Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. JMU

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Greater Allegheny in McKeesport, PA 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 Penn State Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 352 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Greater Allegheny is located in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
• Penn State Greater Allegheny is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Greater Allegheny 9:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Penn State Greater Allegheny than JMU ($15,574 vs. $18,856).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 9.8% lower than at Penn State Greater Allegheny ($13,056 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Greater Allegheny is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $158 more per year; $14,408.00 vs. $14,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31% higher at JMU than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (about $7,470 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Greater Allegheny than at James Madison University (86% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 8.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($12,114 vs. $11,121).

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Greater Allegheny or JMU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between JMU and Penn State Greater Allegheny.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 80 points higher than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280; James Madison University 1170/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresJames Madison University 24/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than JMU (71.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Penn State Greater Allegheny vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Greater Allegheny and JMU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• James Madison University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Penn State Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $5,919 lower median loan debt than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Greater Allegheny graduates ($216 vs. $277).
• More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Greater Allegheny 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.