Announcements
- Financial Aid Offers for 2026–2027 Now Beginning:
We are pleased to share that our office has begun generating Official Financial Aid Offers for the 2026–2027 academic year. At this time, offers are being released to incoming first-year students.
Changes to financial aid programs made by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cut Act, have created complications for every financial aid office in the country. To date, we are still waiting for complete guidance on how this applies to certain groups of continuing students. We created a website that explains our understanding of many of the act's provisions. However, it is taking some time for the Department of Education and higher education software vendors to update their systems to align with the law, which is creating delays in our ability to make financial aid offers to some students.
Fortunately, the rules that apply to first-year students are less complicated than those applying to continuing students. As the Department of Education provides more guidance and systems get updated, we will be able to make awards to other groups of students, including transfer, graduate, and other undergraduate populations. We anticipate a phased approach to making offers this year rather than awarding all student groups simultaneously.
We understand that many continuing students are eager to receive their offers. Please know that we will make these offers as soon as we are able.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to provide the most accurate and complete aid information possible. Updates will continue to be shared on this page as they become available. Please visit our website for more information about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its impact on students.
- If you're planning to take classes in Summer, once a student signs up for classes, they will need to complete a Summer Aid Application found on our Summer Aid page. Take note of the changes regarding the One Big Beautiful Bill.
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Fees and Rates
Interest Rates (Effective July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026)
- Undergraduate Direct Loans:
- Subsidized 6.39%
- Unsubsidized 6.39%
- Graduate Unsubsidized Direct Loan: 7.94%
- Graduate PLUS Direct Loan: 8.94%
- Parent PLUS Direct Loan: 8.94%
Up Front Origination Fees (Effective October 1, 2020 - September 30, 2026)
- Undergraduate Direct Loans: 1.057%
- Graduate Unsubsidized Direct Loan: 1.057%
- Graduate PLUS Direct Loan: 4.228%
- PLUS Direct Loan: 4.228%
Read a further explanation of what an origination fee is provided by the Department of Education. Our Consumer Information also details interest rates and origination fees.
Percentage of JMU Students Who Borrow: 36%*
*Information accessed from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard on September 5, 2023.
Cohort Default Rate (CDR) (Published February 2023)
JMU CDR: 0.8%
National Average CDR [Public 4 yrs (+)]: 1.8%
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Hours of Operation:
Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Summer Hours of Operation:
Mon - Thur 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fri 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Summer Hours of Operation:
Mon - Thur 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fri 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
