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James Madison University

4 year • Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison University is a public institution that was founded in 1908. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 20,346 (fall 2022), its setting is rural, and the campus size is 721 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. James Madison University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #124. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,576; out-of-state tuition and fees are $30,790.

James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, Va., just over two hours from both Washington, D.C., and Richmond. There are a variety of clubs and organizations on campus—students interested in film can join the Cinemuse Film Club, or those with underwater pursuits in mind can join the Scuba Diving Club. The University Program Board is a student-run organization that puts on entertainment and educational events and activities for the campus community. A small but strong Greek system encompasses more than 30 fraternities and sororities. The James Madison Dukes, as JMU’s sports teams are called, compete at the NCAA Division I level, and their mascot is the Duke Dog. Only freshmen are required to live on campus in one of the more than 30 residence halls.

JMU is comprised of seven colleges serving undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate programs are offered in the College of Business, College of Education, and College of Integrated Science and Technology, among others. Undergraduates can choose from more than 70 majors. JMU also has a strong study abroad program offering semester studies opportunities in Antwerp, Belgium; Beijing; Florence; London; and Salamanca, Spain, in addition to exchange programs through partner institutions all over the world. The school was not James Madison University until 1976; prior to that, it was known as Madison College.

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At-a-Glance

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2024 Rankings

Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

• #124 in National Universities  (tie)
• #64 in Top Public Schools  (tie)
• in Business Programs

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Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

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$12,584 (2023-24)

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Table of Contents

East campus virtual tour, welcome to jmu - east campus tour.

Welcome to the east side of JMU’s campus! It’s all one campus, but we call this part East Campus because it’s on the eastern side of Interstate-81. Students often travel back and forth using the bridge in front of King Hall or the tunnel near UREC. For reference, it takes 15-20 minutes to walk from the Quad to this area of campus.

As JMU grew, the campus expanded to the other side of the interstate in 1997 with the completion of King Hall, formerly known as the ISAT-CS Building. More buildings now surround King Hall, including new residence halls, dining facilities, athletic facilities and a second main library. Our Student Ambassadors are here to show you around those spaces.

If you have any questions about JMU or the application process, don’t hesitate to contact the Office of Admissions!

Web: jmu.edu/admissions

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 540-568-5681

Rose Library Tour Stop

Rose Library was constructed in 2008 and is one of two main libraries on JMU’s campus, housing materials for the sciences, technology, engineering, math, health and business. Rose Library is also home to a makery, the Center for Faculty Innovation, the Accessible Technology Lab, individual and group study spaces, and a computer lab with printers. This is yet another great place to study between classes or at the end of the day. Rose even has a 24-hour study lounge that is accessible with the swipe of your JAC Card. And if you need a coffee break, Starbucks is here on the first floor!

Bioscience Building Tour Stop

The Bioscience Building was built in 2012, and houses the biology department. Utilizing glass throughout the building as a way to illustrate the building’s theme, “Biology on Display,” the Bioscience Building features a three-story DNA mural and houses a greenhouse, an herbarium, a light microscopy facility, and the JMU Center for Genome and Metagenome Studies. As a primarily undergraduate institution, we’re proud to have these incredible resources accessible to STEM majors as they develop their knowledge and skills.

Here at JMU, 98% of our classes are taught by professors, most of whom hold terminal degrees in their respective fields. Our professors are also very accessible for students – every professor holds office hours, and many work with students to conduct scholarly research in their fields of study.

King Hall Tour Stop

To celebrate JMU’s Centennial in 2008, Bruce and Lois (‘64) Forbes donated this larger-than-life statue of James Madison to the university. This statue was also created by artist Lee Leuning, who worked on the life-size statue of Jimmy near the Quad. You’ll notice this is a popular photo spot on campus with stunning views of the sunset every evening.

Behind ‘Big Jimmy’ is King Hall, which is connected to the Engineering/Geosciences Building, as well as the Physics and Chemistry Building. Together, these three buildings form the longest academic building on the east coast. Inside these buildings, students from a wide variety of STEM majors attend classes and labs, meet with professors and advisors, and find time to hang out or study with friends in between.

For more information about the College of Integrated Science and Engineering, visit jmu.edu/cise

For more information about the College of Science and Mathematics, visit jmu.edu/csm

University Recreation Center (UREC) Tour Stop

The University Recreation Center, better known on campus as UREC, was built in the mid-1990s. A major renovation and addition to the facility was later completed in 2016.

Clocking in at nearly 280,000 square feet, UREC is home to an adventure center, complete with climbing and bouldering walls; a fitness center dedicated to strength training, cardio workouts, and group exercise; an aquatics center with multiple pools, a sauna, and a wet/dry classroom; and the wellness center, which is home to a demonstration kitchen, multiple classroom and educational spaces, and even a meditation room.

In addition to the main facility, UREC oversees guided outdoor adventure opportunities for students, providing options for hiking, paddleboarding, skiing, snowboarding and more. Most services and rentals are free for students, including group exercise classes and sports equipment. 

If you’re looking for a way to play a sport or join a team, UREC also organizes JMU’s intramural and club sports programs. Intramural sports are open to all students and teams compete against other JMU students. Sport clubs compete with teams from other universities. Clubs often have dedicated practice times, seasons and dues. More than 2,000 JMU students participate in sport clubs each year.

To learn more about everything UREC has to offer students, visit j mu.edu/urec

Festival Lawn Tour Stop

The Festival Student and Conference Center is a multipurpose facility that houses ballrooms, conference and meeting spaces, the Festival Food Court, lounges to study or relax in, and two museums: the Lisanby Museum, which displays art and cultural items from the Madison Art Collection, and the Mineral Museum.

Outside Festival and across the lawn, the Spirit Rock is a community project overseen by the Madison Society, a group dedicated to upholding treasured JMU traditions. A favorite tradition is painting the Spirit Rock to advertise student clubs and orgs, cheer on our student-athletes, or just show off some school spirit.

JMU is also home to more than 450 clubs and organizations, including everything from Greek life to pre-professional organizations to hobby and special-interest clubs. No matter what type of extracurricular activities you’re interested in discovering, JMU has something for you.

To learn more about JMU clubs and organizations, visit jmu.edu/student-life/clubs-organizations.shtml

Skyline Residence Halls Tour Stop

The Skyline neighborhood is one of five main residential areas that house both freshmen and upperclassmen. The Skyline neighborhood is hall-style, which is the traditional style that probably comes to mind when you think of a college dorm: double rooms along a hallway with a shared hall bathroom. Another common style is found in The Village, which offers a suite-style arrangement: three double bedrooms off a common living room, and a bathroom shared with another suite. In addition to these two styles, you may find that some of our Bluestone residence halls, located on and near the Quad, are Jack-and-Jill style, which means two double bedrooms share a bathroom between them. All JMU residence halls are co-educational by either wing or floor.

Within the residence halls, JMU offers a number of  Residential Learning Communities. Students in the Residential Learning Communities live in and take classes with small groups with other students who share common interests. Some of our Residential Learning Communities are geared toward students interested in the arts, STEM, teaching, leadership, and honors, but there are others that may also interest you!

To learn more about the residence halls and to see floor plans and 3D tours of JMU’s residence halls, visit jmu.edu/orl

E-Hall Tour Stop

One of two all-you-care-to-eat dining halls on campus, East Campus Dining Hall, better known as E-Hall, is a popular brunch, lunch and dinner spot here at JMU. Ask any student if they prefer E-Hall or D-Hall for brunch – you’ll get a glimpse into a friendly campus rivalry between the two.

Both E-Hall and D-Hall offer some favorite JMU traditions, from peanut butter pie Wednesdays to buffalo mash Fridays, and cheesy or chicken nugget Thursdays, depending on which dining hall you go to.

JMU is home to 25 dining halls, and we’ve ranked in the top 15 for campus dining nationally for the past several decades. If you don’t have time to sit down, JMU also has grab-and-go options for times when students need a quick bite to eat, as well as a variety of national chains, such as Panera, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, and more.

Check out all of our dining locations at jmu.campusdish.com/LocationsAndMenus

Edith J. Carrier Arboretum

Atlantic union bank center tour stop.

The Atlantic Union Bank Center opened in November 2020 as the sparkling new home of the JMU men’s and women’s basketball programs, while also opening the door to a multitude of other events to benefit the campus and the local community. Students come to this 8,500-seat arena to cheer on their Dukes and also pack the house for concerts and shows, brought to campus by the University Program Board.

One of JMU’s most treasured traditions is throwing purple and gold streamers when our football team scores a touchdown, but this tradition actually started with our men’s basketball games, when fans would throw rolls of toilet paper to celebrate the Dukes scoring their first basket! 

School spirit is a big deal at JMU - which is why every Friday is Purple Friday. You can’t have too much purple in your wardrobe!

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James Madison University Virtual Tour

Are you applying to james madison university explore the campus using the virtual tour below..

Virtual tours are a great way to refresh your memory or to preview an on-site tour of JMU.

What's in it for me?

At the beginning of your college search, a virtual tour can be a beneficial tool to explore the campus before your visit. When you do visit the campus, be sure to talk to current students about their experiences. A student perspective is a helpful way to gauge your future experience when attending James Madison University. Already took an on-campus tour? It's inevitable. All of your college tours will blend, and you might forget the appearance of JMU's library, dorms, or cafeteria. Use the virtual tour to jog your memory! With the interactive mapping tool below you can even explore the area surrounding the campus.

Use the resources below to start your virtual tour.

Using the Map

Click and drag the little orange person to a location on the map. Locations with panoramas appear as blue lines or blue dots when moving the orange person. The blue dots are panoramic views that you may swivel. The blue lines are paths that you can navigate along.

Panoramic View

You can "pan" or "swivel" the camera around by clicking on the image and dragging your mouse or finger. If you see a white arrow on the picture, you can click or tap on it to move in the direction of the arrow. This will also update the location of the little orange person on the map so you can get a better sense of where you are and what direction you are facing.

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Where is James Madison, the 2024 March Madness opponent for Wisconsin basketball? JMU's mascot, record, schedule

James Madison basketball opened the 2023-24 season with an upset victory over Michigan State of the Big Ten Conference .

That victory was a sign of things to come for the JMU Dukes, the Wisconsin Badgers' first-round opponent in the 2024 NCAA Tournament .

Wisconsin (22-13), seeded fifth in the South Region, gets its chance to slow down a high-scoring 12th-seeded James Madison team on Friday, something that the Spartans couldn't do in that season opener four months ago and what many other teams have failed to do.

LIVE COVERAGE: Wisconsin basketball vs. James Madison score, updates, highlights from 2024 March Madness game

Here's what you should know about a record-setting James Madison (31-3) team:

Where is James Madison located?

Harrisonburg, Virginia.

What is JMU's nickname?

The name has an interesting backstory.

When the basketball team was formed in 1947 the players chose that name to honor the university's president Samuel P. Duke. The players just wanted a couple things in return: towels and equipment, the school's website says . The James Madison women's athletic programs called themselves the Duchesses until 1982 when all teams became the "Dukes."

What is JMU's masoct?

While the school had the Dukes named for a few decades, the Duke Dog mascot didn't come about until the early 1970s, according to James Madison's website . The school's director of public affairs at the time felt an English bulldog would be a stereotypical pet for British royalty, like a duke, its website notes.

Duke Dog first arrived on the scene in the 1972-73 school year (first as a cartoon and a real dog) before an actual bulldog mascot wearing a cape and crown showed up on campus Nov. 28, 1982.

What conference does James Madison play in?

JMU plays in the Sun Belt Conference .

Other teams in the conference include Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Louisiana, Louisiana at Monroe, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas State and Troy.

James Madison's record

James Madison is the hottest team in the country.

The Dukes enter the NCAA Tournament with the longest winning streak in the country at 13 straight victories and average 84.4 points, good for 10th most in the country.

James Madison is 31-3 overall and finished 15-3 in conference play. The 31 wins are the most ever for a Sun Belt Conference team. The Dukes matched No. 1 overall seed UConn for most wins of an NCAA Tournament team.

James Madison in the Sun Belt Conference

Upsets were aplenty in the Sun Belt Conference tournament, but James Madison avoided them.

Not only did top-seeded Appalachian State lose in the semifinals, but third-seeded Troy lost to No. 11 Texas State in the quarterfinals.

