do you need an essay to apply to jmu

• James Madison University

JMU Admission Requirements

Harrisonburg, Virginia

  3 Reviews

Your chances of getting into James Madison University

Percent admitted .

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at JMU is 78.3%.  Its admission rate is the 20th lowest in Virginia .

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into JMU and can you get accepted?

James Madison University is an easy school to get into and you have a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 24,062 out of the 30,727 who applied were admitted.

James Madison University typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.57. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top half of their high school class . 20% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into JMU?

78% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to James Madison University you should:

• Have a high school GPA of 3.57 or better
• Earn B+ grades in high school
• Score 1230 on the SAT
• Score 26 on the ACT
• Graduate in the top half of your high school class

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

Avg. high school gpa , typical high school grades .

What GPA do you need to get into James Madison University?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into JMU are to have around a 3.57 high school GPA . You are required to have very good grades in high school .

If your high school grades are above the average 3.57 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as JMU accepts 78% of applicants.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at JMU is 3.57 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn B+ letter grades and regularly score around 87-89 percent on tests and assignments in high school.   The school ranks #18 in Virginia for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since JMU is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.6 GPA range.

*This school has not published high school GPA data for its incoming freshman class. In these cases, CollegeSimply uses an algorithm to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of college GPA data. 3.57 is a prediction of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.

JMU SAT Scores

Testing requirements.

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to James Madison University. If you optionally submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 23% of students submitted SAT scores and 3% submitted ACT scores for admission for the most recent academic year..

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

Sat range , applicants submitting sat .

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to James Madison University?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at JMU is 1230 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1140-1320. Students who get into James Madison University score in the top 34 percent of all SAT test takers. .  JMU ranks #11 in the state of Virginia for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1230 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. JMU regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1140 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1140, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 1050, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

James Madison University is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1230 SAT score range.

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1230, you have around a 78% chance of being admitted. A 1320 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 87% chance of getting in.

JMU ACT Scores

Act requirements & average act score, act range , applicants submitting act .

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into JMU?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to JMU is 26 , while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 23 and 29.  The school ranks #13 in Virginia for highest average ACT composite score.

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 26. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 23 and score in the score in the top 32 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 20.

3 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to James Madison University.

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as James Madison University is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not required for admission, but considered if submitted (test optional)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into JMU for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 26 score has around 78% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 87% with a 29 ACT score.

High School Class Rank

85% of James Madison University freshman are in the top half of their high school graduating class and 28% are in the top quarter.

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Fall 2024 Application Deadline

Applications due, days left to apply.

The application deadline for Fall 2024 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 15, 2024.

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to James Madison University is $70 .

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to James Madison University and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Credits Accepted

Admission Requirements Summary

Because James Madison University is lightly competitive to get into, you have a very good chance of acceptance with the right GPA and test scores. If you have a 3.57 GPA, you are almost certain to getting in. Combining this with an SAT score of 1230 and ACT of 26 will almost guarantee your admission.

Other Colleges to Apply To 

Students applying to James Madison University often consider these colleges

George Mason University

Public 4 Year

Virginia Tech

Virginia Commonwealth University

University of Virginia Main Campus

Christopher Newport University

Old Dominion University

University of Mary Washington

College of William and Mary

University of Delaware

Elon University

Private 4 Year

Appalachian State University

Penn State Main Campus

The University of Tennessee

West Virginia University

Clemson University

University of South Carolina Columbia

Longwood University

Penn State Harrisburg

University of Richmond

University of Maryland College Park

Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=232423 IPEDS survey data for James Madison University.

Does James Madison University prefer SAT or ACT?

23% of students submit their SAT scores to JMU. 3% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.

What is my chance of getting into James Madison University?

78% of those who apply are granted admission to JMU. Admission competition is and the college has difficult admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission .

What SAT score is required for James Madison University?

The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1140 and 1320. The average SAT score is 1230. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission .

What ACT score is required for James Madison University?

The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 23 and 29. The average ACT score is 26. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission .

• HARRISONBURG, VA
• grade  A minus Overall Grade
• Rating 3.85 out of 5   3,240 reviews

How to Apply to James Madison University

Start your application, application requirements.

• High School GPA Required
• High School Rank Neither required nor recommended
• High School Transcript Required
• College Prep Courses Required
• SAT/ACT Considered but not required
• Recommendations Considered but not required

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JMU Requirements for Admission

Choose your test.

