George Washington vs. JMU

Should I go to George Washington University or James Madison University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if George Washington 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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George Washington University vs. James Madison University comparison
George Washington University James Madison University College 3 College 4
George Washington University James Madison University
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Overview

George Washington JMU
Location Washington, DC Harrisonburg, VA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 25,939 22,224
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #73 #260
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gwu.edu jmu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

George Washington JMU
Tuition (In State) $62,110 $7,684
Tuition (Out of State) $62,110 $24,744
Room & Board $15,720 $12,040
Avg Net Price $42,723 $18,274
Avg Grant Aid $35,257 $10,081
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 33%

Admission

George Washington JMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 27,266 30,727
Admitted 13,354 24,062
Acceptance Rate 49% 78.3%
Enrolled % 22% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.81 3.57
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 31/34 23/29
SAT Range 1330/1490 1140/1320
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 5, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

George Washington JMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (34%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Health Professions (13%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

George Washington JMU
Graduation Rate 81% 81%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $80,500 $60,300
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,962 $20,899
Median Loan Payment $258 $216

Diversity

George Washington JMU
% Men 38% 42%
% Women 62% 58%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 56% 76%
% Black 6% 4%
% Hispanic 8% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 10% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 3%

Students

George Washington JMU
% In-State 1% 73%
% Out-of-State 89% 26%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • George Washington University is larger than than JMU based on total student enrollment (25,939 students vs. 22,224 students)

George Washington vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, George Washington or JMU?

  • George Washington University is 708.3% more expensive to attend than JMU for in-state tuition ($62,110.00 vs. $7,684.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 151% higher at George Washington than James Madison University ($62,110.00 vs. $24,744.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at James Madison University than George Washington ($18,274 vs. $42,723)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 30.6% lower than costs at George Washington University ($12,040 vs. $15,720)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at George Washington University than James Madison University (78% vs. 33%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Washington University students is 249.7% larger than aid received James Madison University ($35,257 vs. $10,081)

George Washington vs. JMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, George Washington or JMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between JMU or George Washington .

  • The average SAT score at George Washington University (1294) is 160 points higher than at JMU (1134)
  • Incoming George Washington students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at JMU (25)
  • Accepted freshman George Washington students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at JMU (3.57)
  • JMU has a higher acceptance rate (78.3%) than George Washington (49%)

George Washington vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, George Washington 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 George Washington.

  • The graduation rate at George Washington is the same as at James Madison University (81% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from George Washington University earn on average $20,200 more per year than JMU graduates after ten years. ($80,500 vs. $60,300)
  • James Madison University students graduate with a $4,063 lower median federal student loan debt than George Washington graduates. ($20,899 vs. $24,962)
  • JMU graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than George Washington graduates. ($216 vs. $258)
  • More JMU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former George Washington students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 82%)

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