Kentucky vs. JMU

Should I go to University of Kentucky or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Kentucky 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 Kentucky vs. James Madison University comparison
University of Kentucky James Madison University College 3 College 4
University of Kentucky James Madison University
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Overview

Kentucky JMU
Location Lexington, KY Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 31,547 22,224
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #408 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uky.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Kentucky JMU
Tuition (In State) $11,496 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $30,913 $24,744
Room & Board $14,676 $12,040
Avg Net Price $18,693 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $14,114 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 33%

Admission

Kentucky JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 22,109 30,727
Admitted 20,979 24,062
Acceptance Rate 94.9% 78.3%
Enrolled % 28.9% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/28 23/29
SAT Range 1070/1290 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 Feb 15, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

Kentucky JMU
% Men 40% 42%
% Women 60% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 76%
% Black 8% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

Kentucky JMU
% In-State 61% 73%
% Out-of-State 37% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Kentucky is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (31,547 students vs. 22,224 students)

Kentucky vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kentucky or JMU?

  • University of Kentucky is 49.6% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($11,496.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 24.9% higher at Kentucky than James Madison University ($30,913.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Kentucky ($18,274 vs. $18,693)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 21.9% lower than costs at University of Kentucky ($12,040 vs. $14,676)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Kentucky than James Madison University (94% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kentucky students is 40% larger than aid received James Madison University ($14,114 vs. $10,081)

Kentucky vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Kentucky (1143) is 9 points higher than at JMU (1134)
  • Incoming Kentucky students have at the same average ACT score (25) as students at JMU (25)
  • 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 (94.9%) than JMU (78.3%)

Kentucky vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Kentucky 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 Kentucky.

  • The graduation rate at JMU is higher than University of Kentucky (81% vs. 59%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $9,300 more per year than Kentucky graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $51,000)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $1,851 lower median federal student loan debt than Kentucky graduates. ($20,899 vs. $22,750)
  • JMU graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans 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/