Kentucky vs. JMU

Deciding between University of Kentucky 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 Kentucky
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kentucky Lexington, KY
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Kentucky Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • Kentucky 34,709
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Kentucky Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kentucky #437
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kentucky -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Kentucky Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kentucky
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kentucky $13,502
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kentucky $34,140
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Kentucky $16,016
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Kentucky $21,958
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kentucky $12,898
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kentucky 95%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kentucky 31,517
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Kentucky 29,293
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kentucky 92.9%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Kentucky 22.2%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kentucky 1180
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kentucky 24
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kentucky 3.59
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kentucky B+
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kentucky Challenging
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kentucky
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Kentucky 21/28
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Kentucky 1070/1290
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kentucky Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Kentucky Feb 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kentucky 18:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kentucky
    • Business (19%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kentucky 59%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kentucky $51,000
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kentucky 62%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kentucky $22,750
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kentucky $235
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kentucky 9%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • Kentucky 17%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kentucky Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Kentucky No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Kentucky 76%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Kentucky 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Kentucky 8%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kentucky 4%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Kentucky 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kentucky 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kentucky 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Kentucky 3%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kentucky 3%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kentucky 58%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kentucky 41%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Kentucky is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (34,709 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, KY (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Kentucky 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 Kentucky 18:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Kentucky vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kentucky 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 Kentucky ($18,856 vs. $21,958).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 18.5% lower than at University of Kentucky ($13,056 vs. $16,016).
  • James Madison University is 5.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kentucky (about $748 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $13,502.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8% higher at Kentucky than at James Madison University (about $2,536 more per year; $34,140.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Kentucky than at James Madison University (95% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kentucky students is 6.5% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($12,898 vs. $12,114).

Kentucky vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kentucky 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 Kentucky.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at James Madison University (1260) is 80 points higher than at Kentucky (1180).
  • Incoming JMU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at Kentucky).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kentucky 1070/1290; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kentucky 21/28; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kentucky - 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: Kentucky Feb 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kentucky students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (92.9%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at Kentucky vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Kentucky vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kentucky 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 Kentucky's (59%).
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn a median of about $9,300 more per year than Kentucky graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,300 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $1,851 lower median loan debt than Kentucky graduates ($20,899 vs. $22,750).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kentucky graduates ($216 vs. $235).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kentucky students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 62%)

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.