JMU Acceptance Rate and Admissions Update,JMU Acceptance Rate and Admissions Update,JMU Acceptance Rate and Admissions Update
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– JMU Acceptance Rate –
JMU acceptance rate is not so competitive, and not impossible. If you are a high school senior or second-semester junior. And you are ready for the challenge. This is all the guidance you need. Keep reading for an accurate guide on everything you need to know about James Madison University (JMU).
About James Madison University
James Madison University is considered “More Selective” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. It received 22,648 applications for an entering freshmen class of 4,325 for the 2012–13 academic year.
The retention rate for the 2011–12 freshman class was 91.4%, and the ratio of female to male students was 60/40. About 38% of students are from out of state, representing all 50 states and 89 foreign countries.
JMU provides 115 bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist, and doctorate degree programs.
The College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Health and Behavioral Studies.
Also has the College of Integrated Science and Engineering, the College of Science and Mathematics, the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and The Graduate School.
All the above listed are among the seven colleges and 78 academic programs. In the 2012–13 academic year, 19,927 students were enrolled, with 18,392 undergraduates and 1,820 graduate students.
In 2012, JMU awarded 4,908 degrees, including 4,096 undergraduate and 812 graduate degrees. JMU acceptance rate.
On October 2, 2009, JMU was granted a chapter by the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society. Its chapter of Phi Kappa Phi was the first academic honor society chartered at JMU.
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (or ΦΚΦ) was established in 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to the area of study and to promote the “unity and democracy of education”.
Florida Atlantic University Locations
JMU’s campus originally consisted of two buildings, now known as Darcus Johnson and Gabbin Halls. Today the campus has 148 major buildings on 721 acres (2.92 km2).
It has become Virginia’s second most photographed location on social media sites like Instagram and Twitter, after Kings Dominion[citation needed].
The campus is divided into five parts: Bluestone, Hillside, Lakeside, Skyline, and the Village. The Skyline area is on the east side of Interstate 81, while the Bluestone, Hillside, Lakeside, and Village areas of the campus are on the west side.
The two sides are connected both by a bridge over, and a tunnel (Duke Dog Alley) under, Interstate 81. JMU acceptance rate.
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Other Unique Campus Features
Other unique campus features include Newman Lake, a 9.7-acre (39,000 m2) body of water in the Lake Area next to Greek Row and Sonner Hall, and the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, a 125-acre urban botanical preserve in Harrisonburg and on campus.
The arboretum combines naturalized botanical gardens (33 acres) and forest (92 acres) and is Virginia’s only arboretum on a public university campus.
On South Main Street, you’ll find the old, historic “Bluestone” side of campus (also known as U.S. Route 11, and historically as “The Valley Pike”).
The campus has grown both east and west of the Bluestone area since the late 1990s. The College of Integrated Science and Technology (CISAT), the University Recreation Center (UREC), the Festival Conference, and the Student Center.
Also, the Leeolou Alumni Center, several residence halls, the Chemistry and Physics Building, and University Park, which opened in 2012 off Port Republic Road and combines recreational and varsity athletic fields.
Are all part of the expansion to the east, across Interstate 81. The Rose Library is a repository for scientific and technological information.
Governor Tim Kaine’s $1.65 billion higher education bond package included several new campus construction projects. More than $96 million was set aside for JMU improvements in Kaine’s proposal.
The construction of a new biotechnology building, Centennial Hall ($44.8 million), and the repair and expansion of Duke Hall ($43.4 million) were among the projects featured. JMU acceptance rate.
More on Her Unique Features
The last installment payment for the purchase of Rockingham Memorial Hospital was also included in the proposal at $8.6 million. JMU began obtaining governmental and private funding for the construction of a state-of-the-art performing arts facility in 2002.
The building is located across South Main Street from Wilson Hall and aesthetically completes the Main Quad. Bruce and Lois Forbes, who donated $5 million to the building, were honored with the moniker Forbes Center for the Performing Arts.
The Dorothy Thomasson Estes Center for Theatre and Dance is a section of The Forbes Center dedicated to theater and dance, named after Dorothy Estes‘ husband, who donated $2.5 million.
The Shirley Hanson Roberts Center for Music Performance is named after Shirley Roberts’ husband, who gave a multi-million dollar contribution to the university.
Wilson Hall is the centerpiece of the university’s main quadrangle. It contains an auditorium, administrative offices, and the Community Service Learning Office.
The building’s cupola has been featured on the university logo, letterhead, and other university stationery and postcards. Completed in 1931, the building was named after President Woodrow Wilson, who was born in nearby Staunton, Virginia.
