Admissions data checked October 9, 2026 by Florida Test Prep.
James Madison University reports a middle 50% SAT of 1180 to 1330 (enrolled, fall 2025, CDS 2025-26). We use 1260 as a first planning target, then adjust it to the student's diagnostic and timeline. It is not an admission requirement or a guarantee.
| Middle 50% SAT | 1180 to 1330 (enrolled, fall 2025, CDS 2025-26) |
| Middle 50% ACT | 25 to 29 |
| Acceptance rate | 68.8% (fall 2025, CDS 2025-26, 42,595 applicants) |
| Testing for 2026-27 | Test-optional |
| Type | Public university |
Source: James Madison official admissions data. A middle 50% describes the central half of the reported group, not a cutoff.
JMU does not require SAT/ACT scores for first-year admission; submitted scores are considered when provided.
| School | Middle 50% SAT | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| University of Virginia | 1410 to 1520 | 16.8% |
| Washington and Lee University | 1430 to 1520 | 13.7% |
| College of William & Mary | 1390 to 1520 | 37% |
| George Mason University | 1180 to 1360 | 86.5% |
| James Madison University | 1180 to 1330 | 68.8% |
| Old Dominion University | 1120 to 1270 | 91.4% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | 1010 to 1260 | 92.3% |
Cohorts differ by school (admitted vs enrolled, and year). See every school with its cohort and source on SAT Scores for Virginia Colleges.
Virginia has no statewide SAT-cutoff merit scholarship like Florida's Bright Futures; the state's need-based Virginia Commonwealth Award only sets a test-score floor (980 SAT combined or 19 ACT) for home-school completers, so the state's best-known score-tied money is university-level full-ride competitions.
Jefferson Scholarship (University of Virginia): Full cost of attendance for 4 years plus an enrichment fund; by school nomination only, under 3% of nominees selected.
Stamps Scholarship (Virginia Tech): Full cost of undergraduate study plus an enrichment fund; about 8-9 scholars selected per class.
The full rules, deadlines and class years are on our Virginia SAT prep page.
| College | State | Middle 50% SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Beloit College | Wisconsin | 1110 to 1400 |
| University of Cincinnati | Ohio | 1160 to 1350 |
| Iowa State University | Iowa | 1153 to 1360 |
| Belmont University | Tennessee | 1160 to 1360 |
A score that is competitive at James Madison lands in the same part of the range at these schools. Cohorts differ by school, so read each page's notes before comparing.
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Which of these numbers is your teen's target? Pick the Virginia colleges on their list and get a target score and the gap from today's score in under a minute.
Find my teen's target scoreThere is no published minimum; the middle half of the reported group scored 1180 to 1330. A score at or above 1330 puts a student in the top quarter of that group. A score near 1180 is within the range, and grades, coursework and the rest of the application still decide the outcome.
Yes. James Madison lists its policy as: Test-optional. A score inside or above the range can still strengthen an application, and some scholarships and programs use scores separately.
68.8% (fall 2025, CDS 2025-26, 42,595 applicants). Rates vary by program and residency, so read the overall figure as context, not a personal prediction.
No. A middle 50% is a description of last year's group, not a cutoff in either direction. It tells you where a score is competitive, which is the useful part for planning test dates.
Want to know what your teen needs for James Madison? Their target, their gap and the weeks to close it are what we map in the free Strategy Session.
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