Students
Who's on campus
A large campus of 20,888 undergrads, where 17% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.
Race & ethnicity
Diversity index0.46
Economic access
Campus size
Where first-years come from
4,990 first-time students
30% came from other states and 0.3% from abroad; 69% are from Virginia. More from other states than at 57% of colleges.
- In-state (Virginia)69%
- Other states30%
- Abroad0.3%
- Not reported0.6%
Top home states
- Virginia(home state)69% 3,466
- New Jersey7.9% 393
- Pennsylvania5.2% 259
- Maryland5.0% 248
- New York3.6% 181
From 39 states (counting DC).
Students starting college for the first time, by where they lived when admitted. Colleges report it every other fall.
Transfers in and out
Transferring in, fall 2024
777
new transfer students, 13% of new undergraduates. A larger transfer share than at 22% of colleges.
677 full-time, 100 part-time.
Going on to another college
14%
of students who entered in fall 2016 had left without a degree and were enrolled at another college 8 years later (about 789 students).
Federal data doesn't count students leaving in a given year; this follows one entering class.
Who they are
5.3% of undergrads study part-time.
56% women
Another gender: 15 undergraduates (0.1%)
Degree-seeking undergraduates. Men and women add up to 100% because federal data has colleges count each student of another or unknown gender as a man or a woman.
Campus life
Housing, sports, faith, Greek life, and LGBTQ+ life
Housing for 6,481 students.
Housing
Beds
6,481
About 31 for every 100 undergrads (median college: 59). Can include graduate housing.
First-years
Not required to live on campus
Many colleges still expect it, with exceptions such as for local students.
Meal plans
Offered
Athletics & programs
Athletics
NCAA Division I FBS · Sun Belt Conference
Of the four sports the federal survey asks about, it plays football, basketball, baseball, cross country/track.
How the Sun Belt Conference comparesROTC
Army, Air Force
Study abroad
Offered
Undergraduate research
A formal program
Calendar
Semesters
Student services
- Academic and career counseling
- Help finding a job while enrolled
- Job placement after graduating
- 13% of undergrads registered with disability services· Disability services office
Religious life
Affiliation
No religious affiliation
Scholarships
Some of the college's own need-based aid considers religious affiliation
Campus ministries
Listed among campus activities
Faith communities · 3
- Catholic 1
- Christian 1
- Nonreligious and secular 1
Nonreligious and secular
Secular Student Alliance at James Madison University
Greek life
On the national organizations' own chapter lists.
- Fraternity and sorority housing
Councils and chapters
5listedPanhellenic sororities (NPC)Show chaptersHide
From each organization's own chapter list.
Theta Omicron Chapter
Gamma Theta
Iota Chi Chapter
Delta Rho
5listedInterfraternity (NIC and IFC)Show chaptersHide
From each organization's own chapter list.
Lambda-Sigma
Phi-Eta (James Madison)
Delta Tau
Iota Delta
LGBTQ+ life
Support on campus
Founded 2004
Policies
- Nondiscrimination policy covers gender identity or expression
- Gender-inclusive housing
- Chosen name and pronouns on campus records
- Gender-inclusive restrooms listed online
Listed by Trans Policy Clearinghouse, read October 2026; not confirmed by the college.
Undergraduates of another gender, fall 2024
Gender unknown: 48
First-year applicants of another gender, fall 2024
Not reported: the college records other genders but leaves these counts blank when any is under 5, for privacy.
Colleges record gender so differently that these counts can't be compared between colleges.
Sources:College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level), Fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education), Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;James Madison University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2023;James Madison University Common Data Set 2023–24, Fall 2024 entrants;James Madison University Common Data Set 2023–24, 2023–24;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)