UL Lafayette vs. JMU

University of Louisiana at Lafayette and James Madison University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette
James Madison University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: JMU (71.5% admitted vs 87%). Typical SAT 1260 vs 1180.
  • Cheaper after aid: UL Lafayette. Average net price is $13,017 vs $18,856 at JMU.
  • Graduation: UL Lafayette 41% vs JMU 81%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UL Lafayette $45,000 vs JMU $60,300 (median).
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Key differences

University of Louisiana at Lafayette James Madison University
Acceptance rate
JMU more selective
UL Lafayette87%
JMU71.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
JMU higher
UL Lafayette1120-1240
JMU1170-1340
Average net price
UL Lafayette $5,839 less
UL Lafayette$13,017
JMU$18,856
In-state tuition
UL Lafayette $3,832 less
UL Lafayette$10,418
JMU$14,250
Out-of-state tuition
UL Lafayette $7,458 less
UL Lafayette$24,146
JMU$31,604
Graduation rate
JMU +40 pts
UL Lafayette41%
JMU81%
Median earnings (10 years)
JMU +$15,300
UL Lafayette$45,000
JMU$60,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UL Lafayette 11,099
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • UL Lafayette 9,657
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance rate
  • UL Lafayette 87%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UL Lafayette 31.7%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UL Lafayette 1180
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UL Lafayette 25
  • JMU 26
  • Average high school GPA
  • UL Lafayette 3.4
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical high school grades
  • UL Lafayette B+
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions standards
  • UL Lafayette Average
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • UL Lafayette
  • JMU Low
  • SAT range
  • UL Lafayette 1120-1240
  • JMU 1170-1340
  • ACT range
  • UL Lafayette 23-28
  • JMU 24-29
  • Submit test scores
  • UL Lafayette Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UL Lafayette
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UL Lafayette $10,418
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UL Lafayette $24,146
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & board
  • UL Lafayette $12,108
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average net price
  • UL Lafayette $13,017
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average grant aid
  • UL Lafayette $11,762
  • JMU $12,114
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UL Lafayette 91%
  • JMU 33%
  • Graduation rate
  • UL Lafayette 41%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UL Lafayette $45,000
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • UL Lafayette 55%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UL Lafayette $19,500
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median loan payment
  • UL Lafayette $201
  • JMU $216
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UL Lafayette 18:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular majors
  • UL Lafayette
    • Business (23%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Engineering (6%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Location
  • UL Lafayette Lafayette, LA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • UL Lafayette Midsize City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UL Lafayette 15,665
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • UL Lafayette Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UL Lafayette #682
  • JMU #246

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Lafayette, LA with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

James Madison University is larger than UL Lafayette based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 15,665 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Louisiana at Lafayette is located in Lafayette, LA (Midsize City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Louisiana at Lafayette 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 Louisiana at Lafayette 18:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Louisiana at Lafayette are 7.3% lower than at James Madison University ($12,108 vs. $13,056).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.9% higher at JMU than at University of Louisiana at Lafayette (about $7,458 more per year; $31,604 vs. $24,146).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Louisiana at Lafayette than at James Madison University (91% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by James Madison University students is 3% larger than aid received by University of Louisiana at Lafayette students ($12,114 vs. $11,762).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at JMU than at UL Lafayette (26 vs. 25, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both UL Lafayette and JMU.
  • Typical fall application deadline: JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at JMU average a 3.57 high school GPA, 0.17 higher than at UL Lafayette (3.4).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.7% at UL Lafayette vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Louisiana at Lafayette graduates have a $1,399 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, UL Lafayette graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($201 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UL Lafayette students, three years after graduation (83% vs. 55%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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