More on JMU
In 2025, JMU’s Board of Visitors approved the renaming of three historic buildings named in honor of Confederate soldiers on the Quad: Ashby, Maury, and Jackson Halls.
They were given the temporary names of Mountain, Valley, and Justice Studies Halls, respectively. In 2025, the halls were approved and given new names.
Mountain Hall (Ashby Hall) was renamed Gabbin Hall after Drs. Joanne V. and Alexander Gabbin.
Professors at JMU for more than 35 years; Valley Hall (Maury Hall) was renamed Harper-Allen Lee Hall after Doris Harper Allen and Robert Walker Lee. Both notable former staff members at JMU;
Justice Studies Hall (Jackson Hall) was renamed Darcus Johnson Hall after Dr. Sheary Darcus Johnson, the first black student to graduate at JMU.
In late 2025, ISAT-CS has renamed King Hall in honor of Charlie King’s retirement from his position as senior vice president for administration and finance at JMU.
Bus service around campus and the city is provided by the Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation. JMU acceptance rate.
What to Know Before Applying to JMU
Things to know before applying to JMU:
Enrollment
‣ Total Enrollment: 21,787 (19,923 undergraduates)
‣ Gender Breakdown: 42 percent male/58 percent female
‣ 95 percent full-time
Cost of Attendance Information
‣ Tuition and Fees: $11,576 (in-state); $28,790 (out-of-state)
‣ Books: $1,056
‣ Room and Board: $10,582
‣ Other Expenses: $3,982
‣ Total Cost: $27,196 (in-state); $44,410 (out-of-state)
Financial Aid Information
‣ Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 63 percent
‣ Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
‣ Grants: 30 percent
‣ Loans: 43 percent
‣ Average Amount of Aid
‣ Grants: $6,998
‣ Loans: $6,082
‣ Academic Programs Offered
Most Popular Majors
Health Professions and Related Programs; Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Social Sciences; and Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Retention and Graduation
‣ First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 90 percent
‣ 4-Year Graduation Rate: 60 percent
‣ 6-Year Graduation Rate: 84 percent
NCAA Athletic Programs
‣ Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Golf, Soccer, Tennis
‣ Women’s Sports: Basketball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
‣ In athletics, the JMU Dukes play in the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association and Eastern College Athletic Conference
JMU Requirements for Admission
What are JMU’s admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:
‣ GPA requirements
‣ Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
‣ Application requirements
In this guide, we’ll cover what you need to get into JMU and build a strong application.
School location: Harrisonburg, VA
This school is also known as JMU, Madison, James Madison University
If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.
The acceptance rate at JMU is 71.1%. For every 100 applicants, 71 are admitted.
This means the school is lightly selective. The school will have their expected requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores. If you meet their requirements, you’re almost certain to get an offer of admission.
But if you don’t meet JMU’s requirements, you’ll be one of the unlucky few people who gets rejected.
JMU GPA Requirements
Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.
The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school’s average GPA for its current students.
Average GPA: 3.55
The average GPA at JMU is 3.55.
(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. This school did not officially report its average GPA, but we’ve estimated it here using data from over 1,000 schools.)
With a GPA of 3.55, JMU requires you to be around average in your high school class. You’ll need a mix of A’s and B’s, and very few C’s. If you have a lower GPA, you can compensate with harder courses like AP or IB classes.
This will help boost your weighted GPA and show your ability to take college classes. JMU acceptance rate.
If you’re currently junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.55, you’ll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate.
This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.
JMU SAT Requirements
Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school’s average score.
Average SAT: 1205
The average SAT score composite at JMU is 1205 on the 1600 SAT scale.
This score makes JMU Competitive for SAT test scores.
JMU SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)
The 25th percentile New SAT score is 1120, and the 75th percentile New SAT score is 1290. 1120 on the New SAT places you below average, while 1290 will move you up to above average.
Here’s the breakdown of new SAT scores by section:
Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
Math | 595 | 550 | 640 |
Reading + Writing | 610 | 570 | 650 |
Composite | 1205 | 1120 | 1290 |
SAT Score Choice Policy
The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.
JMU has the Score Choice policy of “Highest Section.”
This is also known as “superscoring.” This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. JMU acceptance rate.
Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit.
For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:
Section | R+W | Math | Composite |
Test 1 | 700 | 300 | 1000 |
Test 2 | 300 | 700 | 1000 |
Test 3 | 300 | 300 | 600 |
Superscore | 700 | 700 | 1400 |
Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, JMU will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.
This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and JMU forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. JMU acceptance rate.
Your application readers will only see that one score.
Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below 1120, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it. You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.
Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT.
Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.
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JMU ACT Requirements
Just like for the SAT, JMU likely doesn’t have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.
The average ACT score at JMU is 26. This score makes JMU Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.
The 25th percentile ACT score is 23, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 28.
Even though JMU likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 23 or below, you’ll have a harder time getting in, unless you have something else impressive in your application. JMU acceptance rate.
ACT Score Sending Policy
If you’re taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.
Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.
This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school’s ACT requirement of 23 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can.
When you have the final score that you’re happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.
ACT Superscore Policy
By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score).
Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting. JMU acceptance rate.
We weren’t able to find the school’s exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send into JMU, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 23.
SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements
Both the SAT and ACT have an optional essay section.
JMU considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don’t need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you’re applying to may require it.
SAT Subject Test Requirements
Schools vary in their SAT subject test requirements. Typically, selective schools tend to require them, while most schools in the country do not.
We did not find information that JMU requires SAT subject tests, and so most likely it does not. At least 6 months before applying, you should still doublecheck just to make sure, so you have enough time to take the test.
Final Admissions Verdict
Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don’t fall well below average.
Aim for a 1120 SAT or a 23 ACT or higher, and you’ll almost certainly get an offer of admission. As long as you meet the rest of the application requirements below, you’ll be a shoo-in.
But if you score below our recommended target score, you may be one of the very few unlucky people to get rejected.
Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements.
This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:
‣ 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
‣ 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
‣ 20-50%: Lower but still a good chance of getting in
‣ 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
‣ 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get into
We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances. Applying to some safety schools will guarantee you have a college to go to while applying to some reach schools will give you a shot at getting into the school at the top of your range. JMU acceptance rate.
Application Requirements
Every school requires an application with the bare essentials – high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information.
Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We’ll cover the exact requirements of JMU here. JMU acceptance rate.
Application Requirements Overview
‣ Common Application _ Not accepted
‣ Universal Application _ Not accepted
‣ Electronic Application _ Available
‣ Essay or Personal Statement
‣ Letters of Recommendation
‣ Interview _ Not required
Application Fee $70
‣ Fee Waiver Available? _ Available
‣ Other Notes
Testing Requirements
‣ SAT or ACT _ Required
‣ SAT Essay or ACT Writing _ Optional
‣ SAT Subject Tests
‣ Scores Due in Office _ January 15
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Coursework Requirements
Subject | Required Years |
English | 4 |
Math | 4 |
Science | 3 |
Foreign Language | 3 |
Social Studies | 2 |
History | 2 |
Electives |
Deadlines and Early Admissions
Offered? | Deadline | Notification |
Regular Admission | Yes | None |
Early Action | Yes | None |
Early Decision | No |
Admissions Office Information
Address: | 500, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 |
Phone: | (540) 568-5681 |
Fax: | (540) 568-3332 |
Email: | [email protected] |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques: Why doesn’t James Madison University have a national ranking?
There are about 3,000 colleges int he US. The best known and most quoted ranking source is US News and World Report.
USN&WR breaks down all those schools into different categories: liberal arts colleges, full universities where some have recognition as a nationally known and established schools while others as master’s offering schools best known regionally.
So the National rankings are for the large state schools, the better known private schools, Ivy League in the upper tiers, and in the lower tiers universities that offer a wide range of majors and degrees up to PhD programs.
Regional Universities offer a full range of undergraduate programs and some master’s programs but few doctoral programs. These rankings are split into four regions: North, South, Midwest and West.
JMU is a very good public school and does offer some PhDs, but to better understand why it is not considered a National University, compare it to another state school in Virginia, U of Virginia and you will see the differences.
Ques: How hard is it to get into Virginia Tech?
There are about 3,000 colleges int he US. The best known and most quoted ranking source is US News and World Report.
USN&WR breaks down all those schools into different categories: liberal arts colleges, full universities where some have recognition as a nationally known and established schools while others as master’s offering schools best known regionally.
So the National rankings are for the large state schools, the better known private schools, Ivy League in the upper tiers, and in the lower tiers universities that offer a wide range of majors and degrees up to PhD programs.
Regional Universities offer a full range of undergraduate programs and some master’s programs but few doctoral programs. These rankings are split into four regions: North, South, Midwest and West.
JMU is a very good public school and does offer some PhDs, but to better understand why it is not considered a National University, compare it to another state school in Virginia, U of Virginia and you will see the differences.
Ques: What is your review of James Madison University?
James Madison University is one of the most amazing colleges you will ever attend. The campus is beautiful, the people are friendly, and the academics are superb. I could not be more proud to be a part of the Duke family.
