UH vs. JMU

Deciding between University of Houston 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 Houston
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UH Houston, TX
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • UH Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • UH 47,980
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • UH Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UH #449
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UH -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • UH Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UH
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UH $9,717
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UH $22,547
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • UH $11,286
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • UH $14,309
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UH $12,159
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UH 74%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UH 31,716
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • UH 23,446
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UH 73.9%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • UH 26.5%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UH 1250
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UH 26
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • UH 3.46
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UH B+
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UH Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UH Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • UH 23/29
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • UH 1160/1340
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UH Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • UH May 31, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UH 22:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UH
    • Business (30%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UH 46%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UH $59,000
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UH 61%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UH $19,750
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UH $204
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UH 9%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • UH 10%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UH Very High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • UH No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • UH 26%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • UH 22%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • UH 10%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UH 32%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • UH 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UH 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UH 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • UH 5%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UH 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UH 93%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UH 3%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Houston is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (47,980 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Houston is located in Houston, TX (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Houston 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 Houston 22:1; James Madison University 17:1.

UH vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UH 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 Houston than JMU ($14,309 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston are 13.6% lower than at James Madison University ($11,286 vs. $13,056).
  • James Madison University is 46.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UH (about $4,533 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $9,717.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.2% higher at JMU than at University of Houston (about $9,057 more per year; $31,604.00 vs. $22,547.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Houston than at James Madison University (74% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston students is 0.4% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($12,159 vs. $12,114).

UH vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UH 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 UH.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 10 points higher than at UH (1250).
  • Incoming UH 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 Houston 1160/1340; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Houston 23/29; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UH - 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: UH May 31, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman JMU students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.57) than students at UH (3.46).
  • UH has a higher acceptance rate (73.9%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.5% at UH vs. 18.2% at JMU.

UH vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UH 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 Houston's (46%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than UH graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Houston graduates have a $1,149 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($19,750 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, UH graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($204 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UH students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 61%)

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.