School Spotlight: James Madison University

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school! School Spotlight: James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA Named after our nation’s fourth president, James Madison University offers outstanding programs in business, health science, education, and media arts & design, all with a liberal arts approach. The University enrolls far more undergrads than grad students (21,000 versus 1,900), providing underclassmen ample hands-on opportunities for academic engagement and research. About 75 percent of students here are native Virginians, but large segments of the population hail from NJ, MD, PA and NY. No matter where students call home, JMU’s theme of “all together one” means that strong school spirit and a sense of community binds students together. It’s no