Anonymous
Post 05/01/2026 11:01     Subject: Was JMU always so popular
JMU is popular everywhere. It has strong academics built by the reputation, especially the business school, because of the success of its graduates. It offers both a big school benefits (Go Dukes) with a smaller, tight knit social and learning communities.
There are many reasons why JMU is the perfect school for so many kids.
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2026 10:05     Subject: Was JMU always so popular
I think JMU is one of those schools that have benefitted from the increase in the cost of private schools. Donut hole families, especially those toward the bottom and with multiple kids, cannot swing a private school these days. These families now look at in-state publics and OOS publics that offer good merit.

Anonymous
Post 05/01/2026 09:27     Subject: Was JMU always so popular
Many senior leaders (SVPs, VPs) at my DC area Fortune 500. (Not Northup)
Anonymous
Post 05/01/2026 08:58     Subject: Re:Was JMU always so popular
Anonymous wrote:I personally know two JMU graduates, with Bachelor's degrees only, who are CFOs of their respective companies.


The CEO of Northrup Grumman is a JMU grad.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2026 11:16     Subject: Was JMU always so popular
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our kids mulled it, but in the end, they didn't feel like they would quite fit in, socially. Our kids are very bright, but artsy and more introverted, individualistic types, definitely not Greek system material. Our kids have ended up at schools where they could blend in seamlessly without a second glance. Where they can streak and dye their hair on occasion and nobody will notice or care, wear quirky thrift store finds instead of Lululemon and American Eagle Outfitters, or whatever. In the end, it's all about fit. Every kid has to go on feel and pick the school where they walk on to the campus and say: this is me, this is my vibe. We all thought the gym was very nice, though!


I have two kids at JMU and neither had any interest in Greek life. Oh, and they often wear thrifted clothes and have lots of likeminded friends. I think you are really over-generalizing the student population. It's only about 20% Greek.


But the Greek system runs the social life there, it was obvious to the naked eye. The program kid wanted is stronger at other state schools. Campus was too spread out, buses required. Kid was driving their own decision and ended up at a school that outranks JMU in chosen fields (major and minor) and has stronger national name recognition. If kid moves to the West Coast, people will still know the name. JMU they would have to google.


Glad you and your kid are happy with where he/she landed, but that first sentence is just not accurate.


Exactly!
DP
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2026 11:15     Subject: Was JMU always so popular
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our kids mulled it, but in the end, they didn't feel like they would quite fit in, socially. Our kids are very bright, but artsy and more introverted, individualistic types, definitely not Greek system material. Our kids have ended up at schools where they could blend in seamlessly without a second glance. Where they can streak and dye their hair on occasion and nobody will notice or care, wear quirky thrift store finds instead of Lululemon and American Eagle Outfitters, or whatever. In the end, it's all about fit. Every kid has to go on feel and pick the school where they walk on to the campus and say: this is me, this is my vibe. We all thought the gym was very nice, though!


I have two kids at JMU and neither had any interest in Greek life. Oh, and they often wear thrifted clothes and have lots of likeminded friends. I think you are really over-generalizing the student population. It's only about 20% Greek.


But the Greek system runs the social life there, it was obvious to the naked eye. The program kid wanted is stronger at other state schools. Campus was too spread out, buses required. Kid was driving their own decision and ended up at a school that outranks JMU in chosen fields (major and minor) and has stronger national name recognition. If kid moves to the West Coast, people will still know the name. JMU they would have to google.


Everything you listed is subjective except the first sentence. The Greek system doesn’t “run the social life there.” That’s ridiculously untrue, and I’ve actually HAD two non-Greek kids there - you have not.

Look, it’s obvious you have some kind of chip on your shoulder but to claim that a 20% greek population somehow “runs” the social scene is just laughable. My kids had a very active social life there, along with the 80% of other kids not involved in Greek life.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2026 10:58     Subject: Was JMU always so popular
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:JMU is a very popular school for my daughter‘s graduating class. I would say it has about the same number of kids enrolling as the university of Maryland. What was the appeal for local students? The proximity?
I don’t remember any kids from my graduating class going to jmu so I am genuinely curious. Was it always so popular or is it just on my radar now?


Are you in MD or VA?



Maryland.

I hadn’t considered the difficulty of getting into other local colleges to the rise of JMU. To be clear, it seems like a great school. I just am surprised at how many kids are going this year.


I think it’s the rise of the perception that in-state options are inferior. It does not make that much sense to pay for JMO OOS vs say UMBC.



As costs skyrocket and admissions rates drop, the in-state options are perceived as less inferior then they were in the past.

