James Madison University

If you are considering submitting an application to JMU, the regular decision application deadline is January 15 and the application fee is $70.

JMU Admissions Stats at a Glance

The following is an overiew of some of JMU's admissions stats.

JMU 2022	Admissions Statistics
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class	14.7%
Admissions Test Policy	Not optional and are considered
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	January 1	––

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Considering Applying Early to JMU?

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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 JMU directly for more information about early applications.

🗓️ The Early Action deadline is November 1.

➡️ Discover 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 Hard Is It To Get Admitted to JMU?

It is very difficult to get into JMU.

In 2021, JMU accepted 77% of students, about 18,265 from 13,976 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 JMU

JMU has not reported data for waitlisted and admitted students.

What Does JMU Look For in an Applicant?

Colleges consider a range of factors when determining who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college determines which factors are they consider most important in the admissions process. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that prioritize the admissions factors where you stand out.

Admissions Factors at JMU

Curious about the factors that are considered by JMU 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
First Generation	Important
State Residency	Important
Alumni/ae Relations	Considered
Character/Personal Qualities	Considered
Geographical Residence	Considered
Work Experience	Considered
Extracurricular Activities	Considered
Application Essay	Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status	Considered
Recommendation(s)	Considered
Talent/Ability	Considered
Standardized Test Scores	Considered
Volunteer Work	Considered

Make sure to check with JMU for more information on admission factors.

JMU 2022-2023 Application Requirements

To apply to JMU, all applicants must submit the following items. Double check with JMU'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 JMU?

JMU 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 JMU 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 JMU directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights 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

JMU considers standardized tests scores during the admissions process.

JMU 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 JMU'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 JMU?

To be competitive with other JMU applicants, you should strive to earn between 1150 and 1300 (or higher!) on the SAT. At JMU 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 JMU 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 JMU students scored 660 or higher, and 75% scored a 580 or higher.

What is a Good ACT Score for JMU?

To be most competitive at JMU, 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 JMU'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 JMU students. Only one out of every four students scored below 24.

Want To Bring Up Your ACT Score? Access ACT practice tests and study tips and see upcoming ACT test dates.

More Information on Transferring to James Madison University

For transfer students, it is moderately difficult to get admitted to JMU.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 1.

Transfer students can enroll in JMU during the following terms:

• Fall Term

• Spring Term

• Summer Term

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JMU Admissions FAQs

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Can I defer my acceptance to JMU?

✅ Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to JMU.

Does JMU accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

✅ JMU accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits and Advanced Placement (AP) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to JMU?

✅ JMU is not test optional. You must submit test scores as part of the application.

What is JMU's acceptance rate?

✅ The acceptance rate for JMU is 77%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at JMU?

🟨 JMU 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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