Quad

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VAQuad's selectivitySelective
Known forBig campusTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 10, 2026

  • Fall 2025 applicants: Test-blind (fall 2024: Test-optional)James Madison University Common Data Set 2023–24

Source:James Madison University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2025 applicantsAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2024

7 in 10 applicants admitted

James Madison admits about 7 in 10 applicants (72%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 61% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

72%

72%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivitySelective

Applied

38,428

Admitted

27,482

Yield

18%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1170–1340

10001600
ACT middle 50%

24–29

1836
Applications +70% since fall 2014 · admit rate 66% → 72%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 20,888 undergrads, where 17% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

20.9K

undergrads · larger than 95% of colleges

Diversity index

0.46

Pell Grant

17%

below the median

First generation

21%

below the median

Small cityNCAA D-I FBS · Sun Belt ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.39 → 0.46 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (9% of graduates). 17 students for every faculty member, more than at 78% of colleges. 81% of faculty are full-time. Spends $10,620 a year on instruction per student.

17 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 78% of colleges

Most popular major

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General

9% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Information Science/Studies

$113.3K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

81%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$10.6K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $32,777 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $8.5K more than the national median. The 33% who received grants paid $18,856 on average; the other 67% paid the full sticker price of $31,974 in-state / $49,188 out-of-state.

11%

$32.8K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $8.5K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$31,974 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Limited

grants cover 11% of full price

Federal loans

29%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −1% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $69,954 ten years after enrolling, more than at 83% of colleges; 82% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.9 years of that salary.

82%

82%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$70K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$20.1K

≈ $213/month for 10 years

Retention

92%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 82% → 80% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 3% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid held about steady, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 70% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 66% to 72%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    −1% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +70%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 66% → 72%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.39 → 0.46

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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University of Delaware

71% admit · SAT 1280 · 19.1K undergrads

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University of North Dakota

77% admit · 10K undergrads

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University of Rhode Island

75% admit · SAT 1193 · 13.4K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    James Madison University Common Data Set 2023–24

    James Madison University · Fall 2025 applicants; 2023–24; Fall 2024 entrants; Fall 2023; Fall 2024 cycle; 2024–25; Class of 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    James Madison University (2026)

    James Madison University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 232423 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything