In the picturesque Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, an institution that began as a small normal school for women has grown into one of the nation’s most respected public universities. James Madison University diploma, Make a JMU degree online.
James Madison University (JMU) has undergone a remarkable transformation since its founding in 1908, evolving from the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg into a comprehensive R2 doctoral university with a national reputation for undergraduate teaching, student engagement, and graduate success.
Today, JMU serves approximately 22,000 students, offering more than 130 programs of study across its colleges. Obtain a James Madison University certificate online. The university has been recognized as a top public university by The Wall Street Journal (#27 Best Public College in 2025) and has earned consecutive recognition for excellence in undergraduate teaching, engineering, nursing, and business.
With 21,112 undergraduates and 1,767 graduate students, JMU has struck a balance between scale and intimacy, creating an environment where students are known, supported, and challenged
The story of James Madison University is one of intentional growth and strategic evolution. Purchase a James Madison University diploma online. Founded in 1908 as a state normal and industrial school for women, the institution admitted its first 209 students in 1909 with a faculty of just 15. Under the leadership of founding president Julian Ashby Burruss, the campus established its initial six buildings and created a campus plan that would guide development for decades.
The institution underwent several name changes that reflected its expanding mission: becoming the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg in 1924, Madison College in 1938 (honoring the fourth U.S. president), and finally James Madison University in 1977. In 1946, the institution admitted men as regular day students, and in 1966, it enrolled its first Black students, marking significant milestones in its journey toward becoming a comprehensive, inclusive university.
Under the leadership of its seven presidents—from Burruss to the recently inaugurated seventh president, Dr. James C. Schmidt—JMU has expanded from a six-building campus to a university with 111 major buildings across five distinctive areas: Bluestone, Hillside, Lakeside, Skyline, and Village. In 2022, the university achieved a historic milestone when its Carnegie classification was elevated to R2: Doctoral University with High Research Activity, establishing JMU as a research institution of national standing.
