George Washington vs. JMU

Deciding between George Washington 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 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

George Washington University
James Madison University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • George Washington Washington, DC
  • JMU Harrisonburg, VA
  • Setting
  • George Washington Large City
  • JMU Small City
  • Enrollment
  • George Washington 25,374
  • JMU 22,740
  • Type
  • George Washington Private 4 Year
  • JMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • George Washington #82
  • JMU #246
  • Religious Affiliation
  • George Washington -
  • JMU -
  • Status
  • George Washington Non-profit
  • JMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • George Washington
  • JMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • George Washington $67,710
  • JMU $14,250
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • George Washington $67,710
  • JMU $31,604
  • Room & Board
  • George Washington $16,920
  • JMU $13,056
  • Average Net Price
  • George Washington $46,485
  • JMU $18,856
  • Average Grant Aid
  • George Washington $37,500
  • JMU $12,114
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • George Washington 78%
  • JMU 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • George Washington 27,016
  • JMU 38,428
  • Admitted
  • George Washington 12,723
  • JMU 27,482
  • Acceptance Rate
  • George Washington 47.1%
  • JMU 71.5%
  • Enrolled
  • George Washington 19.3%
  • JMU 18.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • George Washington 1430
  • JMU 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • George Washington 32
  • JMU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • George Washington 3.81
  • JMU 3.57
  • Typical High School Grades
  • George Washington A-
  • JMU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • George Washington Exceptional
  • JMU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • George Washington Low
  • JMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • George Washington 31/34
  • JMU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • George Washington 1350/1500
  • JMU 1170/1340
  • Submit Test Scores
  • George Washington Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • JMU Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • George Washington Jan 5, 2027
  • JMU Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • George Washington 21%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Women
  • George Washington 32%
  • JMU 5%
  • Racial Diversity
  • George Washington High
  • JMU Low
  • HBCU
  • George Washington No
  • JMU No
  • % White
  • George Washington 56%
  • JMU 76%
  • % Asian
  • George Washington 10%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Black
  • George Washington 6%
  • JMU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • George Washington 8%
  • JMU 6%
  • % Native American
  • George Washington 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • George Washington 0%
  • JMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • George Washington 4%
  • JMU 4%
  • % International
  • George Washington 10%
  • JMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • George Washington 5%
  • JMU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • George Washington 2%
  • JMU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • George Washington 89%
  • JMU 30%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

George Washington University is larger than JMU based on total student enrollment (25,374 students vs. 22,740 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • George Washington University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); James Madison University is in Harrisonburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • George Washington University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. James Madison University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: George Washington University 13:1; James Madison University 17:1.

George Washington vs. JMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, George Washington 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 George Washington ($18,856 vs. $46,485).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at James Madison University are 22.8% lower than at George Washington University ($13,056 vs. $16,920).
  • George Washington University is 375.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than JMU (about $53,460 more per year; $67,710.00 vs. $14,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 114.2% higher at George Washington than at James Madison University (about $36,106 more per year; $67,710.00 vs. $31,604.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Washington University than at James Madison University (78% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Washington University students is 209.6% larger than aid received by James Madison University students ($37,500 vs. $12,114).

George Washington vs. JMU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, George Washington 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 George Washington.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Washington University (1430) is 170 points higher than at JMU (1260).
  • Incoming George Washington students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 26 at JMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Washington University 1350/1500; James Madison University 1170/1340.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Washington University 31/34; James Madison University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: George Washington - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); JMU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: George Washington Jan 5, 2027; JMU Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (71.5%) than George Washington (47.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.3% at George Washington vs. 18.2% at JMU.

George Washington vs. JMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for George Washington 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).

  • The graduation rate at George Washington is the same as at James Madison University (81% vs. 81%).
  • Graduates from George Washington University earn a median of about $20,200 more per year than JMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($80,500 vs. $60,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, James Madison University graduates have a $4,063 lower median loan debt than George Washington graduates ($20,899 vs. $24,962).
  • Among borrowers, JMU graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.