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Mason Virginia Tech VCU UMBC UVA CNU TU Binghamton University Wisconsin Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary| James Madison University | University of Maryland College Park | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
JMU | Maryland | ||
| Location | Harrisonburg, VA | College Park, MD | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 22,758 | 40,813 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #259 | #91 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | jmu.edu | umd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
JMU | Maryland | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,914 | $9,889 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $25,128 | $38,690 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,584 | $15,416 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,317 | $15,833 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $4,456 | $12,142 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 81% | 52% |
Admission |
JMU | Maryland | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 35,750 | 59,377 | ||
| Admitted | 27,258 | 26,625 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 76.2% | 44.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.1% | 23.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.57 | 3.84 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/29 | 32/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1320 | 1370/1520 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
JMU | Maryland | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
JMU | Maryland | ||
| Graduation Rate | 81% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $60,300 | $68,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 83% | 80% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,899 | $19,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $216 | $201 |
Diversity |
JMU | Maryland | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 13% | ||
| % Women | 5% | 12% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 76% | 52% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 13% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
JMU | Maryland | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 73% | 69% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 26% | 29% | ||
Campus |
JMU | Maryland | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Maryland College Park is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (40,813 students vs. 22,758 students)
JMU vs. Maryland Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, JMU or Maryland?
- University of Maryland College Park is 25% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($9,889.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 54% higher at Maryland than James Madison University ($38,690.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Maryland College Park than JMU ($15,833 vs. $26,317)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 22.5% lower than costs at University of Maryland College Park ($12,584 vs. $15,416)
- More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than University of Maryland College Park (81% vs. 52%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Maryland College Park students is 172.5% larger than aid received James Madison University ($12,142 vs. $4,456)
JMU vs. Maryland Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, JMU or Maryland? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Maryland or JMU .
- The average SAT score at University of Maryland College Park (1315) is 181 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Accepted freshman Maryland students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at JMU (3.57)
- JMU has a higher acceptance rate (76.2%) than Maryland (44.8%)
JMU vs. Maryland Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, JMU or Maryland? 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 Maryland and JMU.
- The graduation rate at Maryland is higher than James Madison University (82% vs. 81%)
- Graduates from University of Maryland College Park earn on average $8,000 more per year than JMU graduates after ten years. ($68,300 vs. $60,300)
- University of Maryland College Park students graduate with a $1,399 lower median federal student loan debt than JMU graduates. ($19,500 vs. $20,899)
- Maryland graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than JMU graduates. ($201 vs. $216)
- More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Maryland students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/