Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
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.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
$70 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Men and women
Men were admitted at 67%, women at 74%.
Yield
18% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
Wait list: 4,589 offered a place, 1,850 accepted, 141 admitted (7.6% of those who accepted)
Applying early
Early action (not binding): apply by Nov 1
No early decision plan.
Where you stand
How James Madison reads a record
GPA is very important; tests are considered. Scores aren't read. Most high schools no longer rank; this college doesn't lean on it. Requires 4 years of English, 4 of math, 3 of science, and 2 of social studies. See the years by subject
What they look at
- High school GPA
- Required
- High school record
- Required
- Class rank
- Not considered
- College-prep program
- Required
- Recommendations
- Considered
- Essay
- Considered
- Legacy status
- Not considered
- Work experience
- Considered
- Demonstration of competencies
- Not considered
- English proficiency test
- Required
- Other tests
- Not considered
Transferring in
77% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 72% of first-year applicants
1,603 applied · 1,234 admitted · 702 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall, spring, and summer.
At least 24 credits completed to apply as a transfer.
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Standardized test scores
- Recommended for some
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by January 15 for fall 2024.
- Priority date: November 1. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within a set number of weeks if admitted later.
- $400 housing deposit, due May 1, non-refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: One Academic year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 4 |
| Science (lab: 3) | 3 |
| Foreign language | 3 |
| Social studies | 2 |
| History | 2 |
| Total | 18* |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science. *Added up from the subjects listed; the college didn't give a total.
Recent change: Became test-blind, for students entering in fall 2025.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2023 first-years
First-years' high school class rank
17% were in the top tenth of their high school class, 29% in the top quarter, of the 44% whose high school reported a rank.
This college doesn't publish first-years' .
Source:James Madison University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2023About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 1255 on the SAT, 85 points above the median for colleges that report scores.
Not considered
Scores aren't considered, even if you send them. For students entering in fall 2025.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;James Madison University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2025 applicants;James Madison University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2023;James Madison University Common Data Set 2023–24, 2023–24;James Madison University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2024 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)