James Madison University (JMU) vs University of Connecticut (UConn)

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant college towns of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Storrs, Connecticut, home to James Madison University (JMU) and the University of Connecticut (UConn), respectively. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence and offer a diverse range of programs, they each possess unique characteristics that set them apart. JMU boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for prospective students. UConn, on the other hand, enjoys a slightly higher graduation rate, indicating its dedication to student success. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further distinctions, including popular majors, student body demographics, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your academic journey.
James Madison University logo

James Madison University

University of Connecticut logo

University of Connecticut

Overview

Location Harrisonburg, Virginia Storrs, Connecticut
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% 92.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 86.3% 55.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $80

Graduate: $75
SAT range 1140 - 1310 1230 - 1430
ACT range 24 - 29 27 - 33
Students submitting SAT score 26.0% 43.0%
Students submitting ACT score 5.0% 7.0%
Total number of applicants 21,176 36,753
Total number of admissions given out 18,265 20,433
Admitted students who chose to enroll 4,767 3,663
Yield rate 26.1% 17.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not 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: $37,266

Out of state: $59,934
Average net price $18,528 $22,168
Tuition
In state: $7,460

Out of state: $23,800
In state: $15,030

Out of state: $37,698
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,564

Meal plan: $5,986
Room/dormitory: $7,238

Meal plan: $6,020
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
76.0%
Average amount $15,801
Students receiving federal student loan 33.0%
Average amount $5,199
35.0%
Average amount $5,247
Students taking out private loans 8.0%
Average amount $18,776
5.0%
Average amount $21,780

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 20,070
Men 42.3% Women 57.7%
18,567
Men 47.6% Women 52.4%
Graduate students 2,096
Men 29.4% Women 70.6%
8,309
Men 45.1% Women 54.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 35.3%
International students 1.4% 12.3%
Campus local/setting City: Small Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 6,513 10,792
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Connecticut Mississippi New York New Jersey New Hampshire

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Mathematics and Statistics
Students to faculty ratio 16:1 15:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 81.8% 83.1%
Dropout rate 17.4% 6.7%
Transferred out N/A 9.5%
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
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,915
  • Year 2: $95,473
  • Year 3: $146,595
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $102,306
  • Year 2: $106,249
  • Year 3: $123,588
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $85,391
  • Year 2: $115,339
  • Year 3: $122,969
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $106,347
  • Year 2: $105,392
  • Year 3: $111,865
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,087
  • Year 2: $89,859
  • Year 3: $106,919
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,556
  • Year 2: $89,144
  • Year 3: $95,923
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,033
  • Year 2: $79,473
  • Year 3: $92,299
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,037
  • Year 2: $77,715
  • Year 3: $89,989
Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $78,073
  • Year 2: $86,621
  • Year 3: $88,550
Psychology, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $87,936

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