NDSU is a national doctoral research institute. It has a rather good reputation across the country in terms of research, which is the hallmark of any institutions academic profile. JMU, despite offering a few doctorates, is still considered a regional masters-level university.
Our engineering and pharmacy programs are VERY well known around the country. Ask anyone who has graduated from either.
Furthermore, the mission of NDSU, being a land-grant university, is different. The JMU posters are mostly trying to obfuscate over the shocking student fee subsidy.