NJIT vs. JMU

Deciding between New Jersey Institute of Technology 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.

New Jersey Institute of Technology
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NJIT Newark, NJ
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • NJIT Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • NJIT 13,247
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • NJIT Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NJIT #195
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NJIT -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • NJIT Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NJIT
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NJIT $19,974
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NJIT $37,664
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • NJIT $16,450
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • NJIT $17,313
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NJIT $18,084
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NJIT 91%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NJIT 15,607
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • NJIT 10,156
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NJIT 65.1%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • NJIT 17.2%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NJIT 1340
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • NJIT 30
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • NJIT 3.72
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NJIT A-
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • NJIT Exceptional
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • NJIT Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • NJIT 27/34
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • NJIT 1210/1460
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NJIT Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • NJIT Mar 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NJIT 17:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NJIT
    • Engineering (38%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering Technology (14%)
    • Architecture (13%)
    • Business (10%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NJIT 54%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NJIT $67,200
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NJIT 69%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NJIT $23,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NJIT $237
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NJIT 15%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • NJIT 8%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NJIT Very High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • NJIT No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • NJIT 33%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • NJIT 22%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • NJIT 9%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • NJIT 22%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • NJIT 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NJIT 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NJIT 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • NJIT 4%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NJIT 6%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NJIT 87%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NJIT 6%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ 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 NJIT based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 13,247 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • New Jersey Institute of Technology is located in Newark, NJ (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • New Jersey Institute of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: New Jersey Institute of Technology 17:1; James Madison University 17:1.

NJIT vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NJIT 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 New Jersey Institute of Technology than JMU ($17,313 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 20.6% lower than at New Jersey Institute of Technology ($13,056 vs. $16,450).
  • New Jersey Institute of Technology is 40.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $5,724 more per year; $19,974.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.2% higher at NJIT than at James Madison University (about $6,060 more per year; $37,664.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at New Jersey Institute of Technology than at James Madison University (91% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New Jersey Institute of Technology students is 49.3% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($18,084 vs. $12,114).

NJIT vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NJIT 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 NJIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New Jersey Institute of Technology (1340) is 80 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming NJIT 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: New Jersey Institute of Technology 1210/1460; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New Jersey Institute of Technology 27/34; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NJIT - 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: NJIT Mar 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NJIT students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than NJIT (65.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.2% at NJIT vs. 18.2% at JMU.

NJIT vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NJIT 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 New Jersey Institute of Technology's (54%).
  • Graduates from New Jersey Institute of Technology earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($67,200 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $2,101 lower median loan debt than NJIT graduates ($20,899 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NJIT graduates ($216 vs. $237).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NJIT students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 69%)

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.