Mason vs. JMU

Deciding between George Mason 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.

George Mason University
James Madison University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mason Fairfax, VA
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Mason Large Suburban
  • JMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Mason 39,766
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • Mason Public 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mason #243
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mason -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • Mason Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mason
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mason $14,220
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mason $38,688
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • Mason $15,725
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • Mason $18,823
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mason $12,852
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mason 71%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mason 25,234
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • Mason 22,074
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mason 87.5%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Mason 20.2%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mason 1260
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mason 27
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mason 3.68
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mason A-
  • JMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mason Difficult
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mason
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Mason 25/30
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Mason 1160/1360
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mason Test optional
  • JMU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Mason Feb 1, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mason 16:1
  • JMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mason
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • JMU
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mason 64%
  • JMU 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mason $61,900
  • JMU $60,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mason 73%
  • JMU 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mason $19,750
  • JMU $20,899
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mason $204
  • JMU $216

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mason 49%
  • JMU 43%
  • % Women
  • Mason 51%
  • JMU 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mason Very High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • Mason No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • Mason 43%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • Mason 19%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • Mason 11%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mason 13%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • Mason 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mason 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mason 5%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • Mason 5%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mason 5%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mason 77%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mason 14%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare George Mason University in Fairfax, VA with James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

George Mason University is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (39,766 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • George Mason University is located in Fairfax, VA (Large Suburban setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • George Mason University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: George Mason University 16:1; James Madison University 17:1.

Mason vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mason 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 George Mason University than JMU ($18,823 vs. $18,856).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 17% lower than at George Mason University ($13,056 vs. $15,725).
  • James Madison University is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mason (about $30 more per year; $14,250.00 vs. $14,220.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.4% higher at Mason than at James Madison University (about $7,084 more per year; $38,688.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Mason University than at James Madison University (71% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Mason University students is 6.1% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($12,852 vs. $12,114).

Mason vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mason 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 Mason.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Mason University (1260) is the same as at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming Mason students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Mason University 1160/1360; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Mason University 25/30; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mason - Test optional; JMU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mason Feb 1, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mason students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at JMU (3.57).
  • Mason has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than JMU (71.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.2% at Mason vs. 18.2% at JMU.

Mason vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mason 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 George Mason University's (64%).
  • Graduates from George Mason University earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Mason University graduates have a $1,149 lower median loan debt than JMU graduates ($19,750 vs. $20,899).
  • Among borrowers, Mason graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JMU graduates ($204 vs. $216).
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mason students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 73%)

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.