A-to-Z Index

Admissions

Requirements   |   Materials   |    Offer of Admission  

Admission Requirements

  • Graduation from a regionally accredited college or university
  • Satisfactory grade point average
  • Satisfactory test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) in the case of Business Administration, Accounting, Public Administration, and ISAT.
    • GREs are waived for current JMU undergraduate students enrolled in a 5th Year Education MAT program.
    • GREs are waived for all MA and MFA Studio Art, and Music applicants.
    • Our institutional code is 5392.

Individual graduate programs may have additional requirements for admission. Please contact the department for additional information. Your application will not be considered complete by the department until all required information is received.

The Graduate School (TGS) will not consider your application complete until all required credentials and supporting documents have been received by TGS. Once complete, the application is forwarded to the program of study for review and decision.

Departments have up to 90 days to review an application and notify TGS.

If you are not seeking a graduate degree from JMU, you may apply for classes as a "Non-degree student" through Outreach & Engagement.

Application Materials

Prospective students must submit their applications online. Students who need a paper format due to a disability should contact the Office of Disability Services to determine their eligibility for accommodations in the application process.

JMU does not allow students to apply to more than one graduate program per application form.

The following information must be submitted online:

  • Official graduate application form
  • $55 nonrefundable fee

The following information must be sent to The Graduate School:

  • Official transcripts sent directly from all previously attended institutions.
  • The official standardized test scores (GRE, GMAT, etc.) sent directly from the testing center.

Materials should be sent to:

The Graduate School
James Madison University
MSC 6702, 17 W Grace St.
Harrisonburg, VA 22807

International applicants are required to submit additional materials.

Apply for a graduate program

If you have questions about application materials, such as test results, requirements, or recommendation letters, please email The Graduate School at grad@jmu.edu.

Deadlines

Please refer to the specific program on the Degree Programs page for admissions deadlines.

Applicant Center

As an applicant, you have access to MyMadison, JMU’s interactive Applicant Center that allows you to view your application status, read JMU news and announcements, and utilize tutorials and frequently asked questions. Your Applicant Center will be a vital resource as you complete the application process.

 In order to use the Applicant Center, you need to activate your JMU e-ID:

 1.      To ensure your e-ID is ready to activate, wait 3-5 hours after receiving this e-mail to proceed through these steps.

2.      You will need the last four digits of your social security number (SSN) you provided on your application. If you did not provide an SSN, JMU will create a JMU-specific one for you.  You will receive this number via email, at this address in several days.

3.      With the SSN you provided, or we created for you, visit the JMU Accounts Portal https://accounts.jmu.edu and choose option A, 'Activate My e-ID'.

4.      After successfully activating your JMU e-ID, login to MyMadison https://mymadison.jmu.edu, click on the Applicant tab, then the Applicant Center link in the middle section.

If you need assistance activating your JMU e-ID or have technical computing questions or issues, please contact the JMU Computing HelpDesk at 540/568-3555 or helpdesk@jmu.edu

Check Your Application Status

MyMadison is a real-time accounting of the status of your application. As an applicant, you will have access to the interactive Applicant Center, which allows you to view your application status, read JMU news and announcements, and utilize tutorials and frequently asked questions for applicants. Your Applicant Center will be a vital resource as you complete the application process. You are encouraged to check this site frequently throughout the application process.

The Offer of Admission

Congratulations on your acceptance to graduate study at JMU! Please tell us if you are accepting or declining our offer of admission by logging into MyMadison at https://mymadison.jmu.edu, click on the Applicant  tab, then the Applicant Center link in the middle section. Click on the Accept or Decline link, then click on the Accept/Decline link again which will take you to the area where you will make your final selection to either accept or decline your offer of admission to JMU. You will then be asked to confirm your decision.

Categories of Admission - You may be admitted under one of three classifications:

  • Unconditional - Admission without reservation. Indicates that you have a sound academic background in preparation for your program of study.
  • Conditional - Conditional admission indicates that the graduate program has identified specific conditions that must be met. It is your responsibility to notify your adviser when the conditions of acceptance have been met. The adviser or graduate program director then contacts The Graduate School indicating the change from conditional to unconditional status.
  • Provisional - Admission under probationary status. You have not fully met the requirements for admission into your program. Your first priority must be to satisfy the conditions outlined in your acceptance letter. It is your responsibility to notify your adviser when the conditions of acceptance have been met. The adviser or graduate program director then contacts The Graduate School indicating the change of status.

Apply for a graduate program

The Graduate Student Association offers individual tours for prospective graduate students. Please e-mail jmugsa@gmail.com for more information.