Ques: Which colleges accepted you (April 2025)?
Started off as pretty disappointing, but had a pleasant surprise waiting for me at the end. I’m an international student that needed a whole lot of financial aid, so my options were really slim (still applied to 17 universities).
Stats:
SAT: 1500 (800 math, 700 English)
GPA: 3.94 unweighted (my school doesn’t have a weighted GPA)
Took no AP’s. My school doesn’t offer any.
SAT Subject Tests: 800 Math II and Physics, 790 Chemistry.
Harvard SCEA: Deferred then rejected. Expected.
Georgia Tech: Accepted. This was the first to come out. Getting into Georgia Tech as an international student intending to major in CS made me feel extremely proud.
I applied to Georgia Tech to see if I can get in, but I had no intention of attending (no financial aid for internationals).
MIT: Rejected. Oh well. JMU acceptance rate.
Johns Hopkins: Rejected. This one really hurt. JHU was a top 3 school to me. I expect that was due to my financial issue.
UChicago: Waitlisted. This was a HUGE surprise.
I applied after they extended their deadline and ended up finishing my supplemets a few hours before it. I only applied there because they automatically waive the application fee for students applying for financial aid, so why not apply?
Still, it was a big surprise getting waitlisted.
Ques: Which colleges rejected you?
Amherst: Rejected. It wasn’t really a school I wanted to go to. I applied because of their need-blind admission, but had no actual interest in attending. Probably the admission officers could tell that from my essays.
Northwestern: Rejected. Didn’t want to go there anyway.
Duke: Rejected. They accept only 20–25 international students who require aid. I would’ve loved to be one of them.
UBC: Wait-listed. This was a huge shock to me. The only safety I applied to waitlisted me. Kind of sucks because I loved the place.
NYU AD: Accepted. WOW! Earlier this year I got invited to candidate weekend, and I fell in love with the place. I was really hoping I’d get in. Yay!!
Ivy day:
Cornell: Rejected. My interview sucked. I have a friend there who hates the place. I would’ve chosen NYUAD over it, anyway.
Dartmouth: Rejected. Not interested.
Brown: Rejected. My interview was great. I loved their CS program and that I could tailor my own education. Oh well.
Penn: Wait-listed. I have a friend there that helped me write Penn’s supplement. Really wanted that one.
Columbia: Wait-listed. I absolutely CRUSHED my interview. I loved the university and its CS program. I was shocked when I got waitlisted; I expected to be flat out rejected.
Yale: Wait-listed. Similar to Columbia, I expected a rejection; I didn’t take my time writing Yale’s essays and didn’t have an interview.
Princeton: YOU GUESSED IT. I GOT IN!!!! This was the last one I opened. I was already thinking about NYUAD and how I was probably going to attend.
I had a bomb interview with a guy that used to play squash for Princeton. We discussed balancing school and sports (I play basketball) and how he admires anyone who can do both.
I wrote all my essays from the heart, as Princeton was the place I really wanted to be, and now I’m proud to say that I’ll be joining Princeton’s class of 2025!
Ques: studied Geography at James Madison University (1999)?
The Geography Program empowers students to address problems associated with the spatial patterns and processes of human and environmental change.
It does this by taking a highly integrated approach that couples the study of people and the environment with the use of cutting-edge tools such as digital mapping technologies and images of the earth collected from satellites and aircraft.
This unique approach produces graduates who are ‘big picture’ thinkers and are valued by a wide range of employers and prepared for further study in geography and related disciplines.
Ques: Is James Madison University an Ivy League?
As others have said, this kind of information is easily available via Google.
The Ivy League is an athletic league, founded in 1954, consisting of eight universities, all located in the northeastern part of the US. Also, all of them except Cornell were founded prior to the American Revolution.
The list includes Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, The University of Pennsylvania and Yale University.
As you can see, James Madison University is not on the list.
Ques: Should my son go to Loyola or James Madison University?
JMU 100%. Both schools are great, but I think your son will enjoy the overall experience at JMU. I graduated in 1996 and it was the best decision I ever made.
Also, the students there are extremely welcoming which makes a huge difference when adjusting to the early stages of college life. Even thought there are upwards of 19k students it feels like a small school.
It’s really a tight knit community and a ton of fun. Most everyone I’ve known from JMU has gone on to have successful careers in a variety of great fields. Plus, the food is great.
Forget Loyola. JMU is where he should be. He can thank me later.
We believe you found this information useful. Please do well to share this article with friends and loved ones. Feel free to leave comments or questions in the comment box below.
CSN Team.
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