James Madison University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Fredericksburg, Virginia · Public · Open access
James Madison University is a public institution located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. For the most recent reporting cycle, James Madison University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 86%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1241 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $21,108 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether James Madison University is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What GPA does my child need for James Madison University?
James Madison University has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
SAT and ACT scores James Madison University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 540–640, with an EBRW midpoint near 635. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 23–31. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
How much does James Madison University actually cost?
Published tuition is $14,559 for in-state students and $31,479 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $14,040 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $21,108 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 20% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
Other colleges in Virginia parents ask about
- University of Virginia-Main Campus17% acceptance
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University93% acceptance
- College of William and Mary89% acceptance
- Old Dominion University82% acceptance
- George Mason University91% acceptance
- Virginia Commonwealth University17% acceptance
- Washington and Lee University90% acceptance
- University of Richmond94% acceptance
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like James Madison University
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like James Madison University recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about James Madison University
What GPA do I need for James Madison University?
James Madison University has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does James Madison University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 540–640, with an EBRW midpoint near 635. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 23–31.
How much does James Madison University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at James Madison University after grants and scholarships is $21,108 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is James Madison University realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, James Madison University is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.