OSU vs. JMU

Should I go to Oregon State University or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if OSU or JMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Oregon State University vs. James Madison University comparison
Oregon State University James Madison University College 3 College 4
Oregon State University James Madison University
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Overview

 OSU JMU
Location Corvallis, OR Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 34,292 22,224
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #363 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website oregonstate.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 OSU JMU
Tuition (In State) $10,425 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $31,200 $24,744
Room & Board $14,238 $12,040
Avg Net Price $21,163 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $9,260 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 88% 33%

Admission

 OSU JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 25,651 30,727
Admitted 21,169 24,062
Acceptance Rate 82.5% 78.3%
Enrolled % 21.3% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 23/29
SAT Range 1120/1370 1140/1320
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

 OSU JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (11%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 OSU JMU
Graduation Rate 61% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,900 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $242 $216

Diversity

 OSU JMU
% Men 51% 42%
% Women 49% 58%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 67% 76%
% Black 1% 4%
% Hispanic 9% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 4%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 OSU JMU
% In-State 57% 73%
% Out-of-State 41% 26%

Campus

 OSU JMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Oregon State University is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (34,292 students vs. 22,224 students)

OSU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OSU or JMU?

  • Oregon State University is 35.7% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($10,425.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 26.1% higher at OSU than James Madison University ($31,200.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than OSU ($18,274 vs. $21,163)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 18.3% lower than costs at Oregon State University ($12,040 vs. $14,238)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Oregon State University than James Madison University (88% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 8.9% larger than aid received Oregon State University ($10,081 vs. $9,260)

OSU vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OSU or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or OSU .

  • The average SAT score at James Madison University (1134) is 21 points higher than at OSU (1113)
  • Incoming OSU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at JMU (25)
  • Accepted freshman OSU students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • OSU has a higher acceptance rate (82.5%) than JMU (78.3%)

OSU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, OSU or JMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between JMU and OSU.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than Oregon State University (81% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $6,400 more per year than OSU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $53,900)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $2,601 lower median federal student loan debt than OSU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $23,500)
  • JMU graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than OSU graduates. ($216 vs. $242)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OSU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/