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James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison University (JMU) is a public research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Established in 1908 as a teacher's college, JMU has grown into a comprehensive institution offering a wide range of academic programs. The university is named after James Madison, the fourth President of the United States and the author of the U.S. Constitution, symbolizing its commitment to civic engagement and leadership.

JMU offers over 80 undergraduate programs in various disciplines, including business, engineering, education, health sciences, and the liberal arts. The university is well-known for its strong programs in business, education, nursing, engineering, and media, arts, and design. JMU prides itself on its faculty who are not only committed to teaching but also engage in scholarly research and creative activities. With a faculty-to-student ratio of 16:1, students benefit from personalized attention and mentorship.

Apart from academics, JMU provides a vibrant campus life for its students. The campus boasts state-of-the-art facilities, including modern residence halls, research labs, a performing arts center, and a student recreation center. Students can get involved through various clubs, organizations, and sports teams, fostering a sense of belonging and promoting leadership development. The Division I athletics program, known as the Dukes, competes in the Colonial Athletic Association and offers numerous opportunities for sports enthusiasts.

Overall, James Madison University offers a comprehensive educational experience that combines rigorous academics with a lively campus environment. With its commitment to civic engagement, strong academic programs, and an inclusive community, JMU provides a foundation for students to thrive academically, personally, and professionally.

James Madison University is a public university located in Harrisonburg, VA. This academic institution uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 76%. The freshman retention rate at James Madison University is 90.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 81%.

The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is March 1.

Learn more about what James Madison University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.

Quick Facts

21,008

Total Number of Undergraduate Students

76%

Acceptance Rate

17:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

81%

Graduation Rate

Admissions

If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Read on to find out some essential info about admission policy and requirements at James Madison University.

In 2024, the school accepted 27,258 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. This prominent school with a rich history offers an excellent learning experience to its students.

Test Scores

Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 23% and ACT scores 3%. 8.62% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 61.93% between 1,200 and 1,399, 27.23% between 1,000 and 1,199, 2.1% between 800 and 999, and 0.11% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 22.98, 58.39 between 24-29, 16.15 in the range between 18-23, and 2.48 between 12-17.

Deadlines

The closing date for applications to this school is January 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 1.

76%

Acceptance Rate

Retention Rate

The percentage of first-year students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, make sure to consider the freshmen retention rate.

The freshman retention rate for James Madison University was 90.2% in 2024, which is an outstanding retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.

The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 81%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.

Student Body

Picking a school that is the right match for you is not a simple task. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.

Main Student Body

In 2024, the school had an enrollment of 22,760 students.

The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 22% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 21,008, 145 of which were foreign students. 702 students were admitted as transfer students.

Student Population Gender Ratio

With a coeducational student body, the school had 8,663 male and 11,724 female full-time students in 2024. 298 full-time graduate men and 817 full-time graduate women attended this school.

Student Population Diversity

When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.

In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 1,061, while the number of Black American students was 931. 1,616 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 426 identified with more than one race. The school also had 26 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 32 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 426 students whose ethnicity is unknown.

Cost

Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for James Madison University.

Tuition and Fees

If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for James Madison University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.

For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $8,150, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $25,128. For international students, tuition fees at this school amounted to $25,496. Full-time students in 2024 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $5,662.

Tuition Fees Total
Out-of-State $25,128 $5,662 $30,790
In-State $7,914 $5,662 $13,576

Books and Supplies

The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another important financial factor. Most students have to allocate about $1,176 for books and supplies during their time at James Madison University.

Boarding

Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for lodging and meals?

At James Madison University, the 2024 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $12,584. If you only needed a dormitory room, you had to pay $6,012 for the 2024 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $6,012.

Tuition $ 7,914
Room and Board $ 12,584
Book and Supplies $ 1,176
Total Expense $ 21,674

Financial Aid

There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at James Madison University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.

The most recent records show that 1,834 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $12,450 in financial help.

Need-based

Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.

There were 4,231 students who received need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at James Madison University is available to international students. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 7,304. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $16,984,814, and state $17,782,054. The students of James Madison University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $15,873,995, and external in the amount of $4,740,687.

$7,279

Average Amount of Aid Received

Non-Need Based

Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.

758 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2024. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 215 full-time freshman. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $11,038,961. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $309,532 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).

Majors

Faculty

17:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.

According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at James Madison University was 17:1: that means 17 students per one teacher. According to the most recent information, there are 1,405 teachers at this school. Out of that number, there were 649 male and 756 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at James Madison University.

Student Population Diversity Graph

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Campus Life

Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about social life at James Madison University.

Its campus spans 721 acres.

Student Organizations

Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.

Based on the most up-to-date information available, there are 385 open-membership organizations at James Madison University. That includes sororities and fraternities. If you are interested in music, you can join the James Madison University band or chorus. If drama is your thing, there is a club dedicated to acting that you can join. For students looking to explore media and communication, James Madison University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.

Student Services

At James Madison University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.

There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.

There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of James Madison University.

All in all, campus life at James Madison University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.

Career Services

Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at James Madison University.

Career Counselling

At James Madison University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.

FAQ

James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, VA.

James Madison University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.

The most recent reported acceptance rate for James Madison University is 76%.

According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for James Madison University is 90.2%.

Contact Information

James Madison University,

800 South Main Street

Harrisonburg, VA

22807

540 568-6211

School Website

Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.

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