JMU is a big, popular public university in Harrisonburg, out in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, and plenty of families have it on their list. For the most recent class it received 43,836 first-year applications and admitted about 72% of them. Roughly three out of four undergraduates are Virginia residents.
Testing really is optional here. Only 19% of applicants sent SAT or ACT scores in the last cycle, and JMU says students who skip them are not penalized in admission, scholarship, or Honors College review. The bigger thing to understand is how JMU hands out money. There is no chart where a certain GPA and test score equals a certain scholarship. Nearly every dollar is picked by a person, which means the calendar and the paperwork matter more here than at most public universities.
Second Century (STEM), Dingledine (Honors), Centennial (Virginia, need-based)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at James Madison University (Read This First)
There is no guaranteed merit. JMU has no stat-based automatic scholarship. Its one no-application award, the Madison Award for Academic Excellence, is chosen by academic departments, and students who aren’t picked are never told.
Early Action is the scholarship calendar. The Dingledine Scholarship requires an Early Action application by November 1 and its own application by November 15. Some Honors awards only consider Early Action applicants.
The biggest awards make you choose. If your student is offered more than one of the Dingledine, Second Century, Centennial, or First Generation Scholarship, JMU requires picking one.
“Full tuition” means the in-state number, frozen. Second Century covers in-state tuition and fees at the rate for the year a student starts. It doesn’t grow when tuition goes up, and for an out-of-state student it covers less than half the tuition bill.
The FAFSA date for new students is January 1. JMU asks incoming students to file by January 1 to be considered for all need-based scholarships. The March 1 date you’ll see on other JMU pages is the general financial aid priority date, not the scholarship date.
The Hub is the real scholarship application. Donor and department scholarships run through the Madison Scholarships Hub, which opens October 1 and needs a brand-new General Application every year.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes — James Madison University is test-optional.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 26-31; SAT: 1210-1370.
Average net price? About $23,322/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No broad regional reciprocity path.
💰 Cost of Attendance at James Madison University 2026-2027
📅 2027–2028 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2026–2027). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2027–2028 numbers are released.
Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.
Category (2026–2027)
In-State
Out-of-State
Tuition & Mandatory Fees (2 semesters)
$14,768
$32,576
Housing & Meals (typical)
$15,220
$15,220
Total (Direct Costs)
$29,988
$47,796
Average Federal Net Price: $23,322 — this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
James Madison University has no broad undergraduate tuition waiver or regional reciprocity program, so out-of-state students pay the full nonresident rate. The gap narrows mainly through selective scholarships, such as the Madison Bound Scholarship for out-of-state first-year students (listed at $12,500 in the Madison Scholarships Hub), the Second Century Scholarship for STEM majors, and donor scholarships awarded through the Hub.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at James Madison University
Why does JMU cost so much more for out-of-state students?
Tuition and fees are $14,768 a year for Virginia residents and $32,576 for everyone else, a difference of $17,808. Housing and food are the same $15,220 for both, so the full direct cost is about $29,988 in-state and $47,796 out-of-state. Out-of-state families pay the higher rate because Virginia taxpayers subsidize the in-state price.
Can out-of-state students get in-state tuition or a waiver at JMU?
Not through a broad waiver or regional exchange program, because JMU doesn’t have one. The best lead for out-of-state families is the Madison Bound Scholarship, listed at $12,500 in the Madison Scholarships Hub for out-of-state first-year students. There’s no separate application; students are considered from the Hub’s General Application.
Do some majors cost more than others?
Yes. JMU notes that courses in the College of Business and the School of Nursing carry additional course fees on top of standard tuition. JMU’s Cost of Attendance Calculator lets you estimate by program of study.
What do families actually pay at JMU after grants?
Federal College Scorecard data for the 2022-23 aid year puts the average net price at about $23,322 for students receiving aid. It changes a lot by income. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $11,444, those at $48,000 to $75,000 paid about $16,475, and families earning over $110,000 paid about $30,147.
Will a JMU scholarship keep up if tuition goes up?
Usually not. Both the Madison Award for Academic Excellence and the Second Century Scholarship are locked at the in-state rate for the year your student starts. If tuition rises in year two, three, or four, the family covers the increase.
What’s the best way to estimate our real cost before applying?
Run JMU’s Undergraduate Net Price Calculator with your actual income and savings. Then build your budget as if your student gets no merit money, since almost none of JMU’s scholarships are guaranteed.
October 1: Madison Scholarships Hub opens for the new cycle. The Dingledine and Centennial Scholars applications open too.
November 1: Early Action application (with the Honors College section) must be in to be eligible for the Dingledine.
November 15: Dingledine Scholarship application due.
