AU vs. JMU

Should I go to Anderson University or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or JMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Anderson University vs. James Madison University comparison
Anderson University James Madison University College 3 College 4
Anderson University James Madison University
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Overview

 AU JMU
Location Anderson, SC Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 4,325 22,758
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #759 #259
Religious Affiliation Baptist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website andersonuniversity.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 AU JMU
Tuition (In State) $32,710 $7,914
Tuition (Out of State) $32,710 $25,128
Room & Board $12,290 $12,584
Avg Net Price $22,222 $26,317
Avg Grant Aid $25,586 $4,456
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 81%

Admission

 AU JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,732 35,750
Admitted 2,499 27,258
Acceptance Rate 52.8% 76.2%
Enrolled % 34% 18.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/28 25/29
SAT Range 1090/1290 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, 2026

Academics

 AU JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (37%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 AU JMU
Graduation Rate 48% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,500 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,862 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $277 $216

Diversity

 AU JMU
% Men 9% 2%
% Women 12% 5%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 83% 76%
% Black 8% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 AU JMU
% In-State 68% 73%
% Out-of-State 31% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • James Madison University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (22,758 students vs. 4,325 students)

AU vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or JMU?

  • Anderson University is 313.3% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($32,710.00 vs. $7,914.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.2% higher at AU than James Madison University ($32,710.00 vs. $25,128.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Anderson University than JMU ($22,222 vs. $26,317)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 2.4% lower than costs at James Madison University ($12,290 vs. $12,584)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Anderson University than James Madison University (99% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Anderson University students is 474.2% larger than aid received James Madison University ($25,586 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 James Madison University (1134) is 56 points higher than at AU (1078)
  • Incoming JMU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at AU (24)
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (76.2%) than AU (52.8%)

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 Anderson University (81% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from James Madison University earn on average $22,800 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($60,300 vs. $37,500)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $5,963 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($20,899 vs. $26,862)
  • JMU graduates are paying $61 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($216 vs. $277)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/