Skip to content
← Back to JMU's chapter

MeritPlaybook / Take-home research

JMU
Decision sheet

Virginia · Research checked 2026-07-02 · School research, not an aid offer

The starting point

Virginia public with a Madison Award for Academic Excellence pegged at exactly 75% of in-state tuition and comprehensive fees — awarded by academic colleges/departments via the admission application alone, with the Centennial Scholars Program covering Pell-eligible Virginia residents.

More than one award path. Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

Awards to discuss

The 2 awards in this school's research. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.

Madison Award for Academic Excellence

Equivalent to 75% of in-state tuition and comprehensive fees (based on the year entering JMU) · Published coverage or package

Recorded as automatic on academic criteria; all conditions apply.

Eligibility: Academic colleges and departments are responsible for selecting individuals. No additional application required — selection is from the admission application. Students are encouraged to also complete the General Application in the Madison Scholarships Hub for additional opportunities.

Renewal: Students must achieve a 3.0 cumulative JMU grade point average by the end of each academic year to qualify for renewal. Some scholarships have additional requirements stated in the financial aid offer.

Other terms: The 75% peg is unusual — most public-flagship merit awards use a flat dollar amount, but JMU's Madison Award scales with in-state tuition each year. For OOS recipients, the dollar value covers a smaller percentage of total OOS tuition since the award is calculated against in-state base.

https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/scholarships/madison-award.shtml

Centennial Scholars Program (CSP)

Need-based award package; JMU's largest need-based scholarship · Published award terms

Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.

Eligibility: Highly competitive. Pell grant-eligible students from the Commonwealth of Virginia with emphasis on first-generation students or students with limited prior exposure to the college process. Open to incoming first-year and transfer students plus current JMU students. FAFSA must be filed by January 1 for full consideration.

Renewal: Renewable through CSP program participation contingent on continued financial eligibility and academic standing.

Other terms: JMU's flagship need-based merit program. Designed to lower the cost barrier for underserved Virginia applicants who would not otherwise be able to enroll at a four-year institution.

https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/scholarships.shtml

Ask before you decide

  1. Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
  2. What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
  3. How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?

Recorded stacking policy: JMU applies federal/state over-award rules: total financial aid (institutional + federal + state + outside) cannot exceed cost of attendance. Outside scholarships must be reported via the Outside Scholarship/Award Notification Form. Receipt of outside funds 'may reduce your eligibility for need-based state and federal financial aid.' The package can fluctuate throughout the year as outside aid is reported.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/james-madison-university/merit-aid

The research date is not a guarantee that a policy still applies. Confirm current amounts, deadlines and conditions with the school before making a financial decision.