January 1: FAFSA for need-based scholarships, and the Second Century STEM application for Early Action applicants.
February 1: Centennial Scholars application and FAFSA due.
March 1: Second Century STEM application for Regular Decision applicants.
Parent rule of thumb: if your student is even thinking about JMU, apply Early Action. Several of the best scholarships either require it or favor it.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at James Madison University
JMU doesn’t have a traditional automatic merit grid. The closest thing is the Madison Award for Academic Excellence. There’s no separate form, because students are reviewed from their admission application. But academic departments choose who gets it, not a formula, so no GPA or test score guarantees it.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Madison Award for Academic Excellence
📅 Deadline: No separate scholarship deadline. Students are reviewed from the JMU admission application itself. · 📢 Results: Included with financial aid award notice after admission offer. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$11,076/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
This award is not on JMU's current choose-one list, which names the Dingledine, Madison Recognition Awards, First Generation Scholarship, Second Century, Centennial, and Fellowship offers. JMU does not publish a rule blocking it from combining with donor or department scholarships from the Madison Scholarships Hub. Final packaging is set in the financial aid offer.
💡
Strategic Detail
Worth 75% of in-state tuition and comprehensive fees for the year the student enters JMU, which is about $11,076 per year for students starting in 2026-27. The amount stays locked at the entry-year rate. JMU academic colleges and departments choose recipients during admission review, so there is no published GPA or test cutoff and meeting a number does not guarantee the award. Recipients are notified with the financial aid offer, and students who are not selected are not notified. Renews each year with a 3.0 cumulative JMU GPA plus any conditions listed in the aid offer.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted first-year students whose academic records stand out within a specific area of study, as judged by each academic college or department.
Data last verified Sep 17, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Because departments pick Madison Award recipients, treat it as a bonus your student might receive, not a number to build the budget around. Recipients find out in the financial aid offer, and JMU does not notify students who weren’t selected.
Automatic Merit FAQs (James Madison University)
Does JMU give automatic merit scholarships based on GPA and test scores?
No. JMU doesn’t publish any scholarship that is guaranteed at a certain GPA or score. Its main no-application award, the Madison Award for Academic Excellence, is chosen by academic colleges and departments during admission review.
How much is the Madison Award for Academic Excellence worth?
It equals 75% of in-state tuition and comprehensive fees for the year your student starts. For students entering in 2026-27, that’s about $11,076 a year, and the amount stays locked at that entry-year rate.
Is there a minimum GPA or test score to be considered?
JMU doesn’t publish one. Test scores are optional, and JMU says students who don’t submit them aren’t penalized in scholarship review.
How and when will we find out?
After admission, recipients are notified through the financial aid offer. Students who don’t receive the award are not notified, so if it isn’t in the offer, assume it isn’t coming.
How does the Madison Award renew?
Students need a 3.0 cumulative JMU GPA at the end of each academic year. Some awards carry extra conditions, which JMU spells out in the financial aid offer.
Can the Madison Award be combined with other scholarships?
It isn’t on JMU’s current choose-one list, which covers the Dingledine, Second Century, Centennial, First Generation Scholarship, Madison Recognition Awards, and Fellowship offers. Donor and department scholarships from the Madison Scholarships Hub can be layered on, but the final package is set in the aid offer.
Is there anything automatic for out-of-state students?
The Madison Bound Scholarship is the closest. It’s listed at $12,500 in the Madison Scholarships Hub for out-of-state first-year students, and students are considered from the General Application. It is still selective, and JMU doesn’t publish the criteria.
JMU’s big competitive scholarships are few, and each one is aimed at a specific kind of student. There are awards for STEM majors (Second Century and Jones) and for business majors (Gold Scholars, by invitation). There’s one for Pell-eligible Virginians (Centennial Scholars) and one for future teachers from partner school divisions (Teaching Fellows). If your student fits one of those, go for it. If not, the Hub and department awards in Hidden Gems are the realistic play.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at JMU?
Aid Type
Stacks?
JMU Parent Translation
Dingledine, Second Century, Centennial, First Generation Scholarship
No, choose one
JMU’s rule is clear: if your student is offered more than one of these, they accept one and decline the rest.
Madison Award for Academic Excellence
Not on the choose-one list
JMU doesn’t block it from combining, but read the aid offer to see how it’s packaged.
Madison Scholarships Hub (donor and department)
Often yes
These are the gap fillers, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, matched by major, hometown, and background.
Madison Bound (out-of-state)
Not published
JMU hasn’t posted stacking rules, so confirm in the aid offer before counting on both.
Federal and state need-based grants
Usually
Grants fill in after merit. Centennial Scholars is actually built out of stacked grants.
