James Madison University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Fredericksburg, Virginia · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
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.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Class rank
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Standardized test scores
- • Interview
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Level of applicant's interest
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
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.
| 25th percentile | 1180 |
| 50th percentile | 1250 |
| 75th percentile | 1340 |
| % submitting SAT | 26% |
| 25th percentile | 27 |
| 50th percentile | 29 |
| 75th percentile | 31 |
| % submitting ACT | 4% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
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.
| Top 10% of class | 15% |
| Top 25% of class | % |
| Top 50% of class | 76% |
| % submitting class rank | 48% |
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.
| In-state tuition | $9,390 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $22,965 |
| Room and board | $15,150 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $21,108 |
| Application fee | $50 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for James Madison University
| Regular deadline | July 1 |
| Notification date | Rolling (beginning December 1) |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 1 |
| ED acceptance rate | 86% |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 15 |
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.
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.
Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by James Madison University, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.