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

[Anonymous]

JMU is trash. I wouldn't send my kid there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:JMU is trash. I wouldn't send my kid there.

shots fired

[Anonymous]

My DS (class of '23- TC Williams) got into GMU but denied at JMU. Still confused about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:JMU is trash. I wouldn't send my kid there.

"Trash" love your vocabulary buddy!

[Anonymous]

Look, the bottom line is that all three are about equal in the eyes of the public, academics, and employers. So who the f__k cares.

[Anonymous]

Only JMU kids thought it meant Just Missed UVA. Everyone else knew the real
tops were UVA, VT and W&M. I find it interesting that VT and W&M are tied. It makes sense because both are solid but in totally different ways and have a totally different feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only JMU kids thought it meant Just Missed UVA. Everyone else knew the real
tops were UVA, VT and W&M. I find it interesting that VT and W&M are tied. It makes sense because both are solid but in totally different ways and have a totally different feel.

DP here. Look, I really don't care but this isn't exactly true. When my kids were applying to college JMU was absolutely considered a tougher admit than Tech.

[Anonymous]

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

We see what you are saying

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am honestly shocked. In the 1990s, GMU and VCU were seen as Virginia’s "backup" schools, while JMU was the respected middle-tier option that always just missed UVA or William & Mary. But things have completely changed.

In the 2026 U.S. News rankings, GMU has leaped 34 spots ahead of JMU, and even VCU now ranks higher. GMU has also closed the gap with Virginia Tech and William & Mary in the Top Public Schools category.

Here are the 2026 rankings:

University of Virginia (UVA)
#26 in National Universities (tie)
#4 in Top Public Schools (tie)
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/uva-6968

Virginia Tech (VT)
#51 in National Universities (tie)
#21 in Top Public Schools (tie)
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/virginia-tech-3754

William & Mary (W&M)
#51 in National Universities (tie)
#21 in Top Public Schools (tie)
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/william-and-mary-3705

George Mason University (GMU)
#117 in National Universities (tie)
#57 in Top Public Schools (tie)
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/gmu-3749

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
#139 in National Universities (tie)
#72 in Top Public Schools (tie)
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/virginia-commonwealth-university-3735

James Madison University (JMU)
#151 in National Universities (tie)
#79 in Top Public Schools (tie)
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/james-madison-university-3721

That is a 34 place gap between GMU and JMU nationally, and even VCU has pulled ahead. GMU now sits only 36 spots behind Virginia Tech and William & Mary in Top Public Schools.

The tables have turned. The schools once seen as safeties have climbed into serious national contention, while JMU, once nearly in the same breath as UVA and W&M, has slipped significantly.

What happened to JMU’s momentum? Did GMU and VCU simply outgrow it, or did JMU stop evolving while the rest of Virginia’s universities surged ahead?

JMU has very limited research and graduate programs. It is very difficult to rank high in the national university category without that given the criteria. But that really has little to do with quality of education or outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only JMU kids thought it meant Just Missed UVA. Everyone else knew the real
tops were UVA, VT and W&M. I find it interesting that VT and W&M are tied. It makes sense because both are solid but in totally different ways and have a totally different feel.

You are wrong. In the mid 90s everyone knew Tech was less competitive than JMU. Perhaps because of JMU's size of 12,000 to whatever Tech was back then. Clearly, when JMU doubled its size it lessened its selectivity. I'm happy for all the schools. GMU is never going to be like Tech, UVA or JMU. Its location and selectivity set it apart. We are lucky to have so many different options to choose from.

[Anonymous]

JMU is only really popular compared to GMU because it offers students a stereotypical college experience, while GMU does not. But, academically, including research and industry wise, GMU is better.

[Anonymous]

GMU is fantastic for some majors. If my kid wanted to do anything computer related or nursing I would have been very happy for her to go to GMU instead of a number of much better schools she was accepted to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only JMU kids thought it meant Just Missed UVA. Everyone else knew the real
tops were UVA, VT and W&M. I find it interesting that VT and W&M are tied. It makes sense because both are solid but in totally different ways and have a totally different feel.

You are wrong. In the mid 90s everyone knew Tech was less competitive than JMU. Perhaps because of JMU's size of 12,000 to whatever Tech was back then. Clearly, when JMU doubled its size it lessened its selectivity. I'm happy for all the schools. GMU is never going to be like Tech, UVA or JMU. Its location and selectivity set it apart. We are lucky to have so many different options to choose from.

I agree on location, JMU gives you that far-off college town vibe; however, in terms of selectivity, JMU is like 80% and GMU is like 85% so not sure about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only JMU kids thought it meant Just Missed UVA. Everyone else knew the real
tops were UVA, VT and W&M. I find it interesting that VT and W&M are tied. It makes sense because both are solid but in totally different ways and have a totally different feel.

You are wrong. In the mid 90s everyone knew Tech was less competitive than JMU. Perhaps because of JMU's size of 12,000 to whatever Tech was back then. Clearly, when JMU doubled its size it lessened its selectivity. I'm happy for all the schools. GMU is never going to be like Tech, UVA or JMU. Its location and selectivity set it apart. We are lucky to have so many different options to choose from.

I agree on location, JMU gives you that far-off college town vibe; however, in terms of selectivity, JMU is like 80% and GMU is like 85% so not sure about that.

It's actually a fair bit different:
JMU 66% in 24-25 https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/fastfacts.shtml
GMU 87% in 24-25 (pg 13 gotta do math https://oiep.gmu.edu/resources/common-data-set/)

Which is why people don't believe GMU is good b/c JMU is more selective. Both are solid schools.