Does James Madison University require the SAT or ACT in 2027?

As of November 2026: James Madison University does not require the SAT or ACT. It is test-optional for the current first-year application cycle, names no specific term, and this is its published policy as of November 2026. The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT in fall 2023 scored between 1170 and 1320.

James Madison University is test-optional, and here is what that means for your child, what the score bands say, and what to do this month.

By Nick Standlea, Test Prep Gurus. Figures may be quoted with attribution to Test Prep Gurus.

Only 19 percent of enrolled first-years sent an SAT Just 19 percent of enrolled first-years in fall 2023 sent an SAT, and 3 percent sent an ACT. Most students who enrolled did not send a score at all.

The SAT band runs from 1170 to 1320 The middle half of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT scored between 1170 and 1320. On the ACT, the middle half scored between 25 and 29.

The admit rate is 76.2 percent James Madison University had 35,750 applicants for fall 2023 and admitted 27,242 of them. That is an admit rate of 76.2 percent.

What does James Madison University say about the SAT and ACT?

This is the test policy James Madison University publishes on its own first-year admissions page, as of November 2026.

College	Policy	Applies to	What the college says	Details	Source
James Madison University	Test-optional	current freshman application cycle (page copyright 2026, not tied to a named term)	JMU no longer requires applicants to submit SAT/ACT scores.	Student-athletes who do not want test scores considered may omit them; official scores must arrive electronically by the application deadline if submitted.	Source

Test-optional means the university reads a score if one is sent, but a score is not required.

James Madison University scores, admits and costs

Score bands describe enrolled first-years who sent that test in fall 2023. Prices are for a year of college.

Measure	Value
applicants, fall 2023	35750
admits, fall 2023	27242
admit rate, percent	76.2
SAT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	1170
SAT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	1320
ACT 25th percentile, enrolled submitters	25
ACT 75th percentile, enrolled submitters	29
share of enrolled first-years who sent an SAT, percent	19
share who sent an ACT, percent	3
application fee, dollars	70
full price of a year, dollars	31735
average net price after aid, dollars	23322

The bands show the middle half of enrolled first-years who sent a score. They are not a cutoff.

Does James Madison University require the SAT or ACT in 2027?

No, James Madison University does not require an SAT or ACT score under its published policy as of November 2026, with no end date stated. Its admissions page says, "JMU no longer requires applicants to submit SAT/ACT scores." The policy covers the current first-year application cycle and does not name a specific term.

Yes, James Madison University is test-optional under its published policy as of November 2026. Test-optional means the university reads a score if your child sends one, but a score is not required to apply. This is the rule we plan around for high school seniors in the 2026-27 school year, who start college in fall 2027.

If your child does send scores, official scores must arrive electronically by the application deadline. Student-athletes who do not want their scores considered may leave them off. For a closer look at score ranges, see our companion page, What SAT or ACT score do you need for James Madison University?, at https://www.prepgurus.com/blog/sat-act-score-for-james-madison.

Could the policy change before fall 2027?

James Madison University's published policy as of November 2026 states no end date, so test-optional is the rule we plan around for fall 2027 entry. We do not guess at a rule the university has not announced.

Colleges usually announce changes for the next cycle in the spring. If your child is a junior planning ahead, check the JMU first-year admissions page in the spring and again before applying. A quick look at that page tells you whether anything has moved.

Our rule is simple. Plan as if a score could help, and your child will be ready no matter what the policy says next year.

What scores do enrolled first-years carry?

Among enrolled first-years in fall 2023 who sent an SAT, the middle half scored between 1170 and 1320. For those who sent an ACT, the middle half scored between 25 and 29.

These bands describe students who enrolled and chose to send a score. They are not a cutoff, and they do not describe everyone who was admitted. Some enrolled students who sent a score were below the band, and some were above it.

Few students sent a score at all. Just 19 percent of enrolled first-years sent an SAT, and 3 percent sent an ACT. The band reflects a small group of submitters, so we read it as a guide, not a rule.

For context, James Madison University had 35,750 applicants for fall 2023 and admitted 27,242 of them. That is an admit rate of 76.2 percent.

Should my child send a score to James Madison University?

We tell families to send a score to James Madison University when it falls inside or above the 1170 to 1320 SAT band or the 25 to 29 ACT band. A score below the band at a test-optional college is one to think hard about before sending.

We also tell families it is nearly always good to have a strong score in hand, because a strong score bolsters the odds of getting in and most merit scholarships are keyed to one. A score your child earns now also keeps every door open on a college list that may include more selective schools.

Cost matters here too. The full price of a year at James Madison University is $31,735, and the average net price after aid is $23,322. The application fee is $70. The university publishes a net price calculator, and we suggest families run it together with their child before deciding where to apply.

What should we do this month?

This month, have your child sit a full-length mock SAT and a full-length mock ACT, both free at Test Prep Gurus, and compare each result with the James Madison University band. If one test feels like a better fit, put your child's effort there.

Plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts. Prepare for the whole test every sitting, not just one section. Our students do best when they practice full tests on a steady schedule and go over every mistake.

To book the free mock SAT or free mock ACT, call us at 949.229.5359 or visit https://www.prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step. We will go over the results with you and help you choose a plan and a test date.

Questions parents ask

Does James Madison University require the SAT or ACT?
No, James Madison University does not require an SAT or ACT score under its published policy as of November 2026, with no end date stated.

Is James Madison University test-optional?
Yes, James Madison University is test-optional under its published policy as of November 2026.

What SAT scores do James Madison University students have?
Among enrolled first-years in fall 2023 who sent an SAT, the middle half scored between 1170 and 1320.

Should my child send a score to James Madison University?
We tell families to send a score to James Madison University when it falls inside or above the 1170 to 1320 SAT band or the 25 to 29 ACT band.

How long should my child prepare before a test date?
Plan 6 to 12 weeks of prep before a test date that counts.

Ready to plan the next test date? Free mock SAT and free mock ACT at Test Prep Gurus, then a plan built on the result: prepgurus.com/take-the-next-step or 949.229.5359.

Method and sources: The policy is what James Madison University publishes on its own first-year admissions page as of November 2026, where it calls itself test-optional for the current application cycle without naming a specific term. The score bands describe enrolled first-years who submitted that test in fall 2023, the latest federal data from IPEDS, which also supplies the applicant and admit counts. Prices come from the College Scorecard.