NC State vs. JMU

Deciding between North Carolina State University at Raleigh 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.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • NC State Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • NC State 38,464
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NC State #124
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NC State -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • NC State Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NC State
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NC State $8,799
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NC State $32,847
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • NC State $14,332
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • NC State $15,522
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NC State $11,675
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NC State 51%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NC State 44,047
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • NC State 18,385
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NC State 41.7%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • NC State 31.8%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NC State 1390
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • NC State 30
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • NC State 3.83
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NC State A-
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • NC State Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • NC State Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • NC State 28/32
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NC State Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NC State 15:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NC State 72%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NC State $57,200
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NC State 76%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NC State $20,782
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NC State $214
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NC State 13%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • NC State 13%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NC State Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • NC State No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • NC State 74%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • NC State 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • NC State 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • NC State 5%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • NC State 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NC State 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NC State 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • NC State 4%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NC State 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NC State 86%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NC State 12%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (38,464 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is located in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1; James Madison University 17:1.

NC State vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NC 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh than JMU ($15,522 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 8.9% lower than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($13,056 vs. $14,332).
  • James Madison University is 62% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $5,451 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at NC State than at James Madison University (about $1,243 more per year; $32,847.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than at James Madison University (51% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 3.8% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($12,114 vs. $11,675).

NC State vs. JMU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1390) is 130 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming NC State 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: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NC 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: NC State Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman NC State students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than NC State (41.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.8% at NC State vs. 18.2% at JMU.

NC State vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NC 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh's (72%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than NC State graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, North Carolina State University at Raleigh graduates have a $117 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($20,782 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, NC State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($214 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 76%)

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.