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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Selectivity in this case means nothing. As stated, JMU is more popular only because it offers the stereotypical college experience, while GMU doesn't. And GMU is a lot larger than JMU.

GMU's purpose is to educate the masses, first gen, low income. And it does a great job of it.

Uh speak from ignorance. My DD had a fulsome four year college experience at GMU. She lived in the dorms all four years, participated in sports, a sorority and was hired before graduation in the field she is still working in. The only “thing” GMU doesn’t have is a football team (thank heavens for that). All freshman are required to live on campus. There are over 6,000 dorm rooms. Four campuses including Arlington, Manassas high tech and Seoul Korea. You need to visit.

I actually did visit with DD, but this is the perception many have of GMU. I actually don't mind GMU. I think it has some good programs. But, a lot of kids don't like GMU 1. because it's too close to the DC area 2. it doesn't have the stereotypical college experience vibe.

It still has that commuter school vibe due to in part to its location. I also went to a commuter school out west.

But, again, I think GMU punches above its weight, more so than JMU.

How does that work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just checked out GMU's and JMUs study abroad program.

GMU's looks more robust.

GMU also has a better ROI.

Ok

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This was literally like 1993 to 1995. For the entire 100 years before and 30 years since, JMU hasn’t been a serious contender. It was a great marketing ploy and a few suckers bought in. But it isn’t and wasn’t even close to the same as VT in terms of name recognition or academic programs. Not even close.

This just isn't true. At least not in state. JMU was ahead of VT in the in state pecking order well into the 2000s.

No. Not really. Just in houses where the parents had gone to JMU—my guess is that is your house. Not being mean. Just being honest. Aside from Nursing, it just doesn’t rate.

See, you're just wrong.

I shouldn't even be on this board, especially the college forum. But we'll leave that for another day.

I had four kids applying to VA colleges (we're in state) from the years 1999 to 2010. In all of that time period and the few years before and after JMU was considered the tougher admit. Three of my kids threw in Tech applications like they were nothing and all three were immediately accepted. They all considered JMU to be better and more "prestigious." And so did we. None went there either, though. They ended up at UVA and W&M.

Oh, give it a rest. I'm born and raised Old Town, SSSAS class of '93, a UVA alum and a W&M JD.

JMU has NEVER been thought of as a peer to those schools. Like, Never. People called it 'Curly Fry U!" in the mid 90s because that's what it was known for. Good fries.

It is a crappy school, but it's cheap, in state and churns out 'real' degrees.

You’re gross. And validate my impressions of SSSA.

What's wrong? Don't like your "Curly Fry U Mom" sweatshirt?

My kid is at UVA but I don’t wear tacky Hoo Mom shirts anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This was literally like 1993 to 1995. For the entire 100 years before and 30 years since, JMU hasn’t been a serious contender. It was a great marketing ploy and a few suckers bought in. But it isn’t and wasn’t even close to the same as VT in terms of name recognition or academic programs. Not even close.

This just isn't true. At least not in state. JMU was ahead of VT in the in state pecking order well into the 2000s.

No. Not really. Just in houses where the parents had gone to JMU—my guess is that is your house. Not being mean. Just being honest. Aside from Nursing, it just doesn’t rate.

See, you're just wrong.

I shouldn't even be on this board, especially the college forum. But we'll leave that for another day.

I had four kids applying to VA colleges (we're in state) from the years 1999 to 2010. In all of that time period and the few years before and after JMU was considered the tougher admit. Three of my kids threw in Tech applications like they were nothing and all three were immediately accepted. They all considered JMU to be better and more "prestigious." And so did we. None went there either, though. They ended up at UVA and W&M.

Oh, give it a rest. I'm born and raised Old Town, SSSAS class of '93, a UVA alum and a W&M JD.

JMU has NEVER been thought of as a peer to those schools. Like, Never. People called it 'Curly Fry U!" in the mid 90s because that's what it was known for. Good fries.

It is a crappy school, but it's cheap, in state and churns out 'real' degrees.

Couldn't get into UVA law, eh?

I can understand why, considering your reading comprehension. I never once said that JMU was ever a "peer" to UVA or W&M. I merely said it was considered a tougher admit than Tech.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just checked out GMU's and JMUs study abroad program.

GMU's looks more robust.

GMU also has a better ROI.

