Michigan State vs. JMU

Deciding between Michigan 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.

Michigan State University
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan State East Lansing, MI
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Michigan State Rural Fringe
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • Michigan State 52,089
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Michigan State Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan State #241
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan State -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Michigan State Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan State
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan State $16,458
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan State $43,842
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan State $12,564
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan State $23,657
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan State $9,750
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan State 88%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan State 62,138
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Michigan State 52,690
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan State 84.8%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan State 18.3%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan State 1270
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan State 28
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan State 3.72
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan State A-
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan State Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan State
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan State 25/31
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan State 1180/1360
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan State Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan State
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan State 17:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan State
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan State 77%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan State $60,000
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan State 68%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan State $25,484
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan State $263
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan State 9%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • Michigan State 12%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan State Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Michigan State No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Michigan State 67%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan State 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Michigan State 7%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan State 4%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan State 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan State 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan State 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Michigan State 13%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan State 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan State 77%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan State 19%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Michigan State University is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (52,089 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, MI (Rural Fringe setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Michigan 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: Michigan State University 17:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Michigan State vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan State 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 Michigan State ($18,856 vs. $23,657).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Michigan State University are 3.8% lower than at James Madison University ($12,564 vs. $13,056).
  • Michigan State University is 15.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $2,208 more per year; $16,458.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 38.7% higher at Michigan State than at James Madison University (about $12,238 more per year; $43,842.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Michigan State University than at James Madison University (88% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 24.2% larger than aid received by Michigan State University students ($12,114 vs. $9,750).

Michigan State vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan State 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 Michigan State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Michigan State University (1270) is 10 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Michigan State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 1180/1360; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Michigan State University 25/31; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan State - 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 Michigan State students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • Michigan State has a higher acceptance rate (84.8%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.3% at Michigan State vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Michigan State vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan State 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 Michigan State University's (77%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $300 more per year than Michigan State graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $60,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $4,585 lower median loan debt than Michigan State graduates ($20,899 vs. $25,484).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan State graduates ($216 vs. $263).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan State students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 68%)

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.