Parent translation: JMU is not a school where a strong student collects three or four big awards. Aim for the one award that fits your student best, then pile smaller Hub scholarships on top of it.
Full TuitionApp Requiredmajor specific
Second Century Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Scholarship application in the Madison Scholarships Hub is due January 1 for Early Action applicants and March 1 for Regular Decision applicants. Students may apply before receiving an admission decision. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition and comprehensive fees
✘ Not stackable
⚠ STEM majors only; covers in-state tuition and fees at the entry-year rate for up to four years.
🏫 3.8+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
On JMU's choose-one list. A student offered more than one of the Dingledine, Madison Recognition Awards, First Generation Scholarship, Second Century, Centennial, or Fellowship offers must accept one and decline the others.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to JMU with an eligible STEM major, log in to MyMadison, open the Madison Scholarships Hub, complete the General Application, then submit the Second Century Scholarship application by January 1 (Early Action) or March 1 (Regular Decision). The same application is used for the Jones Scholarship.
Selection criteria: Emphasis on GPA, rigor and performance in STEM coursework, and demonstrated interest and commitment to STEM fields.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers 100% of in-state tuition and comprehensive fees at the rate for the year the student enters ($14,768 for 2026-27). The dollar amount stays the same for up to four consecutive years with continued exemplary academic performance, so it does not rise when tuition does, and out-of-state recipients receive the in-state amount only. Requires a 3.75 GPA, demonstrated commitment to STEM, and a declared major in a designated College of Science and Mathematics or College of Integrated Science and Engineering program; math and science grades get extra weight. One application also covers Jones Scholarship consideration. On JMU's choose-one list with the Dingledine, Centennial, First Generation Scholarship, Madison Recognition Awards, and Fellowship offers.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners are declared STEM majors with at least a 3.75 GPA, especially strong math and science grades, and essays that show a real reason for choosing STEM. JMU does not publish how many are awarded.
Full RideApp Requiredgeographicneed based
Centennial Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: Application opens October 1 and closes February 1 for incoming first-year students. The FAFSA must also be filed by February 1. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
comprehensive support
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Pell-eligible Virginia residents; grants cover in-state tuition, fees, housing, and meals.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Built from combined federal, state, and institutional grants. On JMU's choose-one list with the Dingledine, Second Century, First Generation Scholarship, Madison Recognition Awards, and Fellowship offers.
📄
How to Apply
Step 1: Apply to JMU. Step 2: Activate your JMU eID when the email arrives a few days later. Step 3: File the FAFSA by February 1. Step 4: Confirm Pell Grant eligibility. Step 5: Submit the Centennial Scholars Program application between October 1 and February 1.
Selection criteria: Holistic program-based review of academic record, financial need (Pell eligibility), Virginia residency, and first-generation or limited college-exposure background.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Accepted students, called Centennials, receive a combination of federal, state, and institutional grants that together cover in-state tuition, mandatory fees, housing, and meals. Open to Pell-eligible students who qualify for Virginia in-state residency and have an exemplary academic record, with an emphasis on first-generation students and students with limited exposure to the college process. Students must keep meeting program need-based requirements each year to keep the full value. Current JMU students and incoming transfers apply in a separate February 15 to March 31 window. On JMU's choose-one list with the Dingledine, Second Century, and First Generation Scholarship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Pell-eligible Virginia students with strong grades who file the FAFSA and the Centennial application on time, especially first-generation students. It is JMU's largest need-based scholarship.
App Required
College of Business Gold Scholars Endowment
📅 Deadline: Invitation-based; no published open deadline. Ensure your JMU admissions application is complete and your COB major is declared. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
$10,000/yr
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~Five new scholars per year winners/yr
📄
How to Apply
No application unless invited. Declare an eligible College of Business major on the JMU application. If the College of Business invites you to apply, respond quickly and submit everything requested.
Selection criteria: Competitive review of declared business majors by the College of Business selection committee, weighing academic record and demonstrated commitment to a business field.
💡
Strategic Detail
Five $10,000 scholarships each year for incoming first-year students with a declared major in Accounting, Computer Information Systems, Economics, Finance, International Business, Management, Marketing, or Quantitative Finance. Renewable for three more years with a 3.0 cumulative GPA, good academic standing, and staying in an eligible business major. There is no open application; the College of Business selection committee invites candidates to apply. JMU does not publish whether it combines with other institutional merit, so check the financial aid offer.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Strong incoming business majors in one of the eight eligible programs who are identified and invited by the College of Business selection committee.
📅 Deadline: Considered through the Second Century Scholarship application, due January 1 for Early Action applicants and March 1 for Regular Decision applicants. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Virginia first-generation STEM majors who applied to the Honors College; one award per year.
