UCSC vs. JMU

Deciding between University of California Santa Cruz 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.

University of California Santa Cruz
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC B+
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 5%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 5%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA 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 UCSC based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 19,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; James Madison University 17:1.

UCSC vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC 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 University of California Santa Cruz than JMU ($18,059 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 34.5% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($13,056 vs. $19,948).
  • University of California Santa Cruz is 12.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $1,755 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 58.9% higher at UCSC than at James Madison University (about $18,601 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Cruz than at James Madison University (57% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 88% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($22,774 vs. $12,114).

UCSC vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC 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 UCSC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is the same as at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming UCSC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); JMU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than UCSC (65.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 18.2% at JMU.

UCSC vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC 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 University of California Santa Cruz's (73%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $940 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($19,959 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($206 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCSC students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 74%)

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.