JMU vs VA Tech Campus

[Anonymous]

Tech, but JMU fits the bill as well.

[Anonymous]

Blacksburg and Harrisonburg are similarly-sized towns but Va Tech has a much bigger student population (30,000 versus I think around 20,000 for JMU). Both are in nice towns.
Harrisonburg is in the Shenandoah Valley so really pretty mountain views; Tech has really cool architecture.
Lots of school spirit at both. If you can, come visit.
What does she want to study? JMU is maybe a little more pre-professional-oriented (think Nursing, accounting, etc.); Va Tech has a strong STEM focus, particularly in engineering but it has other programs as well.

[Anonymous]

School Spirit & Football = Virginia Tech

JMU fans are enthusiastic, but it doesn’t quite match the size and tradition of VT football especially on Game Day. JMU does have an upcoming football program, though. Your daughter should check out TikToks of game days.

Greek Life = Both

Neither school has significant Greek Life. Students in sororities and fraternities enjoy it but I don't think it's a big deal on either campus.

Off-Campus Activities - JMU

Harrisonburg offers a more diverse and "cute" small-town shopping and dining experience, especially in the historic downtown district.

One thing to keep in mind if your student is flying into DC is that it's a long drive to Virginia Tech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BTW, I'm the poster above.

Generally speaking, I don't really think either Tech OR JMU is worth paying OOS tuition for, unless there's some academic program you're interested in. But based on the criteria you're describing, then, yeah, maybe pp IS right that you're more likely to find what you're looking for in the SEC or even the Big 10 if you're willing to waste money going OOS. Surely your state has a flagship?

SEC flagships offer generous merit and academic Common Market guarantees in-state tuition. They are cheaper and offer better football. Plenty of kids in at JMU and VT choose the SEC or even the Big 10; Auburn is not competing with Radford for students.

But the problem is then you have to go to school in those places and you learn WHY they have to offer that merit aid. The southern hick culture permeates even those towns, moreso than the hick culture surrounding Blacksburg and Harrisonburg. And, let's be honest, no one wants to live in the South. Nasty.

Reall, no one want to live in the south? Northerners have been moving south for DECADES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SEC colleges would be better for what you’re describing. VA kids know this and are going out of state.

PP is yanking your chain, OP. The only Virginia kids going OOS are those who can't get admitted to Virginia schools for whatever reason.

The short answer to your question is Blacksburg and Harrisonburg aren't that different in terms of what you're looking for. They're both a haul from any airport (Harrisonburg about two hours to Dulles, Blacksburg about four and a half). Blacksburg itself has an off-campus strip of shopping and plenty of retail in nearby Christiansburg. Harrisonburg is a small town; JMU itself is bifurcated by (I-81). Blacksburg is about 40 minutes from Roanoke. Harrisonburg is about an hour from Winchester.

Tech would offer a much BIGGER tailgate experience, being in the ACC. It's "Big Time" football and basketball. But JMU is up and coming.

JMU is a little more undergraduate teaching focused. Tech is a major research university.

But no, Virginia students aren't exactly clamoring to go OOS to universities in the south. That's just not a thing.

There are plenty of kids going OOS for T-50 schools. UVA can be fickle. VT and WM aren't everyone's cuppa. And JMU doesn't offer much of a career boost outside the region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi all- We're from out of state, and I was hoping someone could help describe the differences between JMU and Virginia Tech's campuses. My daughter is looking for a school with tons of school spirit, big football games, and a strong Greek life. She also wants to be somewhere with plenty to do off-campus—restaurants, shopping, and other activities. Based on those preferences, which school would be a better fit? She has the stats for both.

VT is more sporty I think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VT has significantly more students than JMU if that is a factor for her. But for the most part students love them both. I would visit both and see which one she finds more appealing.

+100.

I'm a Hokie so I'm partial to Blacksburg and the VT experience. But JMU is a terrific experience as well. And their football team has been excellent, so that part is way more fun in H-burg these days. I'd be happy if my kids attended either one.

[Anonymous]

My not so sporty kid is leaving Tech.
Great academics.

The area is lovely for students who want to party (Greek life) OR who want to study study study and do outdoorsy things.

