More selective than 62% of Virginia colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
19% of enrolled first-years sent SAT scores, 3% sent ACT scores.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose JMU over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
GPA and test scores of entering students
The middle 50% of first-time students who enrolled at JMU, as the state reports them, including high school GPA (federal data has no GPA). The source doesn't say whether GPAs are weighted; each college reports them as it records them.
| Entering | GPA | SAT | ACT | CLT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | 3.58–4.08 | 1160–1320 | 25–29 | — |
| Fall 2025 | 3.6–4.11 | 1180–1330 | 24–29 | — |
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), B10 Admissions: First Time Freshman Profile, 2026-27. Entering freshmen 5063; reporting SAT 797, ACT 79, GPA 4643 Entering freshmen 4968; reporting SAT 779, ACT 122, GPA 4534
JMU SAT and ACT scores
Scores of enrolled first-year students who submitted them, Fall 2024. A quarter scored below the 25th percentile and a quarter above the 75th. Enrolled ranges differ from admitted ranges above, because not every admitted student enrolls.
| Test | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 600 | 680 |
| SAT math | 570 | 660 |
| ACT composite | 24 | 29 |
| SAT total (approx.) | 1170 | 1340 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class (reported to IPEDS). SAT total adds the two section scores, an approximation.
JMU admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 72% | 600–680 | 570–660 | 24–29 | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 76% | 600–670 | 570–650 | 25–29 | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is JMU compared with other Virginia colleges?
JMU has the 16th-lowest acceptance rate of 41 Virginia colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Bluefield University | 59% | 18% | $25,573 |
| 13 | Hampton University | 62% | 57% | $25,319 |
| 14 | Hollins University | 68% | 65% | $20,896 |
| 15 | Virginia Military Institute | 71% | 76% | $17,113 |
| 16 | James Madison University | 72% | 80% | $23,322 |
| 17 | Virginia Wesleyan University | 73% | 42% | $19,676 |
| 18 | Sweet Briar College | 76% | 52% | $17,758 |
| 19 | Shenandoah University | 77% | 67% | $30,298 |
| 20 | Patrick Henry College | 77% | 74% | — |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All Virginia colleges →
Who enrolls at JMU
College Scorecard; IPEDS
JMU admissions questions
What is the JMU acceptance rate?
James Madison University accepts 72% of applicants, most. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 27,258 of 35,750 applicants were admitted.
Does JMU require the SAT or ACT?
James Madison University considers SAT or ACT scores but does not require them (test-optional), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023. 19% of enrolled first-year students submitted SAT scores and 3% submitted ACT scores.
What SAT score do you need for JMU?
The middle 50% of James Madison University enrolled first-year students scored 1170–1340 on the SAT and 24–29 on the ACT. A score above the upper number puts you in the top quarter of enrolled students; below the lower number puts you in the bottom quarter.
How many admitted students enroll at JMU?
18% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (4,922 of 27,258).
Is JMU getting harder to get into?
James Madison University accepted 72% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 76% for Fall 2023.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to James Madison University overview