Villanova vs. JMU

Deciding between Villanova University 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.

Villanova University
James Madison University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Villanova Villanova, PA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Villanova Large Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • Villanova 10,041
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Villanova Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Villanova #67
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Villanova Roman Catholic
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Villanova Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Villanova
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Villanova $67,776
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Villanova $67,776
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Villanova $17,694
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Villanova $37,201
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Villanova $47,609
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Villanova 48%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Villanova 23,256
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Villanova 6,274
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Villanova 27%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Villanova 27.7%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Villanova 1450
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Villanova 33
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Villanova 3.87
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Villanova A-
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Villanova Exceptional
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Villanova High
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Villanova 32/34
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Villanova 1395/1510
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Villanova Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Villanova Jan 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Villanova 14%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • Villanova 17%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Villanova Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Villanova No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Villanova 74%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Villanova 7%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Villanova 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Villanova 8%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Villanova 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Villanova 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Villanova 2%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Villanova 2%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Villanova 1%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Villanova 21%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Villanova 77%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Villanova University in Villanova, PA with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

James Madison University is larger than Villanova based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 10,041 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Villanova University is located in Villanova, PA (Large Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Villanova University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Villanova University 10:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Villanova vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Villanova 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 Villanova ($18,856 vs. $37,201).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 26.2% lower than at Villanova University ($13,056 vs. $17,694).
  • Villanova University is 375.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $53,526 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 114.5% higher at Villanova than at James Madison University (about $36,172 more per year; $67,776.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Villanova University than at James Madison University (48% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Villanova University students is 293% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($47,609 vs. $12,114).

Villanova vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Villanova 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 Villanova.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Villanova University (1450) is 190 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Villanova students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Villanova University 1395/1510; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Villanova University 32/34; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Villanova - 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: Villanova Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (71.5%) than Villanova (27%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.7% at Villanova vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Villanova vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Villanova 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).

  • Villanova University's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from Villanova University earn a median of about $24,800 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,100 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $5,598 lower median loan debt than Villanova graduates ($20,899 vs. $26,497).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.