Wake Forest vs. JMU

Deciding between Wake Forest 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.

Wake Forest University
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wake Forest Winston-Salem, NC
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Wake Forest Midsize City
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • Wake Forest 9,322
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Wake Forest Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wake Forest #49
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wake Forest -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Wake Forest Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wake Forest
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wake Forest $67,642
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Wake Forest $18,494
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Wake Forest $24,401
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wake Forest $63,117
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wake Forest 35%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wake Forest 18,727
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Wake Forest 4,058
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wake Forest 21.7%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Wake Forest 36.1%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wake Forest 1470
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wake Forest 33
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wake Forest -
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wake Forest -
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wake Forest Exceptional
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wake Forest Very High
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Wake Forest 32/34
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Wake Forest 1410/1520
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wake Forest Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wake Forest 10:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wake Forest
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wake Forest $77,200
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wake Forest 88%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wake Forest $23,000
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wake Forest $237
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wake Forest 17%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • Wake Forest 24%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wake Forest Low
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Wake Forest No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Wake Forest 72%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Wake Forest 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Wake Forest 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wake Forest 3%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Wake Forest 7%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wake Forest 0%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wake Forest 12%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wake Forest 84%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC 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 Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 9,322 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Wake Forest University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Wake Forest University 10:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Wake Forest vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest ($18,856 vs. $24,401).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 29.4% lower than at Wake Forest University ($13,056 vs. $18,494).
  • Wake Forest University is 374.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $53,392 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 114% higher at Wake Forest than at James Madison University (about $36,038 more per year; $67,642.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wake Forest University than at James Madison University (35% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 421% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($63,117 vs. $12,114).

Wake Forest vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wake Forest University (1470) is 210 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Wake Forest 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: Wake Forest University 1410/1520; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wake Forest University 32/34; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wake Forest - 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: Wake Forest Jan 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than Wake Forest (21.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 36.1% at Wake Forest vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Wake Forest vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wake Forest 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).

  • Wake Forest University's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than James Madison University's (81%).
  • Graduates from Wake Forest University earn a median of about $16,900 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $2,101 lower median loan debt than Wake Forest graduates ($20,899 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wake Forest graduates ($216 vs. $237).
  • More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JMU students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.