While there is no single academic program we can expect all students to follow, our strongest candidates choose rigorous secondary school curricula. Competitive applicants challenge themselves beyond high school graduation requirements in the core academic areas of English, math, science, social science and foreign language.

Because secondary schools vary by size, academic program and grading scale, we do not have rigid requirements. The majority of our incoming first-year students are ranked in the top third of their high school with 'A's and 'B's in core classes (math, lab science, foreign languages, English and social sciences).

JMU does not require the SAT/ACT to be part of your application file. If you choose not to submit standardized test scores, you will not be penalized in the admissions application, scholarship or Honors College review processes.

Our Admissions Facts page has the most recently reported mid-50 percent for both SAT and ACT tests.

Yes. We know that not all schools provide the same opportunities, but you should seek out a full and demanding college preparatory program.

The Admissions Committee uses your highest math and verbal scores from any test administration in reviewing your application for admission. JMU does not require the SAT/ACT to be part of your application file. If you choose not to submit standardized test scores, you will not be penalized in the admissions application, scholarship or Honors College review processes.

No. SAT II subject tests are not required for the admission process. Some majors and degrees at JMU have a foreign language requirement. If you are pursuing such a degree, we recommend that you take the SAT II Foreign Language which is used for placement purposes. Learn more about our Placement Policy.

We neither require nor grant personal interviews. However, if you visit the university and need to speak to a counselor to discuss a unique situation, we are more than happy to meet with you.

Mid-year grades may be requested to be reviewed with a student's application. While mid-year grades are not required, studies have shown that students who experience a drop in their senior year grades will often follow with poor grades in their first year of college, so it is always in your best interest to continue to do well through senior year. JMU does require an official transcript for all admitted students after graduation. We reserve the right to rescind an offer of admission due to poor academic performance in the senior year.

No. We recognize that there are differences in the overall strengths of high schools, but we are most interested in how well our candidates have taken advantage of the resources available to them.

No, but there are advantages to you and to us if you submit your application materials promptly. We can let you know if any documents are missing or incomplete in a timely manner. Last-minute applications often look hurried and are more likely to be missing important information.

No. Because our decisions are made in the context of the entire applicant pool, it is not possible for us to predict your chances for admission.

No. There are no quotas for individual schools or communities.

Yes. We never know precisely how many students will accept our offer of admission, therefore, we invite a group of students to be on our unranked waitlist. The waitlist is the pool of applicants we consider if we are able to admit additional students to fill the class. The extent to which we use the waitlist varies widely from year to year.

First-Year Waitlist FAQs / Transfer Waitlist FAQs

First-year students are typically admitted to James Madison University to begin in the Fall Semester. A small cohort of first-year students will be admitted for the Spring semester.

The majority of transfers enroll in either the Summer or Fall; however, a limited number of transfers are admitted for Spring. Spring transfer applicants with associate degrees and a cumulative college GPA of 3.00 of higher are given priority.

ALL applicants living outside of the United States who have U.S. citizenship, U.S. permanent resident status or dual citizenship must apply by appropriate deadline using our domestic application.

JMU has a non-binding early admission process. Applications for Early Action are due Nov. 1 with decisions posted online in mid-Jan.

Applicants for admission to JMU will have their residency for tuition purposes determined based on the information provided on their complete Application for Virginia In-State Tuition Rates. This application is incorporated in our undergraduate applications for admission based on initial answers provided on your application.

You may review the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Guidelines for Residency Determination, which can be found at the following site: https://www.schev.edu/financial-aid/in-state-residency/guidelines-for-in-state-residency-tuition

Once an application for admission is submitted you may be requested to provide additional documentation to determine your residency for tuition purposes. The Office of Admissions will notify you of your residency determination in communications throughout the application process.

Yes, you may appeal your residency decision. Please note that in-state tuition is not need-based. We follow the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia's Domicile Guidelines.

Prior to appealing your residency decision, please be sure you have sent in all residency items from your to-do list in MyMadison. Items may be sent to residency@jmu.edu.

Applicants who have received an admission decision and wish to appeal their residency decision may do so by completing a residency appeal. This residency appeal form is only for undergraduate students who disagree with their residency decision for their first semester at JMU. We may request additional information as part of the appeal process.

JMU students are encouraged to explore academic areas of interest. You can change your major any time between the application process and graduation. Please know that changing your major after your sophomore year may delay your graduation.

Check out our About JMU page for a rundown of quick facts.

Yes. With three levels of participation - Honors Scholars Track I, Honors Scholar Track II, and Senior Honors Project Track III - you can find the academic challenge to meet your needs. At graduation, your level of participation will be noted on your diploma and transcripts. For more information, please visit the JMU Honors College web site.

We offer semester-long study abroad programs in five cities: Antwerp, London, Florence, Salamanca, and Edinburg. A faculty member-in residence accompanies each group for the semester-long experience. There are also dozens of short-term programs offered each summer offering a variety of courses, including general education courses. The Center for Global Engagement also works with students who choose an external study abroad program with another college or university if the destination of choice is not offered at JMU. Complete information can be found on the Center for Global Engagement web site. 

Not at all. Most students involved in performing arts here are majoring in fields unrelated to the arts.

All first-year students live in university-sponsored housing. We believe students get the most from the James Madison experience by living in the residence halls. After their first year, students may remain on or move off campus.

First-year students are not permitted to have cars on campus. You certainly do not need a car to get around Harrisonburg. The Harrisonburg Transit is convenient and free to students. Parking on campus, however, is not always easy to find. Upper-class students pay a parking fee to register their car for on campus parking.

Safety should be a concern everywhere. The university has a strong public safety program that includes a full campus police force, lighted pathways, an escort service, campus cadets, emergency phones and residence halls that are locked 24 hours a day.

We have 18 Division 1 intercollegiate athletics teams, a growing list of club sports teams and a vibrant intramural sports program. Our adventure program has possibilities you may never have considered before. Our 278,515-square-foot University Recreation Center is amazing. Your game is here. Read more »

Please call us at (540) 568-5681, or e-mail us at admissions@jmu.edu.