James Madison University

James Madison University is very difficult to get into. The acceptance rate at James Madison University is 77%. Out of 18,265 applications received in 2023, 13,976 students were offered admission.

If you are considering submitting an application to James Madison University, the deadline for Fall 2024 admissions is 1/15 and the fee for the application costs $70.

James Madison University Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here's an overiew of some of James Madison University's admissions stats.

James Madison University 2023	Admissions Statistics
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	14.7%
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs	25%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs	5%
Waitlist	Yes

James Madison University Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for James Madison University.

Application Type	Offered	Application Deadline	Notification Deadline
Early Decision I	Info Not Available	–	–
Early Decision II	–	–	–
Early Action	Yes	November 1
Regular Decision	Yes	1 15	–

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Want to Apply Early to James Madison University?

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James Madison University may or may not offer early admission, however the school has not provided any application information. Check with James Madison University directly for more information about early applications.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1.

Some students apply to college early in hopes that it will increase their chances of acceptance. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase your chance of acceptance, since it is a way to show that you are very interested in a school.

➡️ Find a list of some top colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.

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More on James Madison University Admissions

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How To Get Into James Madison University

JMU is a very difficult school to get into.

In 2022, JMU accepted 77% of all applicants, approximately 13,976 from the 18,265 applicants.

Schools that are very difficult to get into, like JMU, accept fewer than 60% of all applicants. At least 50% of all admitted students have GPAs in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1230 on the SAT and over 26 on the ACT.

Transferring to James Madison University

It is moderately difficult to be admitted as a transfer student.

For Students Waitlisted to James Madison University

In 2022, James Madison University waitlisted 983 students and 595 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 132 eventually got in.

What Does James Madison University Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when deciding who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are they consider most important in the admissions process. When creating your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and choose schools that put the most emphasis on the areas where you stand out.

Admissions Factors at James Madison University

What does James Madison University consider during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor	Level
Academic GPA	Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record	Very Important
State Residency	Important
First Generation	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Character/Personal Qualities	Considered
Application Essay	Considered
Extracurricular Activities	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Recommendation(s)	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
Talent/Ability	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered
Work Experience	Considered

Make sure to check with James Madison University for more information on admission factors.

James Madison University Application Requirements

To apply to James Madison University, all applicants must submit the following items. Make sure to check in with James Madison University's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area	Required	Recommended	Required for Some	Details (If Any)
Written Essay or Personal Statement	–	–	–	–
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale)	–	3	–	–
Interview	–	–	–	–
Transcript(S) of College Record	–	–	–	–
Standardized Test Scores	–	–	–	–
Statement of Good Standing From Prior Institution(S)	–	–	–	–
Transcript of High School Record	√	–	–	–

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GPA and Testing

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What GPA Do I Need To Get Into James Madison University?

James Madison University has not provided an information about GPAs of accepted students. Any questions regarding applicant expectations should be addressed directly with the school.

Out of all students that were admitted, 57% submitted a class rank. At James Madison University 14.7% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 28.2% were in the top 25% and 85.4% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At James Madison University, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA	Percent of Students
4.0 GPA	–
3.75 and 3.99	–
3.50 and 3.74	–
3.25 and 3.49	–
3.00 and 3.24	–
2.50 and 2.9	–
2.00 and 2.49	–

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to James Madison University directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that reflects your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

James Madison University does not have a test optional admissions policy. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 25% of James Madison University's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 5% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for James Madison University?

To be competitive with other James Madison University applicants, you should aim to earn between 1150 and 1300 (or higher!) on the SAT. At James Madison University 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1300 and 25% of scored lower than 1150, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of James Madison University students scored 650 or higher and 75% of students scored 580 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of James Madison University students scored 660 or higher, and 75% scored a 580 or higher.

To be most competitive at James Madison University, you should strive to earn between 24 and 29 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 29 means you fall in the 75th percentile for James Madison University's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 29, and three out of four students scored lower than 29 on the ACT.

A 24 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for James Madison University students. Only one out of every four students scored below 24.

More Information on Transferring to James Madison University

For transfer students, it is moderately difficult to get admitted to James Madison University.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 1. Applicants should hear back by April 30.

Transfer students can enroll in James Madison University during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term

• Summer Term

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James Madison University Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to James Madison University?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to James Madison University.

Does James Madison University accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ James Madison University accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to James Madison University?

✅ James Madison University is not test optional.

What is James Madison University's acceptance rate?

✅ James Madison University's acceptance rate is 77%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at James Madison University?

🟨 James Madison University may or may not offer early decision. The school has not provided any information on early decision including ED acceptance rates.

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