👥 ~One new scholar per year winners/yr
📄
How to Apply
Apply to JMU with an eligible STEM major, complete the Honors College section of the JMU application, then submit the Second Century Scholarship application in the Madison Scholarships Hub by January 1 (Early Action) or March 1 (Regular Decision).
Selection criteria: Competitive selection within the STEM scholarship review emphasizing academic strength and STEM preparation, with priority to first-generation Virginia students who have also applied to the Honors College.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Supports one incoming first-year STEM student each year. The amount varies year to year and is not published. Renewable for up to three more years with good academic standing. Eligibility requires being a Virginia resident, a first-generation college student, a declared STEM major, and an Honors College applicant. JMU does not publish stacking rules for this award.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: One Virginia first-generation STEM student per year who also applied to the Honors College and submitted the Second Century application.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Madison Scholarships Hub (General Application)
📅 Deadline: Completing the General Application early in the cycle improves access to more opportunities before individual scholarship deadlines pass. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards from different donors or departments may stack with each other and with some institutional merit, subject to individual scholarship and financial aid packaging rules.
📄
How to Apply
Log in to MyMadison, open the Madison Scholarships Hub, and submit the General Application. Review your Recommended opportunities and click Apply on any that ask for more information. New opportunities keep appearing, so check back in January, February, and March.
Selection criteria: Matching and competitive review based on data in the General Application plus any scholarship-specific questions or materials.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
The Madison Scholarships Hub is where JMU runs its donor and department scholarships, with more than 400 scholarships awarded to incoming students each year. Most awards are auto-matched from the General Application and the admission record; some ask for extra essays or documents. Amounts vary widely by award. A new General Application is required every year, and each cycle opens October 1.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who finish the General Application early and act on every Recommended opportunity. Awards are matched by major, hometown, background, activities, and financial need.
📅 Deadline: Application cycles open and close annually; confirm current-year deadlines directly with the College of Education Teaching Fellows Program. ✓ Renews
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Invitation-only; Virginia graduates of participating school divisions pursuing teaching majors.
Holistic / Status Based
📄
How to Apply
Apply to JMU with an eligible education major. If the College of Education invites you, use the link in the invitation email to complete the Teaching Fellows application in the Madison Scholarships Hub, including the General Application and short essays.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes commitment to education, academic readiness for teacher preparation, and engagement in service or related activities.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
An invitation-only College of Education program for admitted Virginia students who plan to major in early childhood, elementary, or special education and who attended high school in a participating school division (the list includes Harrisonburg City, Rockingham County, Virginia Beach City, and Portsmouth City, among others). JMU describes the financial support as a scholarship/loan award, so read the service and repayment terms closely. Fellows must keep a 2.5 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in the major. Award amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Virginia students from participating school divisions who plan to teach early childhood, elementary, or special education and are invited by the College of Education.
Data last verified Sep 17, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
When is the Second Century Scholarship deadline?
The scholarship application in the Madison Scholarships Hub is due January 1 for Early Action applicants and March 1 for Regular Decision applicants. Students can apply before they hear back on admission.
Which majors qualify for the Second Century Scholarship?
Biology, Biophysical Chemistry, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Science, Engineering, Geography, Geology, Information Technology, Intelligence Analysis, Integrated Science and Technology, Mathematics, Physics/Astronomy, and Statistics. Students also need a 3.75 GPA, and math and science grades get extra weight.
Can out-of-state students win the Second Century Scholarship?
Yes, nothing limits it to Virginia residents. But it pays the in-state tuition and fees amount, so an out-of-state winner would still owe the $17,808 difference in tuition, plus housing and food.
How does the Centennial Scholars Program work?
It’s for Pell-eligible students who qualify for Virginia in-state residency, with an emphasis on first-generation students. Winners get a mix of grants covering in-state tuition, mandatory fees, housing, and meals. The application runs October 1 to February 1, and the FAFSA must be filed by February 1. Students have to keep meeting need-based rules each year to keep the full amount.
How do students get the College of Business Gold Scholars award?
By invitation only. Each year the College of Business picks five incoming students in eight business majors for $10,000 a year, renewable for three more years with a 3.0 GPA. The best move is simply declaring an eligible business major on the JMU application.
What is the Jones Scholarship?
It’s one award per year for a Virginia resident who is a first-generation college student, a declared STEM major, and an Honors College applicant. There’s no separate form; the Second Century application covers it.
Is the Teaching Fellows program a scholarship?
JMU describes it as a scholarship/loan award for Virginia students from participating school divisions who plan to teach early childhood, elementary, or special education. It’s invitation-only, so read the service and repayment terms carefully if your student is invited.
