James Madison University (JMU) vs University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass)

When it comes to choosing the right university, it's essential to compare institutions to find the best fit. James Madison University (JMU) and University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass-Amherst) are two excellent options with distinct characteristics. JMU, located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, boasts a higher acceptance rate (73%) compared to UMass-Amherst's 67%. Both universities offer a diverse range of popular majors, including business, engineering, and nursing. However, UMass-Amherst has a larger student body, with over 28,000 undergraduates, while JMU has a more intimate community of around 21,000 undergraduates. Additionally, UMass-Amherst has a slightly higher graduation rate (82%) compared to JMU's 79%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further differences and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
James Madison University logo

James Madison University

University of Massachusetts-Amherst logo

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Overview

Location Harrisonburg, Virginia Amherst, Massachusetts
Campus setting City: Small Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 91.0% 91.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 86.3% 65.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $85

Graduate: $85
SAT range 1140 - 1310 1250 - 1460
ACT range 24 - 29 28 - 33
Students submitting SAT score 26.0% 26.0%
Students submitting ACT score 5.0% 5.0%
Total number of applicants 21,176 42,540
Total number of admissions given out 18,265 27,877
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,767 4,872
Yield rate 26.1% 17.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $29,293

Out of state: $46,219
In state: $32,434

Out of state: $52,959
Average net price $18,528 $17,291
Tuition
In state: $7,460

Out of state: $23,800
In state: $15,791

Out of state: $36,316
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,564

Meal plan: $5,986
Room/dormitory: $7,611

Meal plan: $5,984
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

31.0%
Average amount $9,594
86.0%
Average amount $10,662
Students receiving federal student loan 33.0%
Average amount $5,199
39.0%
Average amount $5,123
Students taking out private loans 8.0%
Average amount $18,776
7.0%
Average amount $15,924

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 20,070
Men 42.3% Women 57.7%
24,231
Men 48.8% Women 51.2%
Graduate students 2,096
Men 29.4% Women 70.6%
7,814
Men 47.9% Women 52.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 1.4% 11.1%
Campus local/setting City: Small Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 6,513 13,582
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A New York New Jersey Connecticut California New Hampshire

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Health Professions
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 81.8% 83.7%
Dropout rate 17.4% 5.1%
Transferred out N/A 10.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $106,893
  • Year 2: $116,083
  • Year 3: $116,887
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $103,590
  • Year 2: $91,744
  • Year 3: $105,768
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,457
  • Year 2: $72,659
  • Year 3: $85,951
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,020
  • Year 2: $72,290
  • Year 3: $82,877
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,544
  • Year 2: $67,380
  • Year 3: $80,406
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,052
  • Year 2: $66,377
  • Year 3: $77,982
Systems Science and Theory (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,389
  • Year 2: $60,623
  • Year 3: $75,407
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,331
  • Year 2: $49,270
  • Year 3: $69,797
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,114
  • Year 2: $57,943
  • Year 3: $69,218
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,708
  • Year 2: $55,964
  • Year 3: $68,304
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,236
  • Year 2: $99,741
  • Year 3: $118,959
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,497
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $105,578
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $79,216
  • Year 2: $78,232
  • Year 3: $95,030
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,683
  • Year 2: $75,518
  • Year 3: $94,055
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,391
  • Year 2: $76,460
  • Year 3: $79,970
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,906
  • Year 2: $67,202
  • Year 3: $79,007
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,222
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $76,636
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,607
  • Year 2: $68,647
  • Year 3: $74,913
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,719
  • Year 2: $65,594
  • Year 3: $74,578
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,571
  • Year 2: $63,646
  • Year 3: $73,746

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