ACA’s College Profile of the Week: James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA

Nestled in the Shenandoah Valley between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachians of Virginia, James Madison University is a public research university with nearly 20,000 undergraduate students and 139 degree programs. An astounding 80% of JMU students take part in undergraduate research, an internship, a practicum, or student teach during their time on campus, and the university is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 most innovative university in the south. While the national average for first year retention stands at about 72%, over 90% of JMU freshmen return to finish their education in Harrisonburg, VA. According to the U.S. Department of Education statistics compiled by Zippia, James Madison University is the #1 Best College for Employment in Virginia and has the highest post-graduation job levels of all Virginia colleges. The campus features a state-of-the-art planetarium, an on-campus movie theater, and a 125-acre urban botanical preserve. The Wall Street Journal cites JMU as #5 in the nation for “students who made the right choice”.