JMU vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between James Madison University and Virginia Tech? 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
Virginia Tech

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • JMU Small City
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Enrollment
  • JMU 22,740
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • JMU #246
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • JMU -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • JMU
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • JMU $14,250
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • JMU $31,604
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • JMU $13,056
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • JMU $18,856
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • JMU $12,114
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • JMU 33%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • JMU 38,428
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • JMU 27,482
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • JMU 1260
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • JMU 26
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • JMU 3.57
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • JMU B+
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • JMU Difficult
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • JMU Low
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • JMU 24/29
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • JMU 17:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • JMU 81%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • JMU $60,300
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • JMU 83%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • JMU $20,899
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • JMU $216
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • JMU 2%
  • Virginia Tech 11%
  • % Women
  • JMU 5%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • Racial Diversity
  • JMU Low
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • JMU No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • JMU 76%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • JMU 4%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • JMU 4%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • JMU 6%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • JMU 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • JMU 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • JMU 4%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • JMU 2%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • JMU 3%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • JMU 69%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • JMU 30%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Tech is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (38,857 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

JMU vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JMU or Virginia Tech? 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 Virginia Tech ($18,856 vs. $24,912).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 21.1% lower than at Virginia Tech ($13,056 vs. $16,550).
  • Virginia Tech is 11.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $1,698 more per year; $15,948.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.5% higher at Virginia Tech than at James Madison University (about $6,160 more per year; $37,764.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Tech than at James Madison University (60% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 32.1% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($12,114 vs. $9,168).

JMU vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Tech (1370) is 110 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Virginia Tech students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: James Madison University 1170/1340; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: James Madison University 24/29; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: JMU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Virginia Tech - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Virginia Tech (54.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at JMU vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

JMU vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for JMU and Virginia Tech? 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).

  • Virginia Tech's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Tech earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,000 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $3,067 lower median loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates ($20,899 vs. $23,966).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Tech graduates ($216 vs. $247).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Virginia Tech students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 81%)

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.