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Naman Arora Study Abroad Course Specialist
Study Abroad Course Specialist
James Madison University (JMU) is a public university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley. Admissions are fairly competitive, and JMU's acceptance rate is approximately 76%. It is a large university with approximately 21,000 undergraduates. The most popular programs at JMU are Business, Health Sciences, Education, Psychology, and Communication. The six-year graduation rate is approximately 82%, and median earnings of alumni are reported to be around INR 57,80,000 or USD 69,950 ten years after graduation.
Virginia Tech (VT), formally Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, is a public land-grant research university located in Blacksburg, Virginia, within the New River Valley region. Admissions are moderately selective, with VT's acceptance rate at approximately 57%. It is a large university with approximately 31,000 undergraduate students. Among the most in-demand programs at VT are Engineering, Business, Computer Science, Health Sciences, and Architecture. The six-year graduation rate stands at approximately 86%, and the median incomes reported by alumni are approximately INR 67,80,000 or USD 81,700 within a decade of their graduation
| James Madison University | Virginia Tech | |
|---|---|---|
| ranking (overall) | # 1908 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 124 US News 2024 # 2083 US News 2024 | # 251 Times Higher Education 2026 # 358 QS World University 2026 # 281 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -56 PG Programs -25 Doctorate Programs -8 | UG Programs -95 PG Programs -64 Doctorate Programs -1 |
| Acceptance Rate | 76.0 % | 57.0 % |
| Exam Score | IELTS-6.5 SAT-1100 TOEFL-80 | GMAT-600 IELTS-6.5 SAT-1180 TOEFL-90 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 23650 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 22158 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 25364 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 33857 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 23670 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 24705 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | 95% of the bachelors program students and 98% of the graduate program students find employment after graduation. The average salary of the bachelor program was around $51,900 and for graduate program it was $63,200. | Graduate Employability Rankings- #363(QS – World University Rankings 2023) #62(US news an world report-Best National University) ; Top recruiters: Booz, Allen and Hamilton, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Virginia Tech, Lockheed Martin Corp, Capital One Financial Corp; Average Salaries are as follows:
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| application requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit English language proficieny scores Submitting exam scores is optional Check program specific requirements | Academic transcripts; GMAT/ GRE scores for graduate admission; 3 LORs; Sop; Resume; Proof of English language proficiency. |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 108 for Public Policy by US News 2025 | # 111 for Technology by QS World University 2024 # 200 for Technology by US News 2022 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 105/160GMAT - 500/800GRE - 310/340IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 58/90TOEFL - 80/120 | GRE - 310/340IELTS - 7.5/9PTE - 53/90TOEFL - 96/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -22158 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -23670 |
| application dates | May 1, 2024 (Application Deadline For Fall 2024 Intake) Oct 1, 2024 (Application Deadline For Spring 2025 Intake) Feb 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Summer 2025 Intake) | Sep 1, 2024 (Application Deadline For Spring Intake) Jan 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Summer Intake 1) Feb 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Summer Intake 2) Mar 31, 2025 (Application Deadline For Fall Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | James Madison University | Virginia Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1908 | 1872 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 13:1 |
| Male:Female | 41% Male, 59% Female | 57% Male, 43% Female |
| Location Facts | James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The campus is divided into five parts: Bluestone, Hillside, Lakeside, Skyline, and the Village. | Main campus located in Blacksburg; about 40 miles southwest of Roanoke, Virginia; situated on a plateau between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains; includes 213 buildings, 2,600 acres, and an airport |
| Library | The university has four libraries. Rose Library is on East Campus, and it has STEM and business books. Carrier Library is near the quad, and has humanities books, including Special Collections (our rare, fragile, or JMU-related books). The Music Library is in the basement of the Music Building, and it has sheet music and audio material. The Educational Technology & Media Center (ETMC) is located in Memorial Hall and has children's and education-related books. | The libraries offer everything from technology-rich spaces, exhibits, and collections to services for managing research data and scholarship. The libraries also assist students and faculty in publishing scholarly works and offer consulting on a wide array of learning, research, and creative activities. They have three libraries on the Virginia Tech campus. It includes:
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| Campus Life | The school has 35 residence halls, ten of which serve as sorority houses. While most residence halls are only for housing, several halls also provide auxiliary services like computer labs and study lounges.All freshmen must live on campus, and a large portion of JMU's on-campus housing is set aside for incoming students. James Madison University has over 350 clubs and organizations for students to choose from. This growing list of involvement opportunities provides students with unique experiences that will help them to grow in community and engagement outside of the classroom. The JMU Student Government Association (SGA) was founded in 1915 and stood as the first organization on campus. Their goal was to become an organization whose role was to be the voice for the JMU student population and advocate on behalf of the students to the administration and the rest of the community. JMU is home to nine a cappella ensembles: four all-female, three all-male, and two co-educational groups. They are nationally recognized, with many of them featured on the Best of College A Cappella (BOCA) yearly compilation albums. The JMU Men's and Women's Club Soccer Teams are two of the most decorated club organizations in JMU school history. James Madison University's athletic teams are known as the "Dukes." | Globber Connect for students to participate in 100+ student clubs; Globberfest (Annual festival), VT Engage (service-learning and civic engagement center); Recreational Sports Department with 39 intramural sports, on-campus gyms, aquatic centers, more than 100 group exercises classes; Cultural & Community Centers; Women’s Center; Cranwell International Center; Schiffert Health Center; Hokie Wellness that offers peer-led workshops; Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets (VTCC)- military component of the student body. |
| Hostel | #On campus - $10112 #Off campus (not with family) - $10112 #Off campus (with family) - $5140 | #Room & Board (Private) - $12028 #Room and Board - $12677 |
| Famous Alumni | Odicci Alexander, softball player Steve Arhancet - CEO and co-owner Team Liquid, Liquid Media, & 1UP Studios | 250,000+ living alumni; Hoda Kotb (American-Egyptian broadcaster); Homer Hickam (American author); Bruce Smith (American football player); Jim Buckmaster (CEO of Craigslist Inc.); Charles Camarda (American engineer); Kevin Jones (Former American football player); Rob Wittman (U.S. Representative); Bill Dally (American computer scientist); Collette Wolfe (American actress); Steven Mollenkopf (Chief Executive of Qualcomm). |
| City Life | Harrisonburg, Virginia is a vibrant and picturesque city located in the Shenandoah Valley. This charming community of just over 54,000 residents offers an ideal mix of rural charm and modern amenities. Residents can explore the area's many parks and trails for outdoor recreation or take advantage of excellent shopping centers and attractions. The city also boasts excellent schools, health care options and services, making it a great place to call home. With something for everyone to enjoy, Harrisonburg is the perfect place to relax and explore. | Blacksburg- incorporated town in Montgomery County, Virginia; Blacksburg has about 43,000 residents and is located in the New River Valley, which is Virginia’s fastest growing region west of Richmond. The city and region get high marks from outdoor enthusiasts and were named the No. 3 new tech hub by Axios. Although there’s always something happening at Virginia Tech, sometimes it’s nice to get off campus and into the outdoors. Southwest Virginia offers great hiking and biking, scenic lakes and drives, and all kinds of festivals. Famous attractions- Armory Art Gallery, Caboose Park, Kent Square, Hahn Horticulture Garden and Lyric Theatre; Annual town events include the International Street Fair and Parade, Steppin’ Out (town’s first annual street festival); Unemployment rate: 3% (Dec 2022). |
| Weather |
James Madison University vs Virginia Tech
Subject Strength & World Rankings (2025/2026)
James Madison University (JMU), Harrisonburg, Virginia, is highly ranked for Business, Education, Health Sciences, and Computer Science. It does not figure in QS or THE world rankings and has a strong regional but restricted international presence. Virginia Tech (VT), Blacksburg, Virginia, is a top public research institution famous for Engineering, Computer Science, Business, and Architecture. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, VT is ranked approximately 330–350, whereas in the THE World University Rankings 2025 it is ranked in the 251–300 band, thus having much better global recognition than JMU.
General Information
JMU, established in 1908, has approximately 23,000 enrolled students and offers a standard liberal arts and professional education atmosphere within a college-town community. Virginia Tech, founded in 1872, has approximately 38,000 enrolled students and is Virginia's biggest research university, providing an engineering and technology-based campus life. JMU focuses on undergraduate instruction and an even student life, whereas VT combines large-scale research with STEM-oriented academics.
Acceptance Rate & Admission
JMU accepts around 83% of students with average GPAs of 3.7 and SAT scores between 1150–1330. VT is more selective, with an acceptance rate of approximately 56%, accepting students with average GPAs of 3.9 and SAT scores in the 1210–1410 range. JMU provides wider accessibility, whereas VT receives highly competitive applicants, especially in the fields of engineering and computer science.
Research Impact & Facilities
JMU is an R2 research university that specializes in applied research in health sciences, education, and business. Virginia Tech is an R1 research behemoth, with internationally acclaimed research in engineering, agriculture, cybersecurity, and data sciences. Its alliances with the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and increasing footprint in Northern Virginia (Innovation Campus) speak volumes of its robust research environment. VT has a clear edge over JMU when it comes to international collaborations and research output.
Cost & Financial Aid
JMU's costs are around $12,700 per year for in-state students and $33,000 for out-of-state/international students. VT is the same, around $14,000 for in-state and $34,000 for out-of-state/international students. Both institutions award scholarships, with JMU offering more undergraduate merit aid, whereas VT offers more access through research assistantships, STEM scholarships, and graduate funding.
Graduate Studies & Alumni Outcomes
JMU graduates usually have careers in business, healthcare, teaching, and IT, with mid-career salaries averaging $75,000 (INR 62 lakh). Virginia Tech graduates perform well in engineering, computer science, business, and research disciplines, with mid-career salaries of approximately $93,000 (INR 77 lakh). JMU has a robust alumni network in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic, while VT has a strong international alumni base working in engineering, technology, and defense.
