PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

Greetings

James Madison University is located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, within a 2-hour drive of Washington, D.C. The university’s 486-acre campus, one of the most scenic in the country, offers a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west.

The 2013 poll on academic quality by U.S. News & World Report again ranked JMU second in the South among public, master's level universities. JMU consistently has been ranked among the top master's level universities in its region since the U.S. News polls began in 1983. JMU’s average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 91.2 percent. JMU ranked 2oth in The Kiplinger 100, a listing of best values in public colleges. The Princeton Review's 2013 guide, Best 361 Colleges, quotes students as recognizing the school's "welcoming environment, " friendly and outgoing student body," and "well-ranked academics." JMU faculty are praised for their "willingness to extend learning outside of the classroom" and their "realistic method of teaching to prepare students for real-world job applications."

The academics don’t end in the classroom: each year, many well-known speakers and artists are brought to campus for everyone to attend. In 2008 Barack Obama honored JMU with a stop on his campaign trail and in 2012 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Leymah Gbowee was an honorary guest speaker at JMU.

JMU ranks in the Top 4 of college cuisine, for “great campus food,” based on student surveys, according to The Princeton Review’s annual college guide. Students with a meal plan are offered a reduced price for meals, which they can enjoy at any one of JMU’s 26 dining locations. The two main dining halls feature cuisine from different countries at various times throughout the year, and especially during International Week. A student can always find vegetarian, hallal food, and other faith-related food preferences will be accommodated. Additionally, nutrition facts are provided at every dining hall.

In this western region of the state, average temperatures range from 33F (0 C) in January to 82F (27 C) in July. There is below-freezing weather and snow in winter and daytime high temperatures above 90F (32 C) in mid-summer.

While our office serves the JMU international student population, we do not deal with admissions related questions. Make sure to consult the international student admissions office's home page where you will obtain all of the necessary information (such as: the requirements, application deadlines, and contact information).

Intensive English Language Program / Study Group

In order to enroll and be admitted to JMU you must meet the English language requirement. If your English level is not yet proficient, JMU offers an ESL Transition Program on our campus conducted in partnership with Study Group. The English Language Transition Program allows you to earn academic college credit while taking the necessary preparatory courses to become a full-time JMU student. 

Undergraduate Admissions

James Madison has 64 majors and is authorized to confer the degrees of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.Ed.), Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.), Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.), Bachelor of Music (B.M.), Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.), and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.).

Our university places great value in our students from abroad and encourage you to apply online. 

Graduate Admissions

The College of Graduate and Outreach Programs has no deadline, but encourages applicants to apply at least six months in advance of the anticipated enrollment date.

The university offers the following graduate degrees:

  • Master of Arts (MA)
  • Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
  • Master of Science (MS)
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Master of Science in Education (MSEd)
  • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
  • Master of Education (MEd)
  • Master of Music (MM)
  • Master of Public Administration (MPA)
  • Educational Specialist (EdS)
  • Doctor of Audiology (AUD)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
  • Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
  • Master o Science in Nursing (MSN)
  • Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
  • Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)
  • Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

To apply and for more information go to the Graduate International Admissions home page

Financial Considerations (estimated expenses)

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and James Madison University require all F-1 and J-1 applicants to provide a "Confirmation of Financial Resources" certifying your ability to finance your study in the United States. The bank statement requested on the confirmation requires a bank official's signature, or the bank may submit an official letter certifying the applicant's or sponsor's present funds available for all costs of the first year's education. In addition, you must verify that similar or additional funds will be available in future years, barring unforeseen circumstances.

U.S. immigration officials sometimes request your financial documents at the port of entry. Please be prepared to show proof of your financial support upon arrival in the United States.

Although JMU has estimated your tuition, room and board and miscellaneous expenses as closely as possible, you should always be prepared for the unexpected. Following are some expenses that others have experienced:

  • Travel during school breaks
  • Clothing for the cold winters;
  • Textbook costs;
  • Medical expenses not covered by insurance, e.g., dental care.

You will also need to take into consideration the following costs:

  • A non-refundable fee is required of all applicants to James Madison University.
  • After the undergraduate applicant has been approved for admission, the applicant who intends to enroll must submit an advance a non-refundable deposit of $250 (which will be applied to the applicant's first semester expenses).
  • A visa application fee (currently US$100) will be required each time you need to obtain or renew your student visa. Individuals from some countries will also be required to pay a visa issuance fee.
  • The United States has recently implemented the requirement of an additional $100 fee to finance the support of SEVIS.