About James Madison University

Founded in 1908, James Madison University. is a Public college. Located in Virginia, which is a city setting in Virginia, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 19,548 full time undergraduate students, and 1,722 full time graduate students.

The James Madison University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 16:1. There are 1028 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at James Madison University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate72%
Application Deadline
Application Fee70
SAT Range1030-1220
ACT Range22-27

Admissions at JMU are considered Selective, with ,183% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 21 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

98% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 44% were in the top quarter, and 28% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at James Madison University.

5%
“We”re apathetic”
32%
“We know about current events and vote”
56%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
6%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
2%
“We save it for the classroom”
22%
“Sometimes, but not often”
53%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
23%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
2%
“I only go out in groups”
30%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
68%
“I feel extremely safe”
1%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
32%
“We bought the gear”
67%
“We live for the big game”
2%
“It”s not really our thing”
18%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
63%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
16%
“We”re a very artistic group”
2%
“Haven”t met them”
2%
“Available in class”
70%
“They keep regular office hours”
26%
“They”re always available”
4%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
34%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
60%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
2%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
2%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
4%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
37%
“We only party on weekends”
58%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
7%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
57%
“There might be people who do”
34%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
2%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
5%
“We”re apathetic”
32%
“We know about current events and vote”
56%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
6%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
2%
“We save it for the classroom”
22%
“Sometimes, but not often”
53%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
23%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
2%
“I only go out in groups”
30%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
68%
“I feel extremely safe”
1%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
32%
“We bought the gear”
67%
“We live for the big game”
2%
“It”s not really our thing”
18%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
63%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
16%
“We”re a very artistic group”
2%
“Haven”t met them”
2%
“Available in class”
70%
“They keep regular office hours”
26%
“They”re always available”
4%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
34%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
60%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
2%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
2%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
4%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
37%
“We only party on weekends”
58%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
7%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
57%
“There might be people who do”
34%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
2%
“There”s a huge drug scene”

James Madison University REVIEWS

Write a review, Enter to win $1,000 Scholarship
  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    274 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 16 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    169 Students rated off-campus housing 4.1 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    299 Students rated campus food 4.6 stars. 71 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    298 Students rated campus facilities 4.5 stars. 57 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    297 Students rated class size 4.1 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    297 Students rated school activities 4.5 stars. 62 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    299 Students rated local services 4.3 stars. 49 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    298 Students rated academics 4.2 stars. 48 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of James Madison University?

106 Students rated James Madison University

Marisa - 05/31/2023

As a person of color at JMU, the relative lack of diversity has made it challenging to find friends who share similar experiences. While the school offers a supportive environment, I hope to see more efforts toward inclusivity and opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to connect and thrive together.

Madison - 03/31/2023

Personally, I really love JMU. And that's not just me trying to suck up to get the scholarship. I love that it is a big school (almost 20k). Not only have I met a ton of people through my dorm, classes, and clubs, but I've liked about 90{6f65e1278338a62264eed73e2adc5af8e2841420db12ceb4f80b8db22f3260ec} of them. They're cool down to earth people. I also love the social life. There is always something to do. And not only that, but there is a variety of things to do. We have so many clubs that focus on so many things (volunteering, computer science, even mycology). And if you aren't into clubs like that, Greek Life is a huge activity here. Bottom line: JMU provides a great environment to meet people and find your interests!

Abby - 03/09/2023

My time at James Madison University was very enjoyable. I was involved in a couple clubs on campus and there were always a lot of opportunities for students to join new organizations and clubs. There were great libraries on campus that allowed for the students to have a quiet place to study. The professors are available after class and hold at least one day of week of office hours. the campus was kept well, and the facilities were new or recently renovated.

Emily - 01/09/2023

I think JMU is a great school for students who want that study hard, play hard mentality - it is possible to have both a great social life and maintain good academics here. The food is AMAZING, theres so many options, and most professors are kind and helpful.

James Madison University FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at James Madison University?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for James Madison University is 72%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    Discipline is crucial. The hardest part of the college transition is trying to stay organized. Living in the dorms creates constant choices. What should I eat? Should I study or get on Facebook? Go party or sleep? It?s extremely easy to fall off track. I?d remind myself how much better I feel when I?m living a healthy lifestyle. It?s easy to say, ?Yes? and indulge in that extra dessert or third plate of food at D-hall, but the after effects just aren?t worth it. Exercise is also a must in college. It?s hard to find time in an already packed schedule, but hitting up the gym gives me energy to be more productive and makes me feel ten times better. Then there?s the partying, and there?s always partying and always pressure to go. The key is moderation. Learning to say no isn?t easy, but it?s really important if I?m going to be at my best and make the grades. Overall, college gives one an enormous amount of freedom, but it?s up to me to make smart lifestyle choices and have the discipline to stick with them.

    Read all  269 answers
  3. Describe the students at your school.

    Snotty and untalkative.

    Read all  90 answers
  4. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    This is my dream school and so honored to be here.

    Read all  57 answers
  5. What's unique about your campus?

    I love the scenery of the rolling hills, Massanuten Snow Resort is 30 min. away, the professors really care, you make life-long friends, people aren't juddmental compared to other schools and all of the students really enjoy making the best out of their time.

