James Madison University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

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.

What does James Madison University weight in admissions?

James Madison University reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

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.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

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.

Application deadlines and early decision data for James Madison University

Will my child graduate from James Madison University?

Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.

Most popular majors at James Madison University

The most popular undergraduate programs at James Madison University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities and Psychology, General. Across all programs, James Madison University confers roughly 656 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $74,031 five years after entering college. Major popularity is a practical signal of where a school concentrates its teaching strength and where your child will find the deepest course offerings and peer community.

Is James Madison University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), James Madison University disclosed 7 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.0 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 6 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Per-1,000-student rates matter more than raw counts when comparing schools, because larger universities mechanically report more incidents. Under the federal Clery Act, every college that receives federal aid must publish these numbers annually.

What is campus life like at James Madison University?

About 57% of undergraduates at James Madison University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Virginia parents ask about

• University of Virginia-Main Campus
  17% acceptance
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
  93% acceptance
• College of William and Mary
  89% acceptance
• Old Dominion University
  82% acceptance
• George Mason University
  91% acceptance
• Virginia Commonwealth University
  17% acceptance
• Washington and Lee University
  90% acceptance
• University of Richmond
  94% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about James Madison University