🧠 Parent Strategy: Treat the Hub Like a Second Application
Applying to JMU gets your student reviewed for the Madison Award, but most of JMU’s other scholarship money runs through the
Madison Scholarships Hub. JMU gives out more than 400 scholarships to incoming students each year, and most are matched automatically from one form.
Log in to MyMadison, open the Hub from the Applicant tab, and submit the General Application (the cycle opens October 1).
Check Recommended Opportunities and click Apply on anything asking for more information.
Come back in January, February, and March, because new opportunities keep opening.
Do it again every year. Each cycle requires a new General Application.
Out-of-state families: the General Application is also how students are considered for the Madison Bound Scholarship, listed at $12,500. Skipping it could mean missing JMU’s biggest out-of-state award.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards don’t get top billing on JMU’s admissions pages, but they can make a real difference, especially for out-of-state students, artists, first-generation students, and students from certain Virginia high schools. Some are narrow, so check the restrictions on each card.
Automaticgeographic
Madison Bound Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate application or deadline. Out-of-state first-year students are considered automatically from the Madison Scholarships Hub General Application. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$12,500
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Out-of-state first-year students only.
Holistic / Status Based
💡
Strategic Detail
A four-year renewable scholarship for out-of-state first-year students, awarded by the JMU Admissions Office and listed at $12,500 in the Madison Scholarships Hub. JMU does not publish selection criteria, the number of awards, renewal requirements, or whether it combines with other institutional merit, so confirm the terms in the financial aid offer.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state first-year students selected by the JMU Admissions Office from applicants who completed the General Application. JMU does not publish the selection criteria.
App Required
Excellence in the Arts Award (School of Art, Design and Art History)
📅 Deadline: Only JMU Portfolio Feedback Days (in person or virtual) count for scholarship consideration; National Portfolio Day events do not. Non-Renewable
$7,384/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
JMU does not publish a rule preventing this award from combining with other aid; final packaging is set in the financial aid offer.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to JMU, register for a Portfolio Feedback Day that matches your Early Action or Regular Decision timeline, submit your SlideRoom portfolio by that timeline's deadline, and complete the optional recommendation letter, arts resume, and essay in SlideRoom. Art History, Art BA, and Art BS students should contact SADAH's Records and Recruitment Specialist about scholarship consideration.
Selection criteria: Faculty evaluate portfolios and supporting materials, emphasizing artistic quality, creativity, and fit with SADAH programs.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Worth 50% of tuition and fees at the in-state rate (about $7,384 for 2026-27), excluding orientation, tuition differential, and course fees. Out-of-state recipients pay the difference between the out-of-state bill and the award. Consideration requires attending a JMU Portfolio Feedback Day and submitting the SlideRoom application, including the optional letter of recommendation, arts resume, and art and design essay. JMU does not state renewal terms for this award.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Art BFA, Architectural Design, Graphic Design, and Industrial Design applicants with strong portfolios who attended a Feedback Day and completed the optional SlideRoom materials.
App Required
Freshman Portfolio Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Only JMU Portfolio Feedback Days (in person or virtual) count for scholarship consideration. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$2,000/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
May be combined with other aid subject to individual scholarship and financial aid policies.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to JMU, declare Architectural Design, Art History, Art, or Graphic Design, attend a Portfolio Feedback Day that matches your application timeline, and submit your SlideRoom materials, including the optional recommendation, arts resume, and essay.
Selection criteria: Selection is based primarily on portfolio quality and demonstrated artistic and academic potential.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Award is $2,000 per academic year for four years (total $8,000) for students in Architectural Design, Art History, Art, or Graphic Design who maintain the major and good academic standing.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming first-year students in eligible SADAH majors who present outstanding portfolios and strong academic promise.
Automaticfirst generationneed basedpipeline
JMU First Generation Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate application. Students are considered automatically from the Madison Scholarships Hub General Application. File the FAFSA early; JMU asks incoming students to file by January 1 for need-based scholarships. Non-Renewable
$5,000
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Virginia first-gen, Pell-eligible graduates of JMU Professor in Residence high schools.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
On JMU's choose-one list with the Dingledine, Second Century, Centennial, Madison Recognition Awards, and Fellowship offers.
💡
Strategic Detail
For first-generation students (no parent or guardian attended college) who are classified as Virginia in-state, graduate from a JMU Professor in Residence high school, and receive a Federal Pell Grant after FAFSA verification. Listed at $5,000 in the Madison Scholarships Hub. On JMU's choose-one list with the Dingledine, Second Century, Centennial, Madison Recognition Awards, and Fellowship offers.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Pell-eligible, first-generation Virginia students from JMU Professor in Residence high schools who completed the General Application and FAFSA.
