AU vs. JMU

Deciding between American University and James Madison University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

American University
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • JMU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • JMU No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • JMU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU Yes
  • JMU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU Yes
  • JMU No

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

James Madison University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (22,740 students vs. 12,321 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; James Madison University 17:1.

AU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or JMU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than AU ($18,856 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 27.4% lower than at American University ($13,056 vs. $17,982).
  • American University is 312.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $44,521 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 86% higher at AU than at James Madison University (about $27,167 more per year; $58,771.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at American University than at James Madison University (67% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 200.1% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($36,349 vs. $12,114).

AU vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or JMU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between JMU and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at American University (1370) is 110 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming AU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (71.5%) than AU (62%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 18.2% at JMU.

AU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and JMU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • James Madison University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from American University earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,800 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $3,351 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($20,899 vs. $24,250).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($216 vs. $250).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.