JMU earns high marks in nationally recognized rankings

In its latest rankings report, The Wall Street Journal ranked JMU the No. 70 best college in the United States. JMU climbed 82 spots since last year’s report, and the WSJ gave the university high marks in its learning opportunities, career preparation, learning facilities, and character development categories.

WSJ ranked the top 500 universities in the country and measured how well each college sets graduates up for financial success. It also measured the extent to which an institution improves students’ chances of graduating and their future earnings, balancing the outcomes with student feedback on college life.

More than 2,500 JMU undergraduates from the class of 2023 found work within six months of receiving their diplomas, and more than 1,500 of them filled jobs in Virginia, according to the university’s annual career outcomes report.

“With more than 130 programs of study, JMU helps students thrive inside and outside of the classroom. JMU provides a world of opportunities, a beautiful campus, and a top-notch academic experience that supports and fosters learning throughout our students’ educational journey,” said JMU President Charlie King.

In its third year of being ranked among national universities, JMU was ranked as a No. 78 Top Public School in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges. Among the notable rankings in this report is the No. 26 ranking for JMU in Undergraduate Teaching (National Universities). Schools in the national universities category offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master's and Ph.D. programs.

JMU’s rankings in the 2025 Best Colleges report include: 

·      Best Undergraduate Engineering (Non-Doctorate) — No. 23

·      Undergraduate Teaching (National Universities) — No. 26 

·      Best Undergraduate Nursing — No. 74

·      Best Undergraduate Psychology — No. 94

·      Best Undergraduate Business — No. 114

·      National Universities — No. 148

JMU has also recently earned top marks on Princeton Review’s 2025 list for Best Campus Food. The university’s dining program ranked at No. 8, and this is the 24^th consecutive year JMU has been voted in the top 20. JMU was also ranked by Niche as No. 9 in its 2025 Best College Food in America list.

In terms of a great educational value, JMU made the cut of 200 institutions in the College Transitions College Worth Your Money list; this online source for admissions advice and higher education data examined 70+ data points to determine what higher education institutions made their top picks.

JMU has also earned notable praise in the following rankings:

·      Time included JMU as a best college for future leaders.

·      Money said that JMU’s “civic engagement and community service are integral to campus culture” and gave the university a 4.5-star rating for value.

·      And Niche named JMU the 10^th best college campus in America.

Additional information about JMU, as well as other notable rankings, can be found here.