Automatic
Arthur and Shonda Moats Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Follows Madison Scholarships Hub and JMU financial aid timelines; submit the General Application and FAFSA by stated priority dates. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Award may coordinate with other need-based and merit aid; final package determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
💡
Strategic Detail
Endowed scholarship for an incoming freshman Art major with financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships; may continue for up to four academic years if criteria are met. If no eligible Art student is available, the award may go to an Education or Political Science major.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming freshmen majoring in Art who demonstrate financial need; if no qualifying Art major is available, an Education or Political Science freshman may be selected instead.
App Requiredgeographicpipelinemajor specific
K/STEM Scholarship Fund (Kempsville High School)
📅 Deadline: April 1 in the most recent posted cycle; confirm the current date in the Madison Scholarships Hub. ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Kempsville High School graduates only; STEM or business majors.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Paid from the fund in combination with university money, up to the in-state tuition and fees total.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the Madison Scholarships Hub General Application, open the K/STEM Scholarship Fund opportunity, upload your high school transcript with senior schedule, and enter a Kempsville High School teacher who will be asked for a recommendation letter.
Selection criteria: Competitive review of academic achievement, major alignment with STEM/business criteria, and quality of recommendation materials.
💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Established by alumnus Rusty Shepard to build a pipeline from Kempsville High School (Kempsville, Virginia) to JMU. Recipients must have attended Kempsville High School for at least two and a half years, completed four math and four science courses, and plan to major in the College of Integrated Science and Engineering, College of Science and Mathematics, or College of Business. Awards, combined with university funds, cover up to in-state tuition and comprehensive fees. Renewable for up to three more years with a 3.0 cumulative GPA in the required degree track. If several students qualify, the greatest financial need decides.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Kempsville High School graduates heading into STEM or business majors, with a Kempsville teacher recommendation and financial need as the tiebreaker.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlymajor specific
School of Media Arts & Design (SMAD) Scholarships
📅 Deadline: SMAD scholarships in the Madison Scholarships Hub are generally open from January to early March each year. Some require an application; others are selected by faculty with no application. Non-Renewable
$1,000–$5,000
✔ Stackable
⚠ For students already admitted into the SMAD major; most awards target rising juniors and seniors.
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Departmental SMAD scholarships may be packaged alongside other JMU aid, subject to individual scholarship and financial aid rules.
📄
How to Apply
Get admitted into the SMAD major, complete the Madison Scholarships Hub General Application each year, and apply between January and early March for the SMAD scholarships that require an application. Faculty select recipients for the rest.
Selection criteria: Faculty review of eligible SMAD-intended students, considering academic record and demonstrated interest and potential in media arts and design.
💡
Strategic Detail
SMAD awards tens of thousands of dollars each year to students who have already been admitted into the Media Arts and Design major. Most named awards target rising juniors and seniors in specific concentrations such as journalism, digital video and cinema, creative advertising, and interactive design. Listed amounts range from about $1,000 to more than $5,000. Winners are notified in early April and recognized at the SMAD awards ceremony.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: SMAD majors with strong grades and visible work in student media, production, or design, often nominated by faculty.
Data last verified Sep 17, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
What is the Madison Bound Scholarship?
It’s a four-year renewable scholarship for out-of-state first-year students, awarded by JMU’s Admissions Office and listed at $12,500 in the Madison Scholarships Hub. There’s no extra application. JMU doesn’t publish the selection criteria or how many are given, so confirm the terms in the aid offer.
How do art and design students get scholarship money?
They have to attend a JMU Portfolio Feedback Day, in person or virtual, and submit a SlideRoom portfolio. Early Action applicants attend a late October or early November session with portfolios due in mid-November. Regular Decision applicants attend a late January session with portfolios due in early February. National Portfolio Day events don’t count. Awards include the Excellence in the Arts Award (half of in-state tuition and fees, about $7,384) and the Freshman Portfolio Scholarship ($2,000 a year for four years).
Can incoming freshmen get SMAD (Media Arts and Design) scholarships?
Not right away. SMAD’s scholarships go to students already admitted into the major, and most target rising juniors and seniors. Once your student is in SMAD, the applications are generally open from January to early March.
Who qualifies for the JMU First Generation Scholarship?
It’s narrow. Students must be first-generation, classified as Virginia in-state, Pell Grant recipients, and graduates of a JMU “Professor in Residence” high school. It’s listed at $5,000, and eligible students are matched from the General Application. It’s also on JMU’s choose-one list with the Dingledine, Second Century, and Centennial.
Is there help for Pell-eligible STEM students besides Centennial?
