Bringing Money to JMU

You will need a significant amount of money while you are a student, and most of that money will come from your home country. We advise you to consider how you and your family or sponsor will conduct your monetary transactions while you are a student.

For payment of your tuition and fees, all financial dealings with James Madison University may be done by wire transfer, check or money order. A check or money order will be accepted provided it:

• Displays an agency bank in the U.S;
• Is payable in U.S. dollars and;
• Has magnetic ink characters recognition (MICR) routing numbers at the bottom of the check.

Carrying Money While You Travel

Although you will need some money for various expenses while you travel and upon your arrival in Harrisonburg, we recommend that you do NOT carry large amounts of cash. We urge you to contact your local financial institution to assess the availability of Traveler's Cheques, certified checks, money orders, etc. You will most likely have to pay a fee for those services, but carrying large amounts of cash is simply not worth the risk of theft, loss or damage. A credit card will be useful in almost every situation, but carrying a small amount of cash is helpful for the small necessities.

Transfer of Funds

James Madison University will cooperate with banks in other countries to transfer funds. The University Business Office can provide details on how funds may be transferred. The university recommends that scholarships, loan and other monies be sent in the name of the student directly to:

University Business Office
MSC 3516
Warren Hall #302
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
540-568-6291 Fax 540-568-7363

A JMU account will be established and held until your arrival. Other transfer methods are possible by contacting JMU Accounting Services.

The transfer of funds from your home country to the U.S. may be governed by restrictions. You must be fully informed of the local regulations and processes for transfer of funds. Since there may be a considerable delay in the transfer process, planning ahead is vital. University expenses must be paid at the beginning of each semester. To avoid unnecessary trouble, bring sufficient funds with you on arrival to pay tuition and fees indicated in the budgeted expenses of the university. Bring traveler's checks or cashier's checks in U.S. currency. You may wish to open an account with a local bank in Harrisonburg to accept transferred funds from home. 

For additional information, visit the University Business Office at http://www.jmu.edu/ubo/