Anonymous
Post 04/30/2026 10:00     Subject: Was JMU always so popular
Anonymous wrote:JMU has improved a lot as a school since the early 1980s, as have GMU, ODU, and some other newer VA public universities. Reputations, quality, and facilities all have improved at most or all of these places.

Bottom line is that JMU is much more popular now than in 1980 or 1990 - for good reasons.

And same is true for GMU, ODU, and several other newer VA public universities.


Agree and what the OP was actually asking about instead of pointless comparisons.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2026 09:38     Subject: Was JMU always so popular
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:JMU is a very popular school for my daughter‘s graduating class. I would say it has about the same number of kids enrolling as the university of Maryland. What was the appeal for local students? The proximity?
I don’t remember any kids from my graduating class going to jmu so I am genuinely curious. Was it always so popular or is it just on my radar now?


Are you in MD or VA?



Maryland.

I hadn’t considered the difficulty of getting into other local colleges to the rise of JMU. To be clear, it seems like a great school. I just am surprised at how many kids are going this year.


I think it’s the rise of the perception that in-state options are inferior. It does not make that much sense to pay for JMO OOS vs say UMBC.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2026 09:37     Subject: Was JMU always so popular
JMU has improved a lot as a school since the early 1980s, as have GMU, ODU, and some other newer VA public universities. Reputations, quality, and facilities all have improved at most or all of these places.

Bottom line is that JMU is much more popular now than in 1980 or 1990 - for good reasons.

And same is true for GMU, ODU, and several other newer VA public universities.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2026 09:13     Subject: Was JMU always so popular
Anonymous wrote:My dd's counselor (large FCPS HS) also told her that for girls from their school, its a target at 4.0 weighted. Not sure why its more popular with girls than boys.


College in general is more popular with girls than boys.

My DD has about a 4.0 weighted, not terribly rigorous, NOVA HS and was admitted to JMU. I thought she'd be waitlisted or rejected, so we were pretty pleased.

A visit on admitted students day sealed the deal. She starts in the fall.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2026 08:48     Subject: Was JMU always so popular
Anonymous wrote:JMU is a very popular school for my daughter‘s graduating class. I would say it has about the same number of kids enrolling as the university of Maryland. What was the appeal for local students? The proximity?
I don’t remember any kids from my graduating class going to jmu so I am genuinely curious. Was it always so popular or is it just on my radar now?


Getting accepted at other schools is a lot tougher now hence local students only talk about attainable goal, if something better comes along great, they'll go there.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2026 08:44     Subject: Was JMU always so popular
Anonymous wrote:If you live in Maryland, then it probably appeals to students becuase it's still pretty close to home and not in a dumpy area like UMD is and it's better than all of the other MD state school options.
I grew up in MD, but went to a private HS in DC. JMU was very popular in the 90s as a Just Missed the U (UVA) place to go.


Literally I don't know anyone who chose JMU over UMD, lol. You might know a few but not at our MCPS school. And the kids who go to UMD love it. People who end up at JMU were rejected from VT.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2026 08:26     Subject: Was JMU always so popular
My dd's counselor (large FCPS HS) also told her that for girls from their school, its a target at 4.0 weighted. Not sure why its more popular with girls than boys.
Anonymous
Post 04/30/2026 08:21     Subject: Was JMU always so popular
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Our kids mulled it, but in the end, they didn't feel like they would quite fit in, socially. Our kids are very bright, but artsy and more introverted, individualistic types, definitely not Greek system material. Our kids have ended up at schools where they could blend in seamlessly without a second glance. Where they can streak and dye their hair on occasion and nobody will notice or care, wear quirky thrift store finds instead of Lululemon and American Eagle Outfitters, or whatever. In the end, it's all about fit. Every kid has to go on feel and pick the school where they walk on to the campus and say: this is me, this is my vibe. We all thought the gym was very nice, though!


I have two kids at JMU and neither had any interest in Greek life. Oh, and they often wear thrifted clothes and have lots of likeminded friends. I think you are really over-generalizing the student population. It's only about 20% Greek.


But the Greek system runs the social life there, it was obvious to the naked eye. The program kid wanted is stronger at other state schools. Campus was too spread out, buses required. Kid was driving their own decision and ended up at a school that outranks JMU in chosen fields (major and minor) and has stronger national name recognition. If kid moves to the West Coast, people will still know the name. JMU they would have to google.


The Greek System does not run the social life there, what an odd takeaway. The school is only 20% Greek. When I went there, none of my friends were in sororities and it was around 20% Greek then too.