GMU Leaps 34 Spots Ahead of JMU in 2026 Rankings, Even VCU Now Higher

[Anonymous]

Let's welcome the GMU Admissions Director to the forum! Hi!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Not one VA public in the top 25

Really? Wow is your response to that. UVA is 26, which isn’t meaningfully different than top 25. And there are only 3 public schools in the top 25, and you are surprised that none of the Virginia schools are there?

+1. If you just look at publics, there are three VA schools in the top 25, including UVA at #4.

OF public schools.

I don’t know what this means.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Not one VA public in the top 25

Ignore. They are just poking the bear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Not one VA public in the top 25

Really? Wow is your response to that. UVA is 26, which isn’t meaningfully different than top 25. And there are only 3 public schools in the top 25, and you are surprised that none of the Virginia schools are there?

+1. If you just look at publics, there are three VA schools in the top 25, including UVA at #4.

OF public schools.

I don’t know what this means.

It means that UVA is can be ranked in the top 25 public schools alongside UC-Merced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what the new criteria is but anecdotally, JMU is becoming viewed as more of the school for kids who prefer to drink and party than lock in on their studies.

Agreed. Back in my day, Radford was considered the party school and JMU was “Just Missed UVa”, but times have certainly changed.

[Anonymous]

And if you go further back into the 1980s - JMU/W&M/UVA were about same in getting into. I had some HS friends that said they got into UVA but not JMU - it's anecdotal I know.

Not sure now but back then the rumor was that UVA had to take a certain number from every county, so JMU had some really good overflows.

Go back even further and GMU was known as an extension to UVA.

As GMU is the largest Virginia R1 school and growing fast - I wouldn't be surprised if it closed the gap with UVA. People didn't think it would get ahead of JMU a few decades ago.

Best of all GMU provides the best opportunity and upward mobility: https://www.gmu.edu/news/2025-04/george-mason-highlighted-one-carnegies-opportunity-colleges-and-universities

Proud to have this in my backyard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And if you go further back into the 1980s - JMU/W&M/UVA were about same in getting into. I had some HS friends that said they got into UVA but not JMU - it's anecdotal I know.

Not sure now but back then the rumor was that UVA had to take a certain number from every county, so JMU had some really good overflows.

Go back even further and GMU was known as an extension to UVA.

As GMU is the largest Virginia R1 school and growing fast - I wouldn't be surprised if it closed the gap with UVA. People didn't think it would get ahead of JMU a few decades ago.

Best of all GMU provides the best opportunity and upward mobility: https://www.gmu.edu/news/2025-04/george-mason-highlighted-one-carnegies-opportunity-colleges-and-universities

Proud to have this in my backyard.

GMU is the only school in VA that's not in the hinterland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if you go further back into the 1980s - JMU/W&M/UVA were about same in getting into. I had some HS friends that said they got into UVA but not JMU - it's anecdotal I know.

Not sure now but back then the rumor was that UVA had to take a certain number from every county, so JMU had some really good overflows.

Go back even further and GMU was known as an extension to UVA.

As GMU is the largest Virginia R1 school and growing fast - I wouldn't be surprised if it closed the gap with UVA. People didn't think it would get ahead of JMU a few decades ago.

Best of all GMU provides the best opportunity and upward mobility: https://www.gmu.edu/news/2025-04/george-mason-highlighted-one-carnegies-opportunity-colleges-and-universities

Proud to have this in my backyard.

GMU is the only school in VA that's not in the hinterland.

What? VCU is in the heart of Richmond. Hardly a hinterland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Not one VA public in the top 25

In the annals of DCUM stupidity, you take the 1st prize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Not one VA public in the top 25

Really? Wow is your response to that. UVA is 26, which isn’t meaningfully different than top 25. And there are only 3 public schools in the top 25, and you are surprised that none of the Virginia schools are there?

Yes, it is very meaningful.

26 is not 25. Plus, it means that now UVA is solidly outside the Top 25.

How can you not understand that?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And if you go further back into the 1980s - JMU/W&M/UVA were about same in getting into. I had some HS friends that said they got into UVA but not JMU - it's anecdotal I know.

Not sure now but back then the rumor was that UVA had to take a certain number from every county, so JMU had some really good overflows.

Go back even further and GMU was known as an extension to UVA.

As GMU is the largest Virginia R1 school and growing fast - I wouldn't be surprised if it closed the gap with UVA. People didn't think it would get ahead of JMU a few decades ago.

Best of all GMU provides the best opportunity and upward mobility: https://www.gmu.edu/news/2025-04/george-mason-highlighted-one-carnegies-opportunity-colleges-and-universities

Proud to have this in my backyard.

There were UVA residents that got into UVA but chose JMU for a bunch of reasons. I’m one of them and two of my college friends made the same choice. Early 90s. I had two high school friends that got into UVA but not JMU.
JMU was a lot smaller then (around 8K).
Our high school definitely sent all nearly all the top 25 to UVA/Tech/W&M/JMU with a small handful going elsewhere. Central Virginia.

[Anonymous]

*VA residents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More obsession and hand wringing over rAnKiNgS. Peak DCUM.

Agreed. They are all in the same bracket and it's not useful to use rankings to decide which to pick. Stop furthering the narrative that rankings matter.

[Anonymous]

Can OP or anyone else explain any real-world ramification for why this matters?

(To be clear, I think all of those schools are great options for various reasons, VA residents are lucky, and rankings are dumb.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And if you go further back into the 1980s - JMU/W&M/UVA were about same in getting into. I had some HS friends that said they got into UVA but not JMU - it's anecdotal I know.

Not sure now but back then the rumor was that UVA had to take a certain number from every county, so JMU had some really good overflows.

Go back even further and GMU was known as an extension to UVA.

As GMU is the largest Virginia R1 school and growing fast - I wouldn't be surprised if it closed the gap with UVA. People didn't think it would get ahead of JMU a few decades ago.

Best of all GMU provides the best opportunity and upward mobility: https://www.gmu.edu/news/2025-04/george-mason-highlighted-one-carnegies-opportunity-colleges-and-universities

Proud to have this in my backyard.

GMU is the only school in VA that's not in the hinterland.

What? VCU is in the heart of Richmond. Hardly a hinterland.

DP, but I’m guessing the PP is defining hinterland as “anything outside of Northern VA.”