What are JMU's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into JMU and build a strong application.

School location: Harrisonburg, VA

This school is also known as: JMU, Madison, James Madison University

Admissions Rate: 78.3%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at JMU is 78.3% . For every 100 applicants, 78 are admitted.

This means the school is lightly selective . The school will have their expected requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores. If you meet their requirements, you're almost certain to get an offer of admission. But if you don't meet JMU's requirements, you'll be one of the unlucky few people who gets rejected.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

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JMU GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.55

The average GPA at JMU is 3.55 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. This school did not officially report its average GPA, but we've estimated it here using data from over 1,000 schools.)

With a GPA of 3.55, JMU requires you to be around average in your high school class. You'll need a mix of A's and B's, and very few C's. If you have a lower GPA, you can compensate with harder courses like AP or IB classes. This will help boost your weighted GPA and show your ability to take college classes.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.55, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

JMU hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to JMU will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

JMU SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1205

The average SAT score composite at JMU is a 1205 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes JMU Competitive for SAT test scores.

JMU SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1160, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1310. In other words, a 1160 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1310 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

JMU has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."

This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit .

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:

Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, JMU will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and JMU forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1160, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

JMU ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, JMU likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 26

The average ACT score at JMU is 26. This score makes JMU Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 23, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 29.

Even though JMU likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 23 or below, you'll have a harder time getting in, unless you have something else impressive in your application.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 23 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to JMU, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 23.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

JMU considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average . Aim for a 1160 SAT or a 23 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. As long as you meet the rest of the application requirements below, you'll be a shoo-in.

But if you score below our recommended target score, you may be one of the very few unlucky people to get rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

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• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of JMU here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $70
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office None

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 3
• Social Studies 2

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes January 15 None
• Yes November 1 None

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 800 Harrisonburg, VA 22807
• Phone: (540) 568-6211
• Fax: (540) 568-3332
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in JMU, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to JMU.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than JMU. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for JMU, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for JMU, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If JMU is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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James Madison University

Academic Programs

• Art & Design
• Communication
• Engineering
• Finance/Accounting
• Government/Political Science
• Health Science
• Liberal Arts
• Performing Arts
• Social Science
• Visual Arts

Student experience

• Disability Services
• Intramural/Club Sports
• Military/Veteran Services
• On-Campus Housing
• ROTC Program
• Study Abroad
• Undergraduate Research
• Veteran Fee Waiver

Application information

Find out about requirements, fees, and deadlines

Completing your application is easy! STEP 1: Submit your application ($70 fee). Step 2:  Submit an official high school transcript, including any dual-enrollment courses you may be taking. For transcripts to be considered official, they must be sent through the Common App, or another secure provider such as Naviance/Parchment, e-Scrip Safe, etc., or by mail from your school. If sending by mail, please use the following address: James Madison University Office of Admissions – MSC 0101 100 E Grace Street Harrisonburg, VA 22807 Please note, JMU will not accept recommendation letters that arrive via Parchment, postal mail, etc.

To apply for transfer admission, you should have completed at least 24 credit hours post high-school graduation before you would start classes at JMU. If you’ll have completed less than 24 credit hours, please contact your regional recruiter . Priority is given to applicants with associate degrees, or at least 48 college credits. Competitive transfer applicants have at least a 3.0 GPA and have completed college course work in English, mathematics, social science and lab science.  For more information, please see the Transfer Applicants section of our website.

Additional Information

JMU graduates are far more than merely educated. Members of a fellowship of doers, they know how to make things happen. They’ve honed their ability to think critically. They’ve learned the importance of a strong work ethic and have become committed to and skilled at collaborating with others. Diplomas in hand, they leave campus determined to live lives of meaning and pursue careers of purpose.

Admissions office

100 South Main Street , MSC 0101 Harrisonburg , VA 22807 , United States of America

Phone number

540-568-5681

For first-year students

Admissions website.

www.jmu.edu/admissions/undergrad/index.shtml

Financial aid website

www.jmu.edu/financialaid/

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James Madison University | JMU

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Acceptance Rate

Average SAT

SAT 25th-75th

Students Submitting SAT

Average (25th - 75th)

Reading and Writing

Average ACT

ACT 25th-75th

Students Submitting ACT

Wondering your admission chance to this school? Calculate your chance now

Applications, how to apply, tests typically submitted, similar schools.

