The Princeton Review marks JMU among nation's best colleges

The Princeton Review counts JMU among the nation’s best colleges — an honor the educational services company reserves for only about 14% of America’s four-year institutions.

The review goes on to recognize the “strong, shared identity” at the heart of the Madison Experience, and to praise Dukes for feeling immense pride for their alma mater. “That’s impressive with over 20,000 undergraduates,” it states.

Students also noted, “While it is a larger school, it feels very well contained.” JMU, they say, “integrates seamlessly with the community” and students “are very connected to the people who live in Harrisonburg and to the natural surroundings.”

Echoing that sense of community, JMU President James C. Schmidt says the recognition is further proof of the quality education and sense of belonging that JMU provides.

“It’s gratifying to see JMU recognized by The Princeton Review, but what I appreciate most is what sits behind that recognition,” he shared. “It reflects a university community that cares deeply about students and a student body that is engaged, supportive and proud to be here. We hear every day from students and families about the opportunities they’ve found at JMU, and it’s encouraging to see those experiences reflected in this national recognition.”

JMU scored highly in several categories, which, in turn, contributed to its inclusion among the Top 20 Best Alumni Networks (Public Schools) and the Top 50 Best Value Colleges (Public Schools). Student feedback placed JMU 14th in the nation for Most Beautiful Campus and Their Students Love These Colleges, and 21st for Happiest Students.

Additionally, the university was named No. 3 in the nation for Best Campus Food.

“We’ve been serving up award-winning food for 25 years, and this recognition makes this milestone even more meaningful,” JMU dining says. “Every meal, every gathering, and every recommendation helped make this achievement possible.”

Besides its national recognition, JMU placed highest in Virginia for Most Beautiful Campus; Most Politically Moderate Students; Best Athletic Facilities; Best Campus Food and Their Students Love These Colleges.

JMU scored a 91 on a scale of 60-99 for quality of life, which offers “a comprehensive measure of a school’s performance as an environmentally aware and prepared institution,” the review says. “Specifically, it includes 1) whether students have a campus quality of life that is both healthy and sustainable; 2) how well a school is preparing students for employment in the clean-energy economy of the 21st century as well as for citizenship in a world now defined by environmental concerns and opportunities; and 3) how environmentally responsible a school’s policies are.”

JMU’s “green rating” was also 91 out of 99. The review notes that the school has a formal sustainability committee through the Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World, offers sustainability-focused degrees, employs a sustainability officer and has a public greenhouse-gas inventory plan.

Regarding return on investment, JMU scored 89 out of 99, with a reported starting median salary of $72,200 and mid-career median salary of $129,100 for those who have completed up to a bachelor’s degree, as well as a starting median salary of $74,100 and mid-career median salary of $134,400 for those who completed at least a bachelor’s degree.

Additionally, JMU students praised the university’s friendly campus atmosphere.

It’s “very easy to get into a conversation with any person,” one student commented, while another reported, “I have had lunch bought for me when my campus card didn’t swipe.”

“Balance is a key tenet of JMU life,” the review says, “and ‘mental health is extremely important to the staff and students.’ This is good for those who have ‘different aspirations and passions that they pursue in their own unique ways here,’ and everyone is ‘supportive of decisions but not afraid to speak up for what they believe.’ This group ‘[radiates] positivity and friendliness’ and ‘shows compassion, reliability, and love for each other no matter the circumstances.’”

The Princeton Review’s 50 college ranking lists cover the general areas of academics/administration, campus life, extracurriculars, politics, quality of life, social scene and town life. Further breakdowns focus more specifically on categories like Best Campus Experience and Lots of Greek Life, as well as the basis of each ranking and the student survey questions used to inform the list.

One of the standouts for Dukes who participated in the survey is how Madison provides “so many resources to help you with the switch from high school to college.” The review notes that JMU offers free tutoring, study sessions and a thriving Student Success Center.

“Classes are peppered with hands-on learning opportunities like ‘undergraduate research, symposiums, poster presentations [and] conferences,’” the company says. “For instance, one management class features the Dukes Impact Challenge, where students ‘have to design and sell merchandise within six weeks, and all the money goes to a local nonprofit.’

“Professors are ‘very accessible,’ at least during office hours, and ‘always feel helpful and like they genuinely want to see you do your best.’ This approachability makes teachers feel ‘personable, and you can create strong relationships with them.’ One student adds, ‘They are extremely flexible (depending on situations) and understand life gets in the way sometimes.’ Many professors bring ‘their life experiences and implement them into the class to make the learning experience more enriching.’

“This desire to engage students is one reason why, ‘for many people, JMU is the perfect college.’”