Chances of getting into James Madison University
Acceptance Rate
How hard is it to get into JMU and can I get accepted?
The acceptance rate at JMU is 80%. It ranks #30 in Virginia for lowest rate of acceptance. James Madison University is an easy school to get into with a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission requirements. Last year, 19,255 out of 23,922 applicants were admitted.
The school has difficult admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 34 percent (SAT 1120/1280 ACT 23/28). 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. 23% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
Test Optional
Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to James Madison University. If you submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 74% of students submitted SAT scores and 21% submitted ACT scores for admission for the 2021/2022 academic year..
JMU SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 570 |
| SAT Math 25th | 550 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1120 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 650 |
| SAT Math 75th | 630 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1280 |
| Average SAT Score | 1200
|
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to James Madison University?
James Madison University typically prefers applicants to be in the top 37 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1120 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1040. The average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1200 out of 1600. JMU ranks #8 in Virginia for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 74 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
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Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
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JMU ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | N/A |
| ACT Math 25th | N/A |
| ACT Composite 25th | 23 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | N/A |
| ACT Math 75th | N/A |
| ACT Composite 75th | 28 |
| Average ACT Score | 25
|
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into JMU?
Admission data indicates that JMU regularly accepts students with ACT's of 23 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 32 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 20 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 26 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 28 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #11 in Virginia for highest average ACT composite score. 21 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to James Madison University.
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Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2020 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
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JMU GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into James Madison University?
Applicants require very good grades in high school to get into JMU. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at James Madison University was 3.57 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily B+ students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #16 in Virginia for highest average GPA. If your high school grades are above the average 3.57 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as JMU accepts 80% of all applicants.
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*This school has not released high school GPA data for its incoming freshmen. In these cases, CollegeSimply employs an artificial intelligence (AI) process to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of other colleges' data. 3.57 is an estimate of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.
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High School Class Rank
89% of James Madison University freshman were in the top half of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 17.8% |
| Top 25% of class | 48.4% |
| Top 50% of class | 89% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 14,402 | 9,520 | 23,922 |
| Accepted | 12,017 | 7,238 | 19,255 |
| Acceptance Rate | 83% | 76% | 80% |
| Enrolled | 2,716 | 1,789 | 4,505 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 23% | 25% | 23% |
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?
| Test Scores | Considered but not required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Neither required nor recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Recommended |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | Yes |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=232423 IPEDS survey data for James Madison University.
FAQs
Does James Madison University prefer SAT or ACT?
74% of students submit their SAT scores to JMU. 21% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into James Madison University?
80% 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 1120 and 1280. 74% of students submit SAT scores when applying. 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 28. 21% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.