    Read all  55 answers
  6. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    JMU is growing and adding more students and therefore it is hard sometimes to get the classes you need. There needs to be more professors to accomodate the increasing number of students.

    Read all  54 answers
  7. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    There is a niche for every type of person at this school, whether your interest is art or sports, there is something for everyone here.

    Read all  52 answers
  8. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    Anyone who wants to be very individual. All the people here tend to be the same (The way they dress and act). Also someone who is not white and doesn't like being surrounded by all white people. The school is about 95{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} white.

    Read all  43 answers
  9. What are the most popular student activities/groups?

    Football games have the biggest student attendance that I know of.

    Read all  42 answers
  10. What is your overall opinion of this school?

    The school size is just right, but if they keep expanding to try and become a Division I school we will be too big! I spend most of my time on campus in ISAT for my nursing classes or eating lunch in the festival. I don't get to see the other side of campus, like the quad, since I started nursing school. I feel like Harrisonburg is definitely a college town, but for someone like me who lives in the middle of nowhere and it takes 30 minutes to get to town, being able to ride a bus or drive 5 minutes to Walmart or Target is great. The most recent controversy, in my opinion, was when JMU cut a bunch of athletic programs to be in compliance with the Title XI regulations. There is tons of school pride here and everyone loves Duke Dog!! Frequent complaints include the Gen Ed program, lack of parking, and lack of housing for sophomore students, since they continue to expand the number of incoming freshman and they are automatically guaranteed housing.

    Read all  42 answers
  11. What are the academics like at your school?

    My nursing professors do know my name and a handful of my GenEd professors did, especially the smaller groups, like lab groups. I believe students are competitive especially in nursing school! Many of us are Type A personality perfectionists....not always a good thing!

    Read all  41 answers
  12. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    Registering for classes. Things get a little crazy during registration, but if some of the classes you need are closed it is always possible to get an "override" into the class with the professors approval.

    Read all  41 answers
  13. Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?

    See above.

    Read all  39 answers
  14. What is the stereotype of students at your school?

    There are both negative and positive stereotypes about both JMU and its students. It has a big reputation as a party school that tends to live inside its own JMU-bubble. Students are known as very friendly, open, and active. Nearly all students are involved in some sort of extracurricular. They are less competitive over grades and more competitive about who has the more hectic social schedule. The only negative stereotypes associated with the students are that many tend to come from a fairly white-washed background of privilege. Despite this, many are willing to reach out and gain an appreciation of new experiences. JMU is one of the happiest places in the world. It is known for it's spirit and its students are happy to make it known what a great place this is to be.

    Read all  38 answers
  15. What kind of person should attend this school?

    In order to thrive at JMU an individual should be confident, open to diversity, and always willing to hold the door open for the next.

    Read all  38 answers
  16. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish I knew that it was okay to go to parties and not drink. I chose not to go just to save face, but really I just didn't have the amount of fun and comrodery with my hallmates as I could have. I also wish I knew that it was okay to be myself, my real self. This school is amazingly accepting of all.

    Read all  38 answers
  17. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    We had a great social atmosphere, football games were great. School spirit was very high and the frienships made were life-long.

    Read all  36 answers
  18. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    Southern Connecticut State University is one of the four state universities in Connecticut. Southern was founded as a teachers college, which was one of the draws for me. Today, many students at Southern concentrate in education and teaching, but there are numerous other programs that are now offered as well (116 graduate and undergraduate programs offered). Southern is also known for its ability to accommodate a wide-range of student scheduling needs, with its part-time/full-time, day/evening courses, and summer course offerings to name a few.

    Read all  36 answers
  19. What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?

    JMU is known as a party school. The party life is great but there are also a lot of other activities to do. Not everyone goes out and parties on the weekends although a big majority of the students at the school do.

    Read all  8 answers
  20. Describe the dorms.

    This is the outside of Warren Hall, one of the dorms. I sometimes eat lunch at those tables when the weather's nice.

    Read all  3 answers
  21. Why did you decide to go to this school?

    I decided to come to JMU as I was originally a dietetics major. JMU was one of the few programs at the time who had a dietetics program. The students seemed really happy here and the campus is beautiful

    Read all  2 answers

Student Body

Students

59%

female

41%

male

19,548

Total Undergrad Enrollment

1,722

Total Grad Students

26%

Out-Of-State

72%

In-State

2%

International

Organizations

317

Student Organizations

15

Fraternities

9

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

32%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
5%
% Black or African-American
5%
% Hispanic/Latino
6%
% White or Caucasian
75%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

62% of students attending James Madison University receive some sort of financial aid. 14% were awarded federal grants. While 42% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$26,164

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$990

Books and Supplies

$9,334

Room and Board

36,488

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$12,872
$30 - $48K
$14,148
$48 - $75K
$17,369
$75 - $110K
$22,359
$110K & UP
$24,152

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

FIND SCHOLARSHIPS

Find your perfect match from over 3 million scholarships!

START YOUR SEARCH

CAN YOU GET INTO James Madison University?

Complete your profile to see if this school is a fit for you, and what your chances of admitance are.

START YOUR SEARCH