JMU vs. UVA

Deciding between James Madison University and University of Virginia Main Campus? 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.

James Madison University
University of Virginia Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • UVA Charlottesville, VA
  • Setting
  • JMU Small City
  • UVA Small City
  • Enrollment
  • JMU 22,740
  • UVA 26,409
  • Type
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • UVA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • JMU #246
  • UVA #58
  • Religious Affiliation
  • JMU -
  • UVA -
  • Status
  • JMU Non-profit
  • UVA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • JMU
  • UVA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • JMU $14,250
  • UVA $21,803
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • JMU $31,604
  • UVA $59,512
  • Room & Board
  • JMU $13,056
  • UVA $14,800
  • Average Net Price
  • JMU $18,856
  • UVA $18,427
  • Average Grant Aid
  • JMU $12,114
  • UVA $28,715
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • JMU 33%
  • UVA 39%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • JMU 38,428
  • UVA 58,951
  • Admitted
  • JMU 27,482
  • UVA 9,909
  • Acceptance Rate
  • JMU 71.5%
  • UVA 16.8%
  • Enrolled
  • JMU 18.2%
  • UVA 40%
  • Typical SAT score
  • JMU 1260
  • UVA 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • JMU 26
  • UVA 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • JMU 3.57
  • UVA 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • JMU B+
  • UVA A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • JMU Difficult
  • UVA Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • JMU Low
  • UVA Very High
  • ACT Range
  • JMU 24/29
  • UVA 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • UVA 1410/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • UVA Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027
  • UVA

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • JMU 17:1
  • UVA 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • UVA
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • JMU 81%
  • UVA 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • JMU $60,300
  • UVA $77,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • JMU 83%
  • UVA 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • JMU $20,899
  • UVA $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • JMU $216
  • UVA $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • JMU 2%
  • UVA 16%
  • % Women
  • JMU 5%
  • UVA 17%
  • Racial Diversity
  • JMU Low
  • UVA Medium
  • HBCU
  • JMU No
  • UVA No
  • % White
  • JMU 76%
  • UVA 60%
  • % Asian
  • JMU 4%
  • UVA 13%
  • % Black
  • JMU 4%
  • UVA 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • JMU 6%
  • UVA 6%
  • % Native American
  • JMU 0%
  • UVA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • JMU 0%
  • UVA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • JMU 4%
  • UVA 5%
  • % International
  • JMU 2%
  • UVA 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • JMU 3%
  • UVA 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • JMU 69%
  • UVA 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • JMU 30%
  • UVA 29%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA with University of Virginia Main Campus in Charlottesville, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Virginia Main Campus is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (26,409 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting); University of Virginia Main Campus is in Charlottesville, VA (Small City setting).
  • James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Virginia Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: James Madison University 17:1; University of Virginia Main Campus 15:1.

JMU vs. UVA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JMU or UVA? 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 University of Virginia Main Campus than JMU ($18,427 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 11.8% lower than at University of Virginia Main Campus ($13,056 vs. $14,800).
  • University of Virginia Main Campus is 53% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $7,553 more per year; $21,803.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 88.3% higher at UVA than at James Madison University (about $27,908 more per year; $59,512.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Virginia Main Campus than at James Madison University (39% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Virginia Main Campus students is 137% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($28,715 vs. $12,114).

JMU vs. UVA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, JMU or UVA? 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 UVA and JMU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Virginia Main Campus (1480) is 220 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming UVA students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: James Madison University 1170/1340; University of Virginia Main Campus 1410/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: James Madison University 24/29; University of Virginia Main Campus 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: JMU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); UVA - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UVA students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than UVA (16.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at JMU vs. 40% at UVA.

JMU vs. UVA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for JMU and UVA? 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).

  • University of Virginia Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from University of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $16,900 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Virginia Main Campus graduates have a $1,399 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, UVA graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($201 vs. $216).
  • More UVA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JMU students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.