KU vs. JMU

Should I go to University of Kansas or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if KU or JMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Kansas vs. James Madison University comparison
University of Kansas James Madison University College 3 College 4
University of Kansas James Madison University
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Overview

 KU JMU
Location Lawrence, KS Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 26,708 22,224
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #252 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ku.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 KU JMU
Tuition (In State) $10,092 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $26,960 $24,744
Room & Board $10,136 $12,040
Avg Net Price $18,950 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $11,140 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 87% 33%

Admission

 KU JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,204 30,727
Admitted 14,234 24,062
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 78.3%
Enrolled % 31.3% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.66 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 23/29
SAT Range 1090/1340 1140/1320
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

 KU JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 KU JMU
Graduation Rate 61% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,600 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,500 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $211 $216

Diversity

 KU JMU
% Men 45% 42%
% Women 55% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 76%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 7% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

 KU JMU
% In-State 58% 73%
% Out-of-State 39% 26%

Campus

 KU JMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kansas is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (26,708 students vs. 22,224 students)

KU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, KU or JMU?

  • University of Kansas is 31.3% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($10,092.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9% higher at KU than James Madison University ($26,960.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than KU ($18,274 vs. $18,950)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kansas are 18.8% lower than costs at James Madison University ($10,136 vs. $12,040)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kansas than James Madison University (87% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kansas students is 10.5% larger than aid received James Madison University ($11,140 vs. $10,081)

KU vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, KU or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or KU .

  • The average SAT score at University of Kansas (1145) is 11 points higher than at JMU (1134)
  • Incoming KU students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at JMU (25)
  • Accepted freshman KU students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • KU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than JMU (78.3%)

KU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, KU or JMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between JMU and KU.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than University of Kansas (81% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $5,700 more per year than KU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $54,600)
  • University of Kansas students graduate with a $399 lower median federal student loan debt than JMU graduates. ($20,500 vs. $20,899)
  • KU graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than JMU graduates. ($211 vs. $216)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/