Iowa vs. JMU

Deciding between University of Iowa 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 Iowa
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Iowa Iowa City, IA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Iowa Small City
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • Iowa 30,779
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Iowa Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Iowa #233
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Iowa -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Iowa Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Iowa
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Iowa $11,283
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Iowa $33,371
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Iowa $12,920
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Iowa $21,765
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Iowa $9,865
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Iowa 76%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Iowa 27,770
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Iowa 23,222
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Iowa 83.6%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Iowa 22.4%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Iowa 1230
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Iowa 24
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Iowa 3.81
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Iowa A-
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Iowa Challenging
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Iowa
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Iowa 21/28
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Iowa 1130/1330
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Iowa Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Iowa May 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Iowa 16:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Iowa
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Iowa 71%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Iowa $59,800
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Iowa 70%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Iowa $21,616
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Iowa $223
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Iowa 12%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • Iowa 14%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Iowa Medium
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Iowa No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Iowa 67%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Iowa 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Iowa 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Iowa 7%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Iowa 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Iowa 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Iowa 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Iowa 12%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Iowa 4%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Iowa 54%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Iowa 45%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Iowa is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (30,779 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, IA (Small City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Iowa 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 Iowa 16:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Iowa vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa 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 Iowa ($18,856 vs. $21,765).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Iowa are 1% lower than at James Madison University ($12,920 vs. $13,056).
  • James Madison University is 26.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Iowa (about $2,967 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $11,283.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.6% higher at Iowa than at James Madison University (about $1,767 more per year; $33,371.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Iowa than at James Madison University (76% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 22.8% larger than aid received by University of Iowa students ($12,114 vs. $9,865).

Iowa vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa 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 Iowa.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 30 points higher than at Iowa (1230).
  • Incoming JMU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at Iowa).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Iowa 1130/1330; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Iowa 21/28; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Iowa - 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: Iowa May 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (83.6%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.4% at Iowa vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Iowa vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Iowa 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 Iowa's (71%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $500 more per year than Iowa graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $59,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $717 lower median loan debt than Iowa graduates ($20,899 vs. $21,616).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Iowa graduates ($216 vs. $223).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 70%)

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.