• Requirements
• Decision Dates
• Acceptance Rate
• GPA Requirements
• Additional Transfer Info for James Madison University (JMU)
• Will you enjoy James Madison University (JMU) as a transfer student?
• Final Verdict: How to transfer into James Madison University (JMU)
• Chances Calculator

Real Videos

$2,000 Scholarship

Will you get accepted?

Predict now!

James Madison University (JMU) Transfers: 2024 Requirements, Dates, GPAs & More

This is the complete guide for transferring to JMU. We suggest you read until the end - you can also use the below calculator to estimate your likelihood of being able to transfer to JMU.

This free college chances tool calculates your acceptance chances at any other U.S. college

Please note all chances are estimates based on test score and GPA averages.

Watch the JMU CampusReel

At JMU, 15.0% of the entire student body are transfer students, so you won’t be alone.

To read about regular admission requirements for James Madison University (JMU), click here

Can you transfer into James Madison University (JMU)

What are the transfer requirements for JMU?

JMU requires a number of completed documents for consideration. The table below summarizes the most important pieces of information:

In addition to the above requirements, JMU also requires a minimum number of credits completed to apply to be a transfer student.

JMU requires a minimum of 24 credits.

What are James Madison University (JMU)’s Transfer Deadlines?

Many universities accept transfer applications during each semester. For this reason, we break down JMU transfer deadline by fall, winter, spring and summer.

Waiting until the last minute to finalize your application could result in a silly mistake.

We recommend you complete your application at least 1 week before the required deadline.

In fact, take a full 2 day break from looking at anything related to your application and then come back to look for errors. I bet you’ll find a few 😉

When are decision dates for James Madison University (JMU) transfer applicants?

If you applied to transfer to JMU on or before the reported deadlines then you should have your decision date by the notification dates in the below table.

Note this data is current as of 2019 and to the best of our knowledge this hasn’t changed.

What is James Madison University (JMU)’s transfer acceptance rate?

In 2019, JMU received 1741 transfer applicants.

The school accepted 1290 students. Therefore, the transfer acceptance rate for JMU is 74.1%.

This indicates how hard it is to transfer into JMU. You can use the free calculator below to predict your chances of getting accepted.

Additionally, of the 1290 accepted transfer students, 739 students enrolled - that means the yield was 57.29%.

JMU accepts 75 out of every 100 transfer applicants.

Watch a Student-led Virtual Tour of James Madison University (JMU)

What are the James Madison University (JMU) transfer GPA requirements?

JMU requires a minimum college GPA of 2.0 - this is on a 4.33 point scale.

In addition, JMU requires a minimum high school GPA of 2.0.

Additional Transfer Info for JMU

JMU has noted the additional policies: N/A.

Will you enjoy transferring to JMU?

There are a lot of reasons to transfer to JMU.

Maybe your plan has always been to attend community college, and then move to a four year college to save money while completing your degree.

Maybe you had a bad experience at your first school - don’t worry this is more common than you think.

Or perhaps you’re drawn to Harrisonburg...

Will you be able to find a place to find home and grow?

Regardless of your reason for transferring, you’re already enrolled at another college or university so you know that the most important element in your college experience is the people and community

Finding success at JMU is dependent on feeling comfortable - will you be able to find a place to find home and grow?

These are the questions that numbers and data cannot answer, but CampusReel can.

If you’re considering transferring to JMU then I highly recommend that you watch the school’s videos on CampusReel. These are real students with real stories.

Final Verdict: How to transfer into JMU

Let’s wrap up everything we’ve learned. If you still have questions about transferring, check out the JMU website for more info. JMU accepts 74.1% transfer applicants, which is competitive.

To have a shot at transferring into JMU, you should have a current GPA of at least 3.56 - ideally you’re GPA will be around 3.7. In addition, you will need to submit standardized test scores.

The below tables show the SAT and ACT breakdown of JMU students.

James Madison University (JMU)’s average SAT score is 1125. To be a competitive applicant for James Madison University (JMU) your SAT score should come close to the average - for the ACT you should be aiming for the equivalent.

What are the possible risks of transferring

Related Schools for Transfering

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