James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia
- Public
- City
- 20,888 undergrads
- Admit rate
- 72%Source: College Scorecard
- Average net price
- $23,550per year, after grantsSource: College Scorecard
- Graduation rate
- 80%within 6 yearsSource: College Scorecard
- Median earnings
- $75,48210 years after startingSource: College Scorecard
What's special
JMU's Centennial Scholars Program provides financial support to help cover primary attendance costs, including tuition and fees, housing, and a meal plan.
All incoming JMU students complete an online training in the Eight Key Questions, the university's signature ethical reasoning framework.
Source: Ethical Reasoning in Action to launch decision-making study - JMU
Students who complete the Valley Scholars program receive four-year scholarships to JMU that cover full tuition and fees.
Source: Unleashed: Valley Scholars - JMU
Getting in
- Admit rate
- 72%About 7 in 10 applicants get in.Source: College Scorecard
- Test policy
- Test-optionalScores are considered if you send them, but not required.Source: College Scorecard
- SAT (middle 50%)
- 1170–1340Reading + math, enrolled first-years who sent scoresSource: College Scorecard
- ACT (middle 50%)
- 24–29Composite, enrolled first-years who sent scoresSource: College Scorecard
From James Madison University's own report
These numbers come from the school's Common Data Set for 2025–26, a standard report colleges publish about their applicants and first-year students. Open the report.
- Admit rate in this report
- 69%29,300 admitted of 42,595 first-year applicants
- SAT, middle 50%
- 1180–1330First-years who sent scores
- ACT, middle 50%
- 24–29First-years who sent scores
- Top 10% of their class
- 21%35% were in the top quarter. Based on the 37% whose school ranks.
What the admissions office says it weighs
Very important
- How challenging your classes were
- GPA
Important
- Being first in your family to go to college
- Living in the state
Considered
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Activities
- A talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- Where you live
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Showing interest in the school
Not considered
- Class rank
- Interview
- Family who went there (legacy)
- Religious affiliation
Where you'd stand
Enter your numbers to see where they'd fall among James Madison University's first-year students. This isn't a prediction: it shows how you compare with students who enrolled, using the sources linked below.
Leave out anything you don't have. Your numbers stay in this browser and fill in on other school pages. See my list
Sources: James Madison University Common Data Set 2025–26. Test ranges describe enrolled students who sent scores.
What it really costs
Most families pay less than the sticker price. Net price is what's left after grants and scholarships.
- Average net price
- $23,550full-time first-years who got grant aidSource: College Scorecard
- Total cost of attendance
- $33,276sticker price incl. housing, per yearSource: College Scorecard
- Tuition, in-state
- $14,620Source: College Scorecard
- Tuition, out-of-state
- $32,230Source: College Scorecard
After you enroll
- Graduation rate
- 80%first-time, full-time students finishing within 6 yearsSource: College Scorecard
- Came back for year two
- 92%full-time first-year studentsSource: College Scorecard
- Median earnings
- $75,48210 years after starting, for students who got federal aidSource: College Scorecard
- Median debt at graduation
- $19,500federal loans, students who finishedSource: College Scorecard
Students
- Undergraduates
- 20,888Source: College Scorecard
- Receive Pell grants
- 17%a sign of economic diversitySource: College Scorecard
- First-generation students
- 21%parents didn't go beyond high schoolSource: College Scorecard
Similar schools
Similar, and easier to get into
- Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA — admits 93%
- George Mason University Fairfax, VA — admits 87%
- Appalachian State University Boone, NC — admits 90%
- University of Oregon Eugene, OR — admits 88%
Also worth a look
- Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA — admits 93%
- University at Buffalo Buffalo, NY — admits 74%
- Temple University Philadelphia, PA — admits 80%
- Rowan University Glassboro, NJ — admits 78%
- University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI — admits 72%
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA — admits 55%
Where these numbers come from
Every number on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard page for James Madison University, which draws on what the school reports to the federal government and on federal student aid and tax records. We last pulled the data on November 4, 2026. Different measures cover different years; here's how each one works.
Spot something wrong? Report a data error.