I’m currently trying to decide between James Madison University and Penn State. I am planning on majoring in journalism, but that is subject to change. I am also out of state for both schools. I have loved JMU for so long, but I have recently fallen in love with Penn State too. I have visited both schools, and am planning on visiting again before making a decision, but I’m still unsure. Thanks!
Are finances a concern?
a little yes @bodangles
Penn State is a bit better academically, but JMU is about $10k cheaper if you’re out of state for both. If you’re in state for one of the two, I’d pick the one in-state. If you’re out of state for both and finance is a concearn, I’d pick JMU.
Penn State is better academically, but not necessarily by a huge margin. JMU is a good school as well. If a money issue exists, go to JMU.
What’s the net cost at each?
(tuition, fees, room, board) - (grants, scholarships) =
JMU comes to about 35k out of state while Penn State is around 43k @MYOS1634
JMU then
I went to Penn state for grad school and teach at JMU. Both schools are strong academically, and have student bodies with tons of energy and school spirit. Penn state is much larger with many graduate students and BIG D-1 Football. JMU is smaller, more undergraduate focused overall, with fewer graduate students, and smaller Football… although this year was pretty great! The weather in Harrisonburg is slightly more mild in the winter than the weather in State College. State College is a slightly larger city/ town than Harrisonburg. Both have nice college town downtowns with walking distance of campus.
Visiting again will likely help you get a sense of which campus vibe.
I am not sure about Penn State, but at JMU your tuition pays for you to take up to 21 credits a semester (if you have the GPA, or have permission to take 21 credits). You may want to confirm how many credits the tuition at Penn State allows you to take per semester, to make sure the costs may not be even higher than 43k.
I am partial to both (and Syracuse, my undergraduate alma mater), and think both are great schools! Great choice to have.
“smaller football-although this year was pretty great.” That’s an understatement!
@sevmom – trying to be objective 
I teach in the arts, and was at an arts conference in NJ during the game. We scoped out a place where we could go with the students at the conference with us to watch the game. Although there are quite a few JMU students from NJ, the others in the sports restaurant/ bar seemed a little confused by the JMU contingent in NJ… particularly when we sang the JMU fight song, or all went “DUUUUUKKKES.” 
I am not a huge football person… and many of the arts majors at JMU are not either… some are thought, which I love!! … However, everyone I meet at (or who went to) JMU is a huge JMU person, and therefor is a fan!