College Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Dickinson College No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Dickinson College 72%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Dickinson College 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Dickinson College 6%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Dickinson College 10%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Dickinson College 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Dickinson College 26%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Dickinson College 67%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA 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 Dickinson College based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 2,314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, PA (Distant Town setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dickinson College 11:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Dickinson College vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dickinson College 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 Dickinson College ($18,856 vs. $38,483).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 23.6% lower than at Dickinson College ($13,056 vs. $17,100).
  • Dickinson College is 360.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $51,400 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 107.7% higher at Dickinson College than at James Madison University (about $34,046 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dickinson College than at James Madison University (96% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dickinson College students is 267.2% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($44,479 vs. $12,114).

Dickinson College vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dickinson College 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 Dickinson College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dickinson College (1390) is 130 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Dickinson College students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 1310/1460; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 30/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dickinson College - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Dickinson College (42.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at Dickinson College vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Dickinson College vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dickinson College 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).

  • Dickinson College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from Dickinson College earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,000 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $101 lower median loan debt than Dickinson College graduates ($20,899 vs. $21,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dickinson College graduates ($216 vs. $217).
  • More Dickinson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JMU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 83%)

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.