Oberlin vs. JMU

Deciding between Oberlin 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.

Oberlin College
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Oberlin #153
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Oberlin -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Oberlin
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Oberlin 99%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Oberlin 1440
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Oberlin 32
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Oberlin B+
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Oberlin High
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Oberlin Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Oberlin 88%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Oberlin 82%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Oberlin $274
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Oberlin 0%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • Oberlin 0%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Oberlin Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Oberlin No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Oberlin 68%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Oberlin 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Oberlin 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Oberlin 8%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Oberlin 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Oberlin 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Oberlin 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Oberlin 8%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Oberlin 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Oberlin 6%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Oberlin 82%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Oberlin College in Oberlin, 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 Oberlin based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Oberlin vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Oberlin 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 Oberlin ($18,856 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 33.1% lower than at Oberlin College ($13,056 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 372.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $53,116 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 113.2% higher at Oberlin than at James Madison University (about $35,762 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at James Madison University (99% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 195.4% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($35,780 vs. $12,114).

Oberlin vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Oberlin 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 Oberlin.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Oberlin College (1440) is 180 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Oberlin 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: Oberlin College 1360/1520; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Oberlin College 31/34; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Oberlin - 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: Oberlin Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Oberlin students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Oberlin (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Oberlin vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Oberlin vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Oberlin 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).

  • Oberlin College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $16,400 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $5,680 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($216 vs. $274).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Oberlin students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 82%)

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.