Villanova vs. JMU

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

 Villanova JMU
Location Villanova, PA Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 10,383 22,224
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #66 #260
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website villanova.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Villanova JMU
Tuition (In State) $60,768 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $60,768 $24,744
Room & Board $16,087 $12,040
Avg Net Price $34,837 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $42,834 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 33%

Admission

 Villanova JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 23,835 30,727
Admitted 5,576 24,062
Acceptance Rate 23.4% 78.3%
Enrolled % 31.9% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.87 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 32/34 23/29
SAT Range 1378/1500 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 Jan 15, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

 Villanova JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 Villanova JMU
Graduation Rate 90% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $85,100 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,497 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $273 $216

Diversity

 Villanova JMU
% Men 46% 42%
% Women 54% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 74% 76%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 8% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 2% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

 Villanova JMU
% In-State 18% 73%
% Out-of-State 78% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • James Madison University is larger than than Villanova based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 10,383 students)

Villanova vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Villanova or JMU?

  • Villanova University is 690.8% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($60,768.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 145.6% higher at Villanova than James Madison University ($60,768.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Villanova ($18,274 vs. $34,837)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 33.6% lower than costs at Villanova University ($12,040 vs. $16,087)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Villanova University than James Madison University (52% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Villanova University students is 324.9% larger than aid received James Madison University ($42,834 vs. $10,081)

Villanova vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Villanova University (1326) is 192 points higher than at JMU (1134)
  • Incoming Villanova students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at JMU (25)
  • Accepted freshman Villanova students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than Villanova (23.4%)

Villanova vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Villanova 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 Villanova.

  • The graduation rate at Villanova is higher than James Madison University (90% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Villanova University earn on average $24,800 more per year than JMU graduates after ten years. ($85,100 vs. $60,300)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $5,598 lower median federal student loan debt than Villanova graduates. ($20,899 vs. $26,497)
  • JMU graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than Villanova graduates. ($216 vs. $273)
  • More Villanova graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JMU students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 83%)

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