Kenyon vs. JMU

Deciding between Kenyon 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 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Kenyon College
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kenyon Gambier, OH
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Kenyon Distant Rural
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • Kenyon 2,249
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Kenyon Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kenyon #62
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kenyon -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Kenyon Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kenyon
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kenyon $71,520
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Kenyon $15,640
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Kenyon $46,859
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kenyon $40,731
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kenyon 82%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kenyon 7,726
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Kenyon 2,397
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kenyon 31%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Kenyon 18.3%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kenyon 1430
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kenyon 32
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kenyon 3.84
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kenyon A-
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kenyon Exceptional
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kenyon High
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Kenyon 31/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Kenyon 1358/1503
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kenyon Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Kenyon Jan 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kenyon 9:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kenyon
    • Social Sciences (22%)
    • English and Literature (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kenyon 87%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kenyon $52,900
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kenyon 87%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kenyon $19,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kenyon $196
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kenyon 10%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • Kenyon 13%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kenyon Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Kenyon No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Kenyon 73%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Kenyon 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Kenyon 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kenyon 7%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Kenyon 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kenyon 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kenyon 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Kenyon 5%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kenyon 3%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kenyon 12%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kenyon 78%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Kenyon College in Gambier, OH 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 Kenyon based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 2,249 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kenyon College is located in Gambier, OH (Distant Rural setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Kenyon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Kenyon College 9:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Kenyon vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kenyon 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 Kenyon ($18,856 vs. $46,859).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 16.5% lower than at Kenyon College ($13,056 vs. $15,640).
  • Kenyon College is 401.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $57,270 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 126.3% higher at Kenyon than at James Madison University (about $39,916 more per year; $71,520.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kenyon College than at James Madison University (82% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kenyon College students is 236.2% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($40,731 vs. $12,114).

Kenyon vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kenyon 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 Kenyon.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Kenyon College (1430) is 170 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Kenyon students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kenyon College 1358/1503; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kenyon College 31/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kenyon - 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: Kenyon Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kenyon 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 (71.5%) than Kenyon (31%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Kenyon vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Kenyon vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kenyon 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).

  • Kenyon College's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than Kenyon graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kenyon College graduates have a $1,899 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($19,000 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, Kenyon graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($196 vs. $216).
  • More Kenyon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JMU students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.