The Honors College welcomes applications from incoming first-year students, current JMU students, and incoming transfer students. The College seeks students interested in building a community of students, faculty, and staff united by their commitments to reach their full potential, learn with and from those around them, and address local, national, and global challenges.

The application for Spring 2026 admission will be live on August 15 - please check back soon!

Direct Admission allows JMU-admitted transfer students meeting certain criteria to join the Honors College without going through the standard application.

Elibigility
To be eligible for Direct Admission to the JMU Honors College, transfer students must:

• Be admitted to JMU.
• Complete one year of courses (minimum of 24 credit hours) at another institution of higher education (these credits must be completed post-high school graduation). 
• Complete at least 9 credits of Honors coursework at their previous institution.
• Present a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 (4.0 scale) upon application to JMU. If a student has attended multiple institutions, they must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.5 (4.0 scale) at all previous institutions. 

Additional Terms

• The JMU Honors College may recognize up to 12 Honors credits completed at another institution as Honors Electives at JMU. 
• Students who are not eligible for Direct Admission to the Honors College may still apply through the standard process. 
  
  

If you would like to be admitted to the Honors College under this policy, please DO NOT submit the standard application; instead, reach out to the Associate Dean of the Honors College, Dr. Allison Fagan.