Is JMU on the rise?

[Anonymous]

I just read that JMU’s number of applications have doubled in the past four years (44k in 2025 versus 22k in 2021) and 50% were from OOS. That’s unreal to me. When did the school become so popular and why is the acceptance rate still high if so many more kids are applying? Is the yield decreasing at the same time? Is this only due to joining the Common App or something else? What’s the reputation among high school kids now? I’ve got a sophomore from MCPS who’s interested.

[Anonymous]

The acceptance rate for 2024-2025 has not been published yet and is expected to be lower than the prior years.

[Anonymous]

Is the the first year JMU has used common app?

[Anonymous]

I can tell you that the number of applications from DC's MCPS "W" school tripled in the past two years. It appears more kids are seeing it as an option even OOS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the the first year JMU has used common app?

2021-2022

[Anonymous]

It’s in a really pretty location. The Shenandoah Valley is just stunning. The facilities are very nice too. Also big emphasis on undergraduate teaching.

[Anonymous]

Well, I know a few kids for whom JMU was their first choice, for most it is kids who did not get into UVA, tech, or William and Mary.
That is only likely to increase and make JMU harder to get into.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just read that JMU’s number of applications have doubled in the past four years (44k in 2025 versus 22k in 2021) and 50% were from OOS. That’s unreal to me. When did the school become so popular and why is the acceptance rate still high if so many more kids are applying? Is the yield decreasing at the same time? Is this only due to joining the Common App or something else? What’s the reputation among high school kids now? I’ve got a sophomore from MCPS who’s interested.

Common app ~3 years ago
Athletic success and more exposure with move to Sun Belt conference
Schools "above it" are more difficult to gain acceptance. Rolls down hill.

[Anonymous]

We really liked it.

It's a safety for a lot of Virginia kids.

It's an appealing alternative to UMD (hard to get into), Penn State (very rah rah), or some other nearby state schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read that JMU’s number of applications have doubled in the past four years (44k in 2025 versus 22k in 2021) and 50% were from OOS. That’s unreal to me. When did the school become so popular and why is the acceptance rate still high if so many more kids are applying? Is the yield decreasing at the same time? Is this only due to joining the Common App or something else? What’s the reputation among high school kids now? I’ve got a sophomore from MCPS who’s interested.

Common app ~3 years ago
Athletic success and more exposure with move to Sun Belt conference
Schools "above it" are more difficult to gain acceptance. Rolls down hill.

It’s this…though JMU was a much harder acceptance 30 years ago. Used to be like a 33% acceptance rate and then they significantly grew the number of students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read that JMU’s number of applications have doubled in the past four years (44k in 2025 versus 22k in 2021) and 50% were from OOS. That’s unreal to me. When did the school become so popular and why is the acceptance rate still high if so many more kids are applying? Is the yield decreasing at the same time? Is this only due to joining the Common App or something else? What’s the reputation among high school kids now? I’ve got a sophomore from MCPS who’s interested.

Common app ~3 years ago
Athletic success and more exposure with move to Sun Belt conference
Schools "above it" are more difficult to gain acceptance. Rolls down hill.

It’s this…though JMU was a much harder acceptance 30 years ago. Used to be like a 33% acceptance rate and then they significantly grew the number of students.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can tell you that the number of applications from DC's MCPS "W" school tripled in the past two years. It appears more kids are seeing it as an option even OOS.

It a nice school with a really nice campus, good sports, close to DC but not too close.

Nice dining hall. Nice option for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just read that JMU’s number of applications have doubled in the past four years (44k in 2025 versus 22k in 2021) and 50% were from OOS. That’s unreal to me. When did the school become so popular and why is the acceptance rate still high if so many more kids are applying? Is the yield decreasing at the same time? Is this only due to joining the Common App or something else? What’s the reputation among high school kids now? I’ve got a sophomore from MCPS who’s interested.

Common app ~3 years ago
Athletic success and more exposure with move to Sun Belt conference
Schools "above it" are more difficult to gain acceptance. Rolls down hill.

All this. It's not an elite school, but seems to turn out graduates who are generally happy and successful, so there's that.

[Anonymous]

It seems to be a popular choice for kids from New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut -- relatively wealthy kids who can easily afford the OOS tuition and want a fun, good-sized, well-respected university in a nice college town.

[Anonymous]

Will JMU catch W&M in the rankings now that VT passed W&M?