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Harrisonburg, VA · Lynchburg, VA
| James Madison University | Liberty University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $23,322/yr | $29,357/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $11,444/yr | $30,667/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $20,093 | $24,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $12,977/yr | $27,807/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $16,475/yr | $27,347/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $22,343/yr | $27,142/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $30,147/yr | $30,545/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $213/mo | $260/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $13,056/yr | $13,835/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $13,056/yr | $11,870/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,298/yr | $1,596/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,672/yr | $6,593/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $31,735/yr | $42,025/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $14,250/yr | $22,465/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $31,604/yr | $22,465/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 17% | 38% |
| Students taking federal loans | 29% | 46% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 72% | 99% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1170–1340 | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1256 | No data reported |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 24–29 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 35,750 | 36,921 |
| Students accepted | 27,258 | 36,671 |
| Students who enrolled | 4,922 | 6,419 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 18% | 18% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 19% | No data reported |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 3% | No data reported |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Class rank | Not considered | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 80% | 65% |
| Freshmen who come back | 92% | 80% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $69,954/yr | $44,813/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $48,802–$100,257 | $24,639–$68,020 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 81% | 47% |
| White students graduating | 81% | 70% |
| Black students graduating | 69% | 41% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 74% | 51% |
| Asian students graduating | 82% | 71% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $57,438/yr | $39,707/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 86% | 64% |
| Graduate on time | 66% | 55% |
| Pell students who graduate | 71% | 53% |
| First-gen students who finish | 82% | 31% |
| Low-income students who finish | 80% | 23% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 1.1% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $64,070/yr | $40,638/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 18% · Business, Management & Marketing 15% · Communication & Journalism 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 19% · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 13% · Psychology 12% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 18% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 19% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 15% of degrees | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 13% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Communication & Journalism — 10% of degrees | Psychology — 12% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 7% of degrees | Education — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Social Sciences — 7% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $120,817/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $95,825/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 15% | 6% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 20,888 | 50,012 |
| Students per professor | 17 : 1 | 18 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,767 | 51,366 |
| Average professor pay | $10,916/mo | $8,826/mo |
| Full-time professors | 81% | 16% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $92,165 | $31,696 |
| Setting | City (small) | City (small) |
| Location | Harrisonburg, VA | Lynchburg, VA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1908 | 1971 |
| Public or private | Public | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity | Doctoral/Professional Universities |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| Men | 44% | 45% |
| Women | 56% | 55% |
| White students | 72% | 57% |
| Black students | 4.7% | 11% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 8.8% | 7.9% |
| Asian students | 5.3% | 1.8% |
| Two or more races | 5.7% | 4.2% |
| Other / not reported | 2.6% | 18% |
| Special type | None | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 21% | 42% |
| Part-time students | 5.3% | 35% |
| Students age 25+ | 2.9% | 48% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $10,620/yr | $4,004/yr |
| Endowment | $155.5M | $2.6B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 6,481 | 8,807 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,010/yr | $7,560/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $6,494/yr | $5,360/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | No data reported | Evangelical Christian |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | Yes | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FCS | NCAA Division I-FBS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 16 | 16 |
| Student athletes | 492 | 551 |
| Athletic scholarships | $10.9M | $11.1M |
| Athletics budget | $68.4M | $62.1M |
| Athletics revenue | $68.4M | $62.1M |
| Recruiting spend | $1.1M | $1.4M |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.