Furman vs. JMU

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

Furman JMU
Location Greenville, SC Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 2,443 22,224
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #102 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website furman.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Furman JMU
Tuition (In State) $55,392 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $55,392 $24,744
Room & Board $15,148 $12,040
Avg Net Price $33,370 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $36,384 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 33%

Admission

Furman JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,514 30,727
Admitted 5,036 24,062
Acceptance Rate 67% 78.3%
Enrolled % 12.8% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.61 3.57
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 27/32 23/29
SAT Range 1260/1455 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

Furman JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

Furman JMU
Graduation Rate 87% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $54,300 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,443 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $263 $216

Diversity

Furman JMU
% Men 40% 42%
% Women 60% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 76%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 6% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Furman JMU
% In-State 37% 73%
% Out-of-State 60% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • James Madison University is larger than than Furman based on total student enrollment (22,224 students vs. 2,443 students)

Furman vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Furman or JMU?

  • Furman University is 620.9% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($55,392.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 123.9% higher at Furman than James Madison University ($55,392.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than Furman ($18,274 vs. $33,370)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 25.8% lower than costs at Furman University ($12,040 vs. $15,148)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Furman University than James Madison University (100% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Furman University students is 260.9% larger than aid received James Madison University ($36,384 vs. $10,081)

Furman vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Furman students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than Furman (67%)

Furman vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Furman 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 Furman.

  • The graduation rate at Furman is higher than James Madison University (87% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $6,000 more per year than Furman graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $54,300)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $4,544 lower median federal student loan debt than Furman graduates. ($20,899 vs. $25,443)
  • JMU graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Furman graduates. ($216 vs. $263)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Furman students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 82%)

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