Amid all the chaos, James Madison was impressive on its way to the title.

The Dukes beat No. 10 Marshall, 81-64, in the tournament quarterfinals and then defeated Texas State, 73-68, in the semifinals.

James Madison then routed fourth-seeded Arkansas State, 91-71, in the championship game to earn the league’s automatic bid.

James Madison joined the Sun Belt Conference at the beginning of the 2022 school year. It was previously a member of The Colonial Athletic Association.

JMU's Terrence Edwards Jr. leads the Dukes into NCAA Tournament vs. Wisconsin

James Madison has the top player in the Sun Belt Conference.

Redshirt junior Terrence Edwards Jr. took his game to another level this season. A year after winning Sixth Man of the Year off the bench, Edwards became the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and was a first-team all-conference honoree.

He led James Madison with 17.4 points per game. He is the team’s co-leader in minutes with 30.2. Edwards also averaged 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He shoots 82.4% from the free-throw line.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin basketball vs James Madison in March Madness

Forward TJ Bickerstaff, a graduate student, was Newcomer of the Year and second-team all-Sun Belt. The Boston College transfer was second on the team in scoring with 13.4 points and led the team with 8.5 rebounds. His field goal percentage of 62.2% is ranked in the top 15 in the country.

Redshirt senior Noah Freidel, a member of the third team all-Sun Belt, also scores in double figures (12.1) and is second on the team in rebounds at 5.4. He’s in his second year with the Dukes after previously playing at South Dakota State.

James Madison basketball schedule (last five games)

James Madison began the season with a 79-76 overtime win at Michigan State, then ranked No. 4 in the country. James Madison hasn't lost since Jan. 27.

The Dukes were 5-0 on neutral courts this season.

ANALYSIS: Why Wisconsin can reach the Sweet 16 in our 2024 March Madness predictions

James Madison NCAA Tournament history

James Madison earned its sixth NCAA Tournament in school history and first in 11 years. James Madison was a 16 seed in its last appearance in 2013 and lost to top-seeded Indiana, 83-62, in the first round.

James Madison's other NCAA Tournament berths came in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1994.

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Colleges that Consider Demonstrated Interest

The majority of colleges in the United States are struggling to meet their enrollment goals each year.

Therefore, it is highly beneficial for institutions to be able make the most educated guess possible regarding how many admitted applicants will actually enroll in their freshman class—the number of students who enroll divided by the number who were accepted equals a college’s yield rate —a metric that is of great concern to admissions offices. The measure that admissions officers use to hone in on candidates who are likely to enroll is something called  demonstrated interest . Ways for applicants to demonstrate interest include: physically visiting campus, emailing an admission officer, attending an admissions event in your area, connecting with the university on social media, and writing an exceptionally detailed “ Why this College ?” essay. College Transitions is happy to provide a list of 300+ schools and the level of importance assigned to this increasingly-important admissions factor.

*Data collected from Common Data Set (CDS) forms.

Table updated October 2023

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Visiting with a school group or independent organization?

We welcome groups from various organizations and high schools throughout the year. Please select the option below that best describes your group.

Not with a group?

Individuals and families should view our   calendar   to schedule a visit from available dates.

Information sessions and tours are scheduled throughout the year on most week days and some Saturdays.

Tips for a Great Visit to JMU

A few suggestions on how to make the most of your visit to James Madison University.

• Request your group visit online at least two weeks in advance.
• Please let us know if anyone in your group has special needs related to a disability.
• If you would like to meet with a specific department you will need to contact that department directly to set up an appointment.
• Dress appropriately for the weather. We encourage comfortable clothing and an umbrella; tours are given rain or shine! Check the  Shenandoah Valley weather  before you leave home!
• Arrive early.
• Take a student-led campus tour through campus. If you are unable to participate in a student-led campus tour, maps are available for self-guided tours.
• Enjoy lunch on campus in one of our many dining facilities.
• Talk with JMU students you encounter during your visit.
• Check out the University Recreation Center and the JMU Bookstore.
• Attend a concert, lecture or athletic event. For a schedule of campus activities, visit the JMU  Calendar of Events
• Ask lots of questions!
• After your visit, please fill out our  Visit Evaluation Form . We'd love to hear your feedback.