My kid wants to take a plane somewhere or go a nice dinner or a concert once in a while. That's more JMU.

Getting to Blackburg w/o a car is hard. There are busses but trains are in Roanoke and the airport is far away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BTW, I'm the poster above.

Generally speaking, I don't really think either Tech OR JMU is worth paying OOS tuition for, unless there's some academic program you're interested in. But based on the criteria you're describing, then, yeah, maybe pp IS right that you're more likely to find what you're looking for in the SEC or even the Big 10 if you're willing to waste money going OOS. Surely your state has a flagship?

SEC flagships offer generous merit and academic Common Market guarantees in-state tuition. They are cheaper and offer better football. Plenty of kids in at JMU and VT choose the SEC or even the Big 10; Auburn is not competing with Radford for students.

But the problem is then you have to go to school in those places and you learn WHY they have to offer that merit aid. The southern hick culture permeates even those towns, moreso than the hick culture surrounding Blacksburg and Harrisonburg. And, let's be honest, no one wants to live in the South. Nasty.

Sorry you didn't get into UF, UGA, or UTK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:School Spirit & Football = Virginia Tech

JMU fans are enthusiastic, but it doesn’t quite match the size and tradition of VT football especially on Game Day. JMU does have an upcoming football program, though. Your daughter should check out TikToks of game days.

Greek Life = Both

Neither school has significant Greek Life. Students in sororities and fraternities enjoy it but I don't think it's a big deal on either campus.

Off-Campus Activities - JMU

Harrisonburg offers a more diverse and "cute" small-town shopping and dining experience, especially in the historic downtown district.

One thing to keep in mind if your student is flying into DC is that it's a long drive to Virginia Tech.

+1 to this. VT is definitely harder to get to if you are flying in or driving from the north.

Otherwise they have a lot in common and I agree tour both, might have a clear preference. DS liked VT a lot more, likes the "hokie stone" buildings, likes the layout of the campus. He came away thinking JMU was the larger of the two schools because the campus felt more spread out to him. VT also was a better program for his major. But I know other kids who strongly preferred JMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My not so sporty kid is leaving Tech.
Great academics.

The area is lovely for students who want to party (Greek life) OR who want to study study study and do outdoorsy things.

My kid wants to take a plane somewhere or go a nice dinner or a concert once in a while. That's more JMU.

Getting to Blackburg w/o a car is hard. There are busses but trains are in Roanoke and the airport is far away.

Roanoke does have an airport. It's not always the most convenient flights though. Richmond is the next biggest airport and yes that's a solid 2 hours away.

[Anonymous]

She may have "stats for both" but that's not a guarantee—particularly for Tech. Apply to both, she where she gets in, then do campus visits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she has the stats for both, Tech is much more appealing in terms of reputation and location. It’s a tough admit these days though!

More appealing if you like being five hours away from a major city.

FWIW my kid loved the JMU campus and hated VT. She thought it was too big and medieval looking.

Same. We visited both and we liked JMU much better.

My son said the Sorority girls are hotter and the "vibe" better at JMU. Also, a very modern campus. As for the towns, both are pretty similar.

You can do online tours of both colleges and the towns as well and visit them both in the Spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My not so sporty kid is leaving Tech.
Great academics.

The area is lovely for students who want to party (Greek life) OR who want to study study study and do outdoorsy things.

My kid wants to take a plane somewhere or go a nice dinner or a concert once in a while. That's more JMU.

Getting to Blackburg w/o a car is hard. There are busses but trains are in Roanoke and the airport is far away.

Roanoke does have an airport. It's not always the most convenient flights though. Richmond is the next biggest airport and yes that's a solid 2 hours away.

I went to VT and was from NY. I routinely flew home from Roanoke. It was never a problem. There is super no reason to drive all the way to Dulles!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was always surprised by NJ and PA kids who attended Tech and JMU.

PA parent here. So, Penn State (main campus) is a harder admit than both Tech and JMU. And Pitt is even harder. Temple is Temple. Sort of a rough area. So, not exactly similar to JMU and Tech. The rest of the state schools aren't very good and aren't well known and don't have D1 sports.