UCF vs. JMU

Deciding between University of Central Florida 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 Central Florida
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCF Orlando, FL
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • UCF Large Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • UCF 69,713
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • UCF Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCF #412
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCF -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • UCF Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCF
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCF $6,368
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCF $22,467
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • UCF $12,452
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • UCF $13,351
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCF $9,704
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCF 86%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCF 61,456
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • UCF 24,653
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCF 40.1%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UCF 33.5%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCF 1280
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCF 27
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCF 3.64
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCF B+
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCF Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCF Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCF 25/29
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • UCF 1200/1350
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCF Required to be considered for admission
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • UCF May 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCF 28:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCF
    • Business (25%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (5%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCF 63%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCF $48,900
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCF 59%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCF $18,270
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCF $188
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCF 6%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • UCF 8%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCF High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • UCF No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • UCF 53%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • UCF 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • UCF 11%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCF 24%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • UCF 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCF 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCF 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • UCF 1%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCF 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCF 93%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCF 6%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Central Florida is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (69,713 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Central Florida is located in Orlando, FL (Large Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Central Florida 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 Central Florida 28:1; James Madison University 17:1.

UCF vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCF 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 Central Florida than JMU ($13,351 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Central Florida are 4.6% lower than at James Madison University ($12,452 vs. $13,056).
  • James Madison University is 123.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCF (about $7,882 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $6,368.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.7% higher at JMU than at University of Central Florida (about $9,137 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $22,467.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Central Florida than at James Madison University (86% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 24.8% larger than aid received by University of Central Florida students ($12,114 vs. $9,704).

UCF vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCF 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 UCF.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Central Florida (1280) is 20 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming UCF students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Central Florida 1200/1350; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Central Florida 25/29; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCF - Required to be considered for admission; JMU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCF May 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCF students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than UCF (40.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.5% at UCF vs. 18.2% at JMU.

UCF vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCF 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 Central Florida's (63%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than UCF graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Central Florida graduates have a $2,629 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($18,270 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, UCF graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($188 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCF students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 59%)

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.