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Colleges/Universities we will visit:

UC Berkeley, Stanford University, Santa Clara University, UC Santa Barbara, Loyola Marymount University, UCLA, Pomona, Claremont McKenna, Harvey Mudd, Chapman University, UC San Diego, University of San Diego, UC San Diego, and the University of Southern California.

If you think California might be in your future, then this is the tour for you! Starting in San Francisco and finishing in Los Angeles, this 9-day program includes visits to a range of the most popular university destinations selected every year by thousands of successful international school students. Participants will see a wide range of colleges so that by the end of the program, they will have experienced colleges of different sizes, selectivity, and “feel”.  Along the way, students will receive advice directly from admissions officers, current college students, and TS College Tours counselors. As a well-deserved break from mapping out their futures, participants will enjoy a day of fun and excitement at Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park before visiting the final colleges on the itinerary. This popular tour combines discovery, fun, and essential information about preparing college applications.

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HOW TO ANSWER THE UC APPLICATION PROMPTS

Course description.

The UC schools have some pretty specific things they are looking for in their application. This video course provides students with a step-by-step guide to understanding what those things are, and how they can answer each of the eight possible UC Personal Insight Questions in a way that helps them stand out and paint a complete picture of who they are, what they are passionate about, and how they will contribute to their future UC campus. It includes all the resources and exercises you need to tackle the UC questions, the activities list and includes recorded Q&A sessions in which I answer the most common questions about both the UC personal insight questions and the writing process as it relates to the UC schools.

• Session 1 – How to Choose Your Topics
• Session 2 – How to Stand Out on Each of the UC Prompts
• Session 3 – Revising the First Draft
• Session 4 – Taking Things to the Next Level
• Session 5 – Ethan Workshops Your Essays

Plus: In the first session, you’ll learn the one thing you ABSOLUTELY MUST DO before beginning your UC application.

HOW TO WRITE THE COMMON APPLICATIONS + SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS

This video course offers a values-based approach to producing not only a stand-out Common Application, activities list, and additional information section, but also the supplemental essays that most selective schools require.

It includes all the resources you need to tackle the application and includes Q&A sessions in which I answer the most common questions about both the college application and supplemental essay-writing process.

• Module 1 – How to Create an Inspired Application in Half the Time
• Module 2 – The Activities List, Additional Info, and “Why Us?'”Essay
• Module 3 – The Extracurricular Essay
• Module 4 – Specific Supplemental Essays
• Module 5 – Short Answers + More Supplemental Essays
• Module 6 – How to Make Sure an Application Is Doing Its Job
• Bonus Modules – The Rest of the College Application

HOW TO WRITE A PERSONAL STATEMENT

This online video course provides students with everything they need to write an amazing personal statement for college. Whether you’re using the Common Application, Coalition Application, or applying to one of the hundreds of public state colleges or universities, this course will give you the tools to write an essay that demonstrates your core values and how you’ll make meaningful contributions to the college campus. With over a dozen video lessons and awesome sample essays, it’s the most comprehensive course of its kind.

• Module 1 – Brainstorming
• Module 2 – How to Structure Each of the Four Essay Types
• Module 3 – How to Revise Your Essay
• Module 4 – Ethan Gives Feedback on Real Essays
• Module 5 – How to Make Sure Your Essay is Doing Its Job
• Module 6 – How to Bring an Essay to Life With Details and Color
• Bonus Modules – Advanced Techniques

Campus Tours

While on our campus, take a journey through Berkeley history as you cross Sproul Plaza. Relax in the shade along Strawberry Creek. Get a big picture view of the Bay Area from the Campanile. Feel the world-changing energy of over 35,000 students from around the world.

We offer a variety of tours to help you explore the Berkeley campus, from family tours to large groups to self-guided options. We offer Spanish and Mandarin language tours on request with 14 days notice. Choose a link to the left for more information.

If you would like to attend an admissions presentation in addition to a campus tour, please note that separate reservations are required. Visit the  admissions office reservation system  to book an admissions presentation.

Please note that we own one wheelchair which is on a first-come first-served basis. It can only be used during the tour.

We are unable to store luggage for our guests. We apologize for this inconvenience.