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Anyone who has or will obtain a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S. or a comparable degree from an officially recognized college or university outside the U.S. may apply for graduate admission.

Check your program for application requirements and deadlines. If possible, apply early!

Do your research.

Learn about the program by exploring the program website and request more information if needed. Apply to programs that have goals that match your personal aspirations. Check your program's requirements and assemble the necessary documents. All materials must be uploaded before you can submit your application.

We strongly recommend that you submit a complete application at least two weeks before your program's application deadline.

During our peak application season it may take several working days for processing.

The online application will ask you to enter personal information such as your address and contact information; your academic and employment history; and other information that will be used for acceptance decisions. Requirements vary by program. Visit your program webpage to review your program's requirements. 

In addition to entering information, the online application may require you to upload documents such as resumes or personal statements before clicking the submit button. Upload all required application materials inside the application before clicking the submit button. You will see a pop-up view of every item you upload. Check the quality and accuracy of your uploaded documents. Illegible documents will not be processed. 

Please do not send or mail items if we have not requested them. They may not be processed and may delay your application.

Transcripts:

Applicants should upload unofficial transcripts with their online application. If your transcript is not from JMU, OFFICIAL and FINAL transcripts demonstrating the degree has conferred will be required AFTER you are accepted into a program. Instructions will be in your acceptance letter.

Transcripts - Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions should be uploaded with your electronic application and may be used for departmental admission review purposes. If offered admission, you will be directed and required to submit to the JMU Graduate School an official transcript from any institution from which a degree has been awarded to finalize your admission. Transcripts are considered official if they are sent to JMU directly from the issuing institution.

Official transcripts can also be sent through an electronic transcript database provider such as  Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, or others. When using these services, please choose “other” or “employer” and use gradtranscripts@jmu.edu.

Please see our Transcripts & Credential Evaluations page for details regarding degrees earned at non-US academic institutions.

Letters of Recommendation:

Some programs require letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation are not uploaded by the applicant, but instead, they are submitted directly by the recommender. As you complete the online application, you must enter information about each person who will submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf. We recommend that you contact your potential references before entering their names. The online application system will send an e-mail to each of the people you identify, and will ask them to submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf directly to the application system.

To check if your recommenders have sent their letters or to make changes, login to your online application, click on "Review Your Activity," navigate to "Review Page," then click on "Manage Your Recommenders."

The application fee is $60 and is subject to change. A separate application fee must accompany each program application for admission. The application fee can be waived in some cases: view application fee waiver information . Pay the application fee within the online application by using a valid credit/debit card.

If required by your program, send official standardized test scores (GRE, GMAT, etc.) directly from the testing center. The Graduate School's institutional code for test scores is 5392.

(If you are applying to a CSD program your test scores must be sent to CSDCAS institutional code 1043 and not our institutional code listed above. If applying to the Physician Assistant program - use code 7442 )

Once you have submitted your application watch for important emails. Most students will receive an email that will prompt you to go to your Activity Page to view your decision. You will see an admission letter on your Activity Page. For some students there will be a supplemental letter from your graduate program that can be viewed as an item on your “checklist.” If you are accepted, please officially accept your offer of admission . Until you accept your admission offer you will not be eligible for graduate assistantships.

If you have been accepted but cannot start during the semester indicated in your acceptance letter, contact your program director and request a deferral to a future semester.

If you have been accepted but no longer wish to attend James Madison University, please officially decline your offer of admission to make your position available to another qualified student.

If you have been denied admission, contact your program by email requesting additional information.

Submit OFFICIAL proof of completion of your Bachelor's or higher degree before you start your program.

Fraudulent Documents

The Graduate School will verify every transcript uploaded with your application against the issuing institution. If any material is found to have been altered or falsified, we reserve the right of expulsion. See the James Madison University Honor Code.

For more on the online application,view our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have questions, contact The Graduate School (grad@jmu.edu).

NOTE: If you are an international applicant, please visit this page: International Student Application)

Contact the Office of Disability Services to determine eligibility to submit a paper application or other accommodations in the application process. If you have questions regarding international applications and requirements, contact The Graduate School (grad@jmu.edu).

You will upload most all of your documents when you apply. Please do not send documents separated from your application. However, occasionally some applicants may need to send certain test scores or credential evaluations via mail. If you need to mail documents to us, please use the following address:

James Madison University
The Graduate School
100 E. Grace St.
Room 4050 / MSC 6702
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
U.S.A.

Congratulations!

Look for important email to accept or decline the admission offer.

Those applying to a graduate program may be asked to submit OFFICIAL and FINAL transcripts. Instructions will be in your acceptance letter.

Online and Distance Learners should fill out the Immunization Form Waiver and return it to the University Health Center.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains information regarding campus security and personal safety including topics such as: crime prevention, the university police law enforcement authority, crime reporting policies, disciplinary procedures, protocols for the immediate notification of students and staff upon confirmation of a significant emergency on campus and other matters of importance related to security and safety. The report includes statistics for the most recent three-year period of reported crimes that have occurred on campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by JMU or its affiliates; and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus.

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report includes campus housing fire statistics for the most recent three-year period, a description of each on-campus student housing facility fire safety system, the number of fire drills held during the previous calendar year, policies or rules on portable electrical appliances, smoking, and open flames in student housing; and procedures for student housing evacuation in the event of fire along with other fire safety information.

The JMU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report includes the Harrisonburg campus and the three overseas branch campuses; Florence, Antwerp, and London. It is available electronically at Annual Security and Fire Safety Report

You can obtain a copy of any of this report by contacting the Office of Public Safety, MSC 6810, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 or request that a copy be mailed to you by calling (540)568-6769/6913.