Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
George Washington Mason Virginia Tech VCU UVA CNU Old Dominion Mary Washington College William & Mary UD Georgetown Elon| American University | James Madison University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | JMU | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Harrisonburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 22,758 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #259 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | jmu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | JMU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $7,914 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $25,128 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $12,584 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $26,317 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $4,456 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 81% |
Admission |
AU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 35,750 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 27,258 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 76.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 18.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.57 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 25/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1170/1320 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
AU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
AU | JMU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 81% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $60,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $20,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $216 |
Diversity |
AU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 5% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 3% |
Students |
AU | JMU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 26% | ||
Campus |
AU | JMU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- James Madison University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (22,758 students vs. 13,019 students)
AU vs. JMU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or JMU?
- American University is 604.1% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $7,914.00)
- Out of state tuition is 121.8% higher at AU than James Madison University ($55,724.00 vs. $25,128.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than AU ($26,317 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 35.2% lower than costs at American University ($12,584 vs. $17,012)
- More students receive financial grant aid at James Madison University than American University (81% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 604.7% larger than aid received James Madison University ($31,402 vs. $4,456)
AU vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 118 points higher than at JMU (1134)
- Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at JMU (25)
- 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 (76.2%) than AU (47.4%)
AU vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or JMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between JMU and AU.
- The graduation rate at JMU is higher than American University (81% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $4,500 more per year than JMU graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $60,300)
- James Madison University students graduate with a $3,351 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $24,250)
- JMU graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans 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/