RIT vs. JMU

Deciding between Rochester 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.

Rochester Institute of Technology
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • RIT Rochester, NY
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • RIT Large Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • RIT 17,098
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • RIT Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RIT #175
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RIT -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • RIT Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RIT
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RIT $59,274
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RIT $59,274
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • RIT $16,142
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • RIT $39,534
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RIT $35,077
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RIT 98%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RIT 27,911
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • RIT 18,682
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RIT 66.9%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • RIT 16.3%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RIT 1380
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • RIT 31
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • RIT 3.7
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RIT A-
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • RIT Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • RIT Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • RIT 29/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • RIT 1300/1460
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RIT Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • RIT Jan 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RIT 13:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RIT
    • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Engineering Technology (11%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RIT 64%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RIT $64,900
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RIT 75%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RIT $28,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RIT $289
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RIT 10%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • RIT 7%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RIT Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • RIT No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • RIT 66%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • RIT 8%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • RIT 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • RIT 7%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • RIT 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RIT 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RIT 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • RIT 6%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RIT 5%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RIT 44%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RIT 51%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY 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 RIT based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 17,098 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1; James Madison University 17:1.

RIT vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIT 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 RIT ($18,856 vs. $39,534).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 19.1% lower than at Rochester Institute of Technology ($13,056 vs. $16,142).
  • Rochester Institute of Technology is 316% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $45,024 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 87.6% higher at RIT than at James Madison University (about $27,670 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at James Madison University (98% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 189.6% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($35,077 vs. $12,114).

RIT vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RIT 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 RIT .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rochester Institute of Technology (1380) is 120 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming RIT students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIT - 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: RIT Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RIT students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than RIT (66.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.3% at RIT vs. 18.2% at JMU.

RIT vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RIT 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,900 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $7,101 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($20,899 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($216 vs. $289).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 75%)

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.