This is so many of it's students can spend the semester, or year, studying at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

NOPE.
JmU Acceptance rate 66% https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/fastfacts.shtml
GMU Acceptance rate 91% acceptance rate https://www.gmu.edu/about

US news disagrees with these stats and are more up to date

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This was literally like 1993 to 1995. For the entire 100 years before and 30 years since, JMU hasn’t been a serious contender. It was a great marketing ploy and a few suckers bought in. But it isn’t and wasn’t even close to the same as VT in terms of name recognition or academic programs. Not even close.

This just isn't true. At least not in state. JMU was ahead of VT in the in state pecking order well into the 2000s.

No. Not really. Just in houses where the parents had gone to JMU—my guess is that is your house. Not being mean. Just being honest. Aside from Nursing, it just doesn’t rate.

See, you're just wrong.

I shouldn't even be on this board, especially the college forum. But we'll leave that for another day.

I had four kids applying to VA colleges (we're in state) from the years 1999 to 2010. In all of that time period and the few years before and after JMU was considered the tougher admit. Three of my kids threw in Tech applications like they were nothing and all three were immediately accepted. They all considered JMU to be better and more "prestigious." And so did we. None went there either, though. They ended up at UVA and W&M.

Oh, give it a rest. I'm born and raised Old Town, SSSAS class of '93, a UVA alum and a W&M JD.

JMU has NEVER been thought of as a peer to those schools. Like, Never. People called it 'Curly Fry U!" in the mid 90s because that's what it was known for. Good fries.

It is a crappy school, but it's cheap, in state and churns out 'real' degrees.[\
/quote]

Couldn't get into UVA law, eh?

I can understand why, considering your reading comprehension. I never once said that JMU was ever a "peer" to UVA or W&M. I merely said it was considered a tougher admit than Tech.

————————

Ha. Your moron kid goes to JMU. Of course you don't know the difference between the JDs UVA and W&M offer.

Both of you reflect badly on all the schools you attend or send children to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ranking criteria changed. The schools are basically the same as they have always been. Some schools benefit from the change while others did not. For example, W&M ranked lower than they should be and GMU ranked higher than they should be due to changing criteria, nothing more nothing less.

yep

[Anonymous]

Acceptance rate is a supply and demand issue. If you look at the accepted average GPA and accepted SAT scores, you’ll see JMU kids are no better than GMU. 75% SAT for JMU is 1230 and GMU 1250. Accepted average GPA for JMU is 3.62 and GMU 3.69 according to common data set. GMU has to takes a lot of kids from NOVA and has direct admissions from local HS so that also explains why their acceptance rate might be higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This was literally like 1993 to 1995. For the entire 100 years before and 30 years since, JMU hasn’t been a serious contender. It was a great marketing ploy and a few suckers bought in. But it isn’t and wasn’t even close to the same as VT in terms of name recognition or academic programs. Not even close.

This just isn't true. At least not in state. JMU was ahead of VT in the in state pecking order well into the 2000s.

No. Not really. Just in houses where the parents had gone to JMU—my guess is that is your house. Not being mean. Just being honest. Aside from Nursing, it just doesn’t rate.

See, you're just wrong.

I shouldn't even be on this board, especially the college forum. But we'll leave that for another day.

I had four kids applying to VA colleges (we're in state) from the years 1999 to 2010. In all of that time period and the few years before and after JMU was considered the tougher admit. Three of my kids threw in Tech applications like they were nothing and all three were immediately accepted. They all considered JMU to be better and more "prestigious." And so did we. None went there either, though. They ended up at UVA and W&M.

Oh, give it a rest. I'm born and raised Old Town, SSSAS class of '93, a UVA alum and a W&M JD.

JMU has NEVER been thought of as a peer to those schools. Like, Never. People called it 'Curly Fry U!" in the mid 90s because that's what it was known for. Good fries.

It is a crappy school, but it's cheap, in state and churns out 'real' degrees.

You’re gross. And validate my impressions of SSSA.

What's wrong? Don't like your "Curly Fry U Mom" sweatshirt?

curly fry u is a new one lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This was literally like 1993 to 1995. For the entire 100 years before and 30 years since, JMU hasn’t been a serious contender. It was a great marketing ploy and a few suckers bought in. But it isn’t and wasn’t even close to the same as VT in terms of name recognition or academic programs. Not even close.

