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Fairfax, VA · Harrisonburg, VA
| George Mason University | James Madison University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $17,915/yr | $23,322/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $11,942/yr | $11,444/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $19,500 | $20,093 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $12,093/yr | $12,977/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $15,224/yr | $16,475/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $19,430/yr | $22,343/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $25,894/yr | $30,147/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $207/mo | $213/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $15,725/yr | $13,056/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $15,725/yr | $13,056/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,288/yr | $1,298/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,667/yr | $4,672/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $28,604/yr | $31,735/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $14,220/yr | $14,250/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $38,688/yr | $31,604/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 30% | 17% |
| Students taking federal loans | 31% | 29% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 87% | 72% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1160–1360 | 1170–1340 |
| SAT average | 1274 | 1256 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 25–30 | 24–29 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 23–31 · Math 22–27 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 22,579 | 35,750 |
| Students accepted | 20,057 | 27,258 |
| Students who enrolled | 4,451 | 4,922 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 22% | 18% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 35% | 19% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 3% | 3% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Not considered | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 68% | 80% |
| Freshmen who come back | 86% | 92% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $76,343/yr | $69,954/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $47,905–$109,864 | $48,802–$100,257 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 76% | 81% |
| White students graduating | 69% | 81% |
| Black students graduating | 58% | 69% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 63% | 74% |
| Asian students graduating | 75% | 82% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $60,536/yr | $57,438/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 82% | 86% |
| Graduate on time | 46% | 66% |
| Pell students who graduate | 64% | 71% |
| First-gen students who finish | 73% | 82% |
| Low-income students who finish | 73% | 80% |
| Students who transfer out | 17% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $68,053/yr | $64,070/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 18% · Computer & Information Sciences 15% · Homeland Security & Protective Services 8% | Health Professions 18% · Business, Management & Marketing 15% · Communication & Journalism 10% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 18% of degrees | Health Professions — 18% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 15% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 15% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 8% of degrees | Communication & Journalism — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Social Sciences — 7% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 7% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Health Professions — 7% of degrees | Social Sciences — 7% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Computer Engineering — $132,367/yr | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions — $120,817/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 27% | 15% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 27,752 | 20,888 |
| Students per professor | 16 : 1 | 17 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 11,432 | 1,767 |
| Average professor pay | $14,486/mo | $10,916/mo |
| Full-time professors | 53% | 81% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $44,254 | $92,165 |
| Setting | Suburb (large) | City (small) |
| Location | Fairfax, VA | Harrisonburg, VA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1957 | 1908 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 5.3% | 0.7% |
| Men | 51% | 44% |
| Women | 49% | 56% |
| White students | 32% | 72% |
| Black students | 13% | 4.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 18% | 8.8% |
| Asian students | 23% | 5.3% |
| Two or more races | 5.7% | 5.7% |
| Other / not reported | 3.3% | 2.6% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 30% | 21% |
| Part-time students | 19% | 5.3% |
| Students age 25+ | 17% | 2.9% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $15,232/yr | $10,620/yr |
| Endowment | $206.8M | $155.5M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 6,251 | 6,481 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,970/yr | $6,010/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,550/yr | $6,494/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Army, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | Yes | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | Yes |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I without football | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 18 | 16 |
| Student athletes | 493 | 492 |
| Athletic scholarships | $7.7M | $10.9M |
| Athletics budget | $32.5M | $68.4M |
| Athletics revenue | $33.0M | $68.4M |
| Recruiting spend | $525,588 | $1.1M |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.