Rutgers vs. JMU

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
James Madison University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 10%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 18%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Rutgers vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers ($18,856 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 16.9% lower than at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($13,056 vs. $15,714).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 25.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $3,679 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 18.5% higher at Rutgers than at James Madison University (about $5,837 more per year; $37,441.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rutgers University New Brunswick than at James Madison University (50% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 38.2% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($16,742 vs. $12,114).

Rutgers vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 150 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Rutgers 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: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - 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: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Rutgers vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $1,316 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($20,899 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($216 vs. $229).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 68%)

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.