This just isn't true. At least not in state. JMU was ahead of VT in the in state pecking order well into the 2000s.

No. Not really. Just in houses where the parents had gone to JMU—my guess is that is your house. Not being mean. Just being honest. Aside from Nursing, it just doesn’t rate.

See, you're just wrong.

I shouldn't even be on this board, especially the college forum. But we'll leave that for another day.

I had four kids applying to VA colleges (we're in state) from the years 1999 to 2010. In all of that time period and the few years before and after JMU was considered the tougher admit. Three of my kids threw in Tech applications like they were nothing and all three were immediately accepted. They all considered JMU to be better and more "prestigious." And so did we. None went there either, though. They ended up at UVA and W&M.

Oh, give it a rest. I'm born and raised Old Town, SSSAS class of '93, a UVA alum and a W&M JD.

JMU has NEVER been thought of as a peer to those schools. Like, Never. People called it 'Curly Fry U!" in the mid 90s because that's what it was known for. Good fries.

It is a crappy school, but it's cheap, in state and churns out 'real' degrees.[\
/quote]

Couldn't get into UVA law, eh?

I can understand why, considering your reading comprehension. I never once said that JMU was ever a "peer" to UVA or W&M. I merely said it was considered a tougher admit than Tech.

————————

Ha. Your moron kid goes to JMU. Of course you don't know the difference between the JDs UVA and W&M offer.

Both of you reflect badly on all the schools you attend or send children to.

Amen. The stupidity of these meaningless pissing matches is something to behold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This was literally like 1993 to 1995. For the entire 100 years before and 30 years since, JMU hasn’t been a serious contender. It was a great marketing ploy and a few suckers bought in. But it isn’t and wasn’t even close to the same as VT in terms of name recognition or academic programs. Not even close.

This just isn't true. At least not in state. JMU was ahead of VT in the in state pecking order well into the 2000s.

No. Not really. Just in houses where the parents had gone to JMU—my guess is that is your house. Not being mean. Just being honest. Aside from Nursing, it just doesn’t rate.

See, you're just wrong.

I shouldn't even be on this board, especially the college forum. But we'll leave that for another day.

I had four kids applying to VA colleges (we're in state) from the years 1999 to 2010. In all of that time period and the few years before and after JMU was considered the tougher admit. Three of my kids threw in Tech applications like they were nothing and all three were immediately accepted. They all considered JMU to be better and more "prestigious." And so did we. None went there either, though. They ended up at UVA and W&M.

Oh, give it a rest. I'm born and raised Old Town, SSSAS class of '93, a UVA alum and a W&M JD.

JMU has NEVER been thought of as a peer to those schools. Like, Never. People called it 'Curly Fry U!" in the mid 90s because that's what it was known for. Good fries.

It is a crappy school, but it's cheap, in state and churns out 'real' degrees.

Jeez, you reek major insecurity for a person who I am guessing is in their mid50s. Are you going through a tough time? Divorcing? Generally unhappy in life?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like I said, acceptance rate means nothing in this regard.

https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/roi2025/#data

ROI GMU > ROI JMU

Adjust for majors and likely no difference.

[Anonymous]

JMU was just moved from "regional universities" to "national universities" in the last few years - I wouldnt have expected it to immediately and permanently rise above GMU or other VA schools that have always been classified in that category.

It was a fine choice for my kid with a weighted 4.0 GPA, 34 ACT and a desire to study with a specific professor in the school of music. He didnt apply to any other VA schools and I guess they probably wouldnt have accepted him. Still, it was the right place for him and he wasnt shunned from grad school or anything. He never mentioned the curly fries....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:JMU was just moved from "regional universities" to "national universities" in the last few years - I wouldnt have expected it to immediately and permanently rise above GMU or other VA schools that have always been classified in that category.

It was a fine choice for my kid with a weighted 4.0 GPA, 34 ACT and a desire to study with a specific professor in the school of music. He didnt apply to any other VA schools and I guess they probably wouldnt have accepted him. Still, it was the right place for him and he wasnt shunned from grad school or anything. He never mentioned the curly fries....

There are wonderful professors there, just like the other state schools. Tons of successful alumni, also just like other state schools. Good for your kid! The music school is really good.