JMU acceptance rate, cost and outcomes
James Madison University · Public · Harrisonburg, VA · 21,006 undergraduates (IPEDS fall 2023)
JMU admitted 76.2% of applicants for fall 2023, up from 63.6% in 2013. Virginia residents pay $14,620 in tuition and fees for 2025-26; out-of-state students pay $32,230.
Admit rate, 2013 to 2023
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| Fall | Admit rate | Applicants | Admitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 63.6% | 22,648 | 14,394 |
| 2014 | 65.7% | 22,550 | 14,823 |
| 2015 | 72.6% | 21,439 | 15,559 |
| 2016 | 72.1% | 21,304 | 15,366 |
| 2017 | 75.2% | 21,100 | 15,867 |
| 2018 | 71.1% | 23,149 | 16,467 |
| 2019 | 76.8% | 23,579 | 18,098 |
| 2020 | 80.5% | 23,922 | 19,255 |
| 2021 | 86.3% | 21,176 | 18,265 |
| 2022 | 78.3% | 30,727 | 24,062 |
| 2023 | 76.2% | 35,750 | 27,258 |
Applications went from 22,648 in fall 2013 to 35,750 in fall 2023. Admit rate = admitted ÷ applicants. Source: IPEDS fall admissions.1
What families actually pay
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| Family income | Net price / year, 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $14,379 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $14,452 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $16,960 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $22,031 |
| Over $110,000 | $31,907 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $14,620 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $32,230 |
| Cost of attendance (2024-25) | $33,276 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid (2024-25) | $23,550 |
Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants, for first-time full-time students with federal aid paying the in-state rate, 2024-25. Tuition is 2025-26. Source: College Scorecard.2
SAT and ACT
Middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of enrolled first-year students who submitted scores: 19% submitted the SAT, 3% the ACT. Source: IPEDS fall 2023.1
Similar public colleges
| College | Admit rate | Tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|
| George Mason VA | 88.8% | $14,316 in-state |
| ODU VA | 90.5% | $13,250 in-state |
| VCU VA | 93.1% | $17,490 in-state |
Same state and type first, then the nearest admit rate. Fall 2023 and 2025-26 figures.
What the numbers say
Applicants to James Madison University numbered 35,750 in fall 2023, and 27,258 received offers, putting the admit rate at 76.2%.1 Its rate went up over the span, from 63.6% in fall 2013, an increase of 12.6 percentage points.1 The rate fell in only 4 of the 10 year-to-year changes.1 Admitted students grew 89%, outpacing a 58% rise in applications, and the admitted count went from 14,394 to 27,258.1
JMU is test-optional; 19% of enrolled students sent SAT scores and 3% sent ACT scores in 2023.1 SAT middle ranges were 600 to 670 for reading and writing and 570 to 650 for math, and ACT composites ran 25 to 29.1
Virginia residents pay $14,620 in 2025-26 tuition and fees, and out-of-state students pay $32,230.2 The resident charge is below the $15,304 median of 15 public bachelor's colleges in Virginia.2 Average net price in 2024-25 rose with income, from $14,379 at $0 to $30,000 to $22,031 at $75,001 to $110,000 and $31,907 over $110,000.2
Of the 2019 entrants, 80% graduated within 6 years, above the 58% state median across 49 colleges, and median earnings are $75,482 10 years after entry.2 Retention was 92% among fall 2023 entrants, and the median federal loan debt is $19,500.2
Every number on this page, with its source field
| Figure | Value | File, field, year |
|---|---|---|
| Applicants | 35,750 | IPEDS ADM2023, APPLCN, fall 20231 |
| Admitted | 27,258 | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMSSN, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled first-years | 4,922 | IPEDS ADM2023, ENRLT, fall 20231 |
| Undergraduates | 21,006 | IPEDS DRVEF2023, EFUG, fall 20234 |
| Admission policy | Selective (not open admission) | IPEDS IC2023, OPENADMP, 2023-243 |
| Test policy | Test-optional | IPEDS ADM2023, ADMCON7, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 25th percentile | 600 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR25, fall 20231 |
| SAT reading/writing, 75th percentile | 670 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATVR75, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 25th percentile | 570 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT25, fall 20231 |
| SAT math, 75th percentile | 650 | IPEDS ADM2023, SATMT75, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 25th percentile | 25 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM25, fall 20231 |
| ACT composite, 75th percentile | 29 | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTCM75, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting SAT | 19% | IPEDS ADM2023, SATPCT, fall 20231 |
| Enrolled students submitting ACT | 3% | IPEDS ADM2023, ACTPCT, fall 20231 |
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $14,620 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_IN, 2025-262 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $32,230 | College Scorecard, TUITIONFEE_OUT, 2025-262 |
| Cost of attendance | $33,276 | College Scorecard, COSTT4_A, 2024-252 |
| Average net price, students with federal aid | $23,550 | College Scorecard, NPT4_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $0 to $30,000 | $14,379 | College Scorecard, NPT41_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $30,001 to $48,000 | $14,452 | College Scorecard, NPT42_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $48,001 to $75,000 | $16,960 | College Scorecard, NPT43_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income $75,001 to $110,000 | $22,031 | College Scorecard, NPT44_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Net price, income over $110,000 | $31,907 | College Scorecard, NPT45_PUB, 2024-252 |
| Graduation rate within 6 years | 80% | College Scorecard, C150_4, 2019 entrants2 |
| First-year retention | 92% | College Scorecard, RET_FT4, fall 2023 entrants2 |
| Undergraduates with a Pell grant | 17% | College Scorecard, PCTPELL, 2024-252 |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $75,482 | College Scorecard, MD_EARN_WNE_P10, 2022-232 |
| Median federal debt of graduates | $19,500 | College Scorecard, GRAD_DEBT_MDN, FY2024-252 |
| Median in-state tuition and fees, public colleges, Virginia (N = 15) | $15,304 | College Scorecard, median TUITIONFEE_IN, public bachelor's institutions, 2025-262 |
| Median graduation rate within 6 years, Virginia (N = 49) | 58% | College Scorecard, median C150_4, bachelor's institutions, 2019 entrants2 |
Sources
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS admissions files, fall 2013 to fall 2023 (IC2013, ADM2014, ADM2015, ADM2016, ADM2017, ADM2018, ADM2019, ADM2020, ADM2021, ADM2022, ADM2023). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, Most Recent Institution-Level Data (Most-Recent-Cohorts-Institution (release of 15 Oct 2026)). Data years: 2019 entrants, 2022-23, 2024-25, 2025-26, FY2024-25, fall 2023 entrants. Checked 25 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Institutional Characteristics 2023-24 (IC2023.zip). Data years: 2023-24. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): IPEDS Fall Enrollment, derived variables, fall 2023 (DRVEF2023.zip). Data years: 2023. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
AdmitFacts is not affiliated with JMU, the U.S. Department of Education or NCES. Missing values are shown as Not reported, never estimated. The file field behind each figure is listed under "Every number on this page". How we build each page