Yes. The J(ste)MU Scholars program supports Pell-eligible students in College of Science and Mathematics programs. Selection looks at a 3.0 or higher GPA, at least one math course beyond Algebra II, short essays, a recommendation, and a resume. Scholars also live together as a cohort. The Hub sends the application link to students who meet the basic academic requirements.
Our student goes to Kempsville High School. Is there something specific?
Yes. The K/STEM Scholarship Fund is only for Kempsville High School graduates heading into STEM or business majors at JMU. Combined with university funds, it can cover up to in-state tuition and fees, and it needs a Kempsville teacher recommendation.
The JMU Honors College is where a lot of JMU’s most motivated students end up, and it’s also the doorway to the Dingledine Scholarship. Admission isn’t automatic. First-year students apply inside the regular JMU application by completing an Honors section with two short essays. Getting into JMU doesn’t guarantee Honors, and applying to Honors doesn’t affect the JMU admission decision.
How to apply: Complete the Honors College section of the JMU application (two short essays).
When: Due with the JMU application, November 1 for Early Action or January 15 for Regular Decision.
Scholarship catch: The Dingledine and the Smith Scholarship are tied to Early Action, so Regular Decision Honors applicants miss them.
Honors College Scholarships & Fellowships
Full TuitionApp Requiredhonorsservice
Thomas A. Dingledine Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Submit the JMU Early Action application, including the Honors College section, by November 1. Students using the test-score route must have official SAT or ACT scores received by November 1. · 📢 Results: Late February (finalist interviews January to February) ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition and mandatory fees (in combination with other JMU scholarships)
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Up to 10 Honors College freshmen per year; equals in-state tuition and fees when combined with other JMU scholarships.
🏫 3.6+ GPA✎ ~27 ACT✎ ~1250 SAT👥 ~Up to 10 per year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
On JMU's choose-one list. A student offered more than one of the Dingledine, Madison Recognition Awards, First Generation Scholarship, Second Century, Centennial, or Fellowship offers must accept one and decline the others.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to JMU through Early Action by November 1 and complete the Honors College section. Log in to MyMadison, open the Madison Scholarships Hub, finish the General Application, and find the Dingledine application under Recommended Opportunities (or under Opportunities, then Ours). By November 15, submit two 250-word essays with no identifying information, an unofficial transcript with your senior schedule as a PDF, a bulleted list of activities, leadership, and service, and a bulleted list of academic awards. Finalists interview in January or February.
Selection criteria: Holistic review emphasizing academic achievement, leadership, community service, writing quality, and interview performance for finalists.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
For incoming first-year students who applied to the Honors College through Early Action. Combined with other JMU scholarships, it equals in-state tuition and fees each year for four years ($14,768 for 2026-27). The Honors College awards up to 10 per year. Eligibility requires a 3.6 unweighted GPA (or 89 on a 100-point scale), or a 1250 SAT or 27 ACT composite. Recipients must stay in good standing in the Honors College, keep a 3.0 GPA, and join an Honors leadership and service community that includes a one-credit seminar each semester. On JMU's choose-one list with the Second Century, Centennial, First Generation Scholarship, Madison Recognition Awards, and Fellowship offers.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Early Action Honors applicants with strong grades and a real record of leadership and community service, who write two sharp 250-word essays and do well in the finalist interview.
App Required
Honors College Scholarships (Madison Scholarships Hub)
📅 Deadline: Apply Early Action by November 1 (required for the Smith Scholarship and preferred for the Lusk and C.W. Smith awards), and file the FAFSA by January 1 for need-based Honors awards. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
May stack with some institutional merit awards and donor scholarships, subject to individual scholarship and financial aid packaging rules.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to JMU through Early Action and complete the Honors College section of the application. Complete the Madison Scholarships Hub General Application, and file the FAFSA by January 1 for need-based awards like the Lusk and C.W. Smith scholarships.
Selection criteria: Competitive matching and review of Honors College students based on academic excellence, leadership, service, and fit with donor criteria.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Beyond the Dingledine, the Honors College lists these scholarships for incoming Honors students: the Jeffrey M. and Elizabeth S. Smith Scholarship for a Virginia resident (all eligible Early Action applicants are considered automatically); the Honors Advisory Board Scholarship, a first-year award offered early to help a student choose JMU; the William C. and Betty J. Lusk Scholarship for students with strong academics and financial need; and two Charles W. Smith, Jr. and Mary B. Smith Scholarships for Honors students with financial need in the College of Education or the College of Science and Mathematics. Amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students admitted to the Honors College who applied Early Action, completed the Hub General Application, and filed the FAFSA when seeking need-based awards.
Data last verified Sep 17, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
*Award amounts and counts change each year with tuition and funding. JMU doesn’t publish dollar amounts for most named Honors scholarships.*
Deadline Note: To be considered for the Thomas A. Dingledine Scholarship, your student must submit the JMU Early Action application with the Honors section by November 1, then the Dingledine application in the Hub by November 15. Students using the test-score route (1250 SAT or 27 ACT) need official scores received by November 1.
Other Honors Scholarships for Incoming Students
Jeffrey M. and Elizabeth S. Smith Scholarship: For a Virginia resident in the Honors College. Every eligible Early Action applicant is considered, with no extra form. Renewable for three more years with a 3.0 GPA.
Honors Advisory Board Scholarship: A first-year award offered early to help a student choose JMU.
William C. and Betty J. Lusk Scholarship: For students with strong academics and financial need, with preference for Early Action admits.
Charles W. Smith, Jr. and Mary B. Smith Scholarships: Two need-based awards for Honors students, one in the College of Education and one in the College of Science and Mathematics.
After enrolling: Current Honors students can apply for up to $5,000 for research, internships, creative projects, or service and leadership work, plus study abroad help.
Honors College FAQs (James Madison University)
Is Honors College admission automatic at JMU?
No. Students complete the Honors section of the JMU application, including two short essays, and the Honors College reviews it separately from the JMU admission decision.
What GPA or test score does the Dingledine Scholarship require?
A 3.6 unweighted GPA (or an 89 on a 100-point scale), or a 1250 SAT or 27 ACT composite. Meeting one of those only makes a student eligible. Leadership, service, essays, and a finalist interview decide who wins.
How much is the Dingledine worth, and how many are given?
Combined with other JMU scholarships, it equals in-state tuition and fees each year for four years, which is $14,768 for 2026-27. The Honors College awards up to 10 per year.
Can out-of-state students win the Dingledine?
Nothing on JMU’s page limits it to Virginia residents. Keep in mind that its value matches in-state tuition and fees, so an out-of-state winner would still owe the out-of-state difference.
What do Dingledine Scholars have to do after they arrive?
Stay in good standing in the Honors College, keep a 3.0 GPA, and take part in an Honors leadership and service community, which includes a one-credit seminar each semester.
Do Honors students get need-based help?
Some of it. The Lusk and C.W. Smith scholarships consider financial need, so file the FAFSA by January 1 to be considered.
JMU started in 1908 as a school for training teachers and has grown into a large public university with a doctoral research classification (R2). It still feels smaller than its size. The student-to-faculty ratio is 17 to 1, the average class has 26 students, and professors teach 97% of classes. Students tend to stay, too: 91% come back after their first year, and 80% graduate within six years.
Nationally Distinctive Program: Intelligence Analysis is a major few universities offer. Students learn to research, analyze, and brief decision makers on issues like terrorism and cybercrime, and they add a required minor for subject expertise. JMU says about half its graduates go into national security work, with some landing at agencies like the NSA and FBI. It’s demanding: if more than 58 students pass the sophomore gateway courses, only the top 58 continue.
College of Business: A major draw, with eight majors including Finance, Accounting, Computer Information Systems, and Quantitative Finance. Business courses carry extra fees.
Health Sciences and Nursing: A core strength at JMU, with a School of Nursing whose courses also carry added fees.
Education: Teacher preparation is part of JMU’s DNA, and programs like Teaching Fellows keep that tradition going.
Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT): A hands-on, problem-solving science and technology major in JMU’s College of Integrated Science and Engineering, and one of the majors eligible for the Second Century Scholarship.
Communication and Media Arts: The School of Media Arts and Design offers concentrations in journalism, digital video and cinema, creative advertising, and interactive design, with active student media.
🔗 Official James Madison University Links
Use JMU’s official resources below to confirm admissions details, scholarship rules, costs, and data. Scholarship dates and award amounts change every year, so always rely on these pages for final deadlines and terms.
JMU is a school families fall in love with on a campus visit, and the price works best when you go in with clear eyes. There’s no merit chart, so nobody can promise your student a number ahead of time. What JMU does have are a handful of well-aimed awards. Second Century is for STEM kids, Centennial for Pell-eligible Virginians, the Dingledine for Honors students with a real service record, and Madison Bound is a quiet lead for out-of-state families.
The playbook is simple even if the money isn’t guaranteed. Apply Early Action, file the FAFSA by January 1, and fill out the Madison Scholarships Hub General Application every single year. Then build your budget as if no merit is coming, so anything that shows up in the aid offer is good news instead of a make-or-break moment.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
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I started CollegeReadyParent while working through college costs for my own kid, and quickly figured out that the number a school advertises and the number a family actually pays are two very different things. Since then I’ve gone school by school pulling apart award letters, scholarship pages, and cost sheets to find what families are supposed to just know. This site is the version of that research I wish someone had handed me.
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