ISU vs. JMU

Deciding between Iowa 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.

Iowa State University
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ISU Ames, IA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • ISU Small City
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • ISU 30,380
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • ISU Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ISU #343
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ISU -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • ISU Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ISU
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ISU $10,787
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ISU $28,881
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • ISU $10,808
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • ISU $17,779
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ISU $10,791
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ISU 77%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ISU 23,095
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • ISU 20,475
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ISU 88.7%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ISU 28.8%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ISU 1240
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • ISU 24
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • ISU 3.7
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ISU A-
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ISU Challenging
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • ISU
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • ISU 21/28
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • ISU 1120/1360
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ISU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • ISU
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ISU 18:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ISU
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ISU 68%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ISU $53,700
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ISU 74%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ISU $23,868
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ISU $246
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

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

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ISU 54%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ISU 43%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Iowa State University is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (30,380 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Iowa State University is located in Ames, IA (Small City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Iowa 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: Iowa State University 18:1; James Madison University 17:1.

ISU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ISU 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 Iowa State University than JMU ($17,779 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Iowa State University are 17.2% lower than at James Madison University ($10,808 vs. $13,056).
  • James Madison University is 32.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than ISU (about $3,463 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $10,787.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.4% higher at JMU than at Iowa State University (about $2,723 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $28,881.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Iowa State University than at James Madison University (77% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 12.3% larger than aid received by Iowa State University students ($12,114 vs. $10,791).

ISU vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ISU 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 ISU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 20 points higher than at ISU (1240).
  • Incoming JMU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at ISU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 1120/1360; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Iowa State University 21/28; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ISU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); JMU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman ISU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • ISU has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at ISU vs. 18.2% at JMU.

ISU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ISU 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 Iowa State University's (68%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than ISU graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $53,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $2,969 lower median loan debt than ISU graduates ($20,899 vs. $23,868).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ISU graduates ($216 vs. $246).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ISU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 74%)

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.