UC vs. JMU

Deciding between University of Cincinnati Main Campus 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 Cincinnati Main Campus
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Cincinnati, OH
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • UC Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • UC 45,026
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • UC Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC #429
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • UC Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC $13,976
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC $29,310
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • UC $13,564
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • UC $24,696
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC $8,196
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC 73%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC 34,285
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • UC 29,242
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC 85.3%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UC 22.5%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC 1270
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC 26
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC 3.69
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC B+
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UC 24/29
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • UC 1160/1370
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Mar 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC 19:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC 59%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC $45,600
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC 57%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC $23,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC $237
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC 10%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • UC 16%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • UC No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • UC 75%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • UC 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • UC 7%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC 3%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • UC 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • UC 4%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC 4%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC 74%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC 22%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Cincinnati Main Campus in Cincinnati, OH with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Cincinnati Main Campus is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (45,026 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus is located in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus 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 Cincinnati Main Campus 19:1; James Madison University 17:1.

UC vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC 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 UC ($18,856 vs. $24,696).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 3.7% lower than at University of Cincinnati Main Campus ($13,056 vs. $13,564).
  • James Madison University is 2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC (about $274 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $13,976.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.8% higher at JMU than at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (about $2,294 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $29,310.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Cincinnati Main Campus than at James Madison University (73% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 47.8% larger than aid received by University of Cincinnati Main Campus students ($12,114 vs. $8,196).

UC vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC 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 UC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (1270) is 10 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming UC students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 26) as students at JMU (26).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Cincinnati Main Campus 1160/1370; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Cincinnati Main Campus 24/29; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC - 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: UC Mar 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UC students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • UC has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at UC vs. 18.2% at JMU.

UC vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC 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 Cincinnati Main Campus's (59%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $14,700 more per year than UC graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $45,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $2,101 lower median loan debt than UC graduates ($20,899 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC graduates ($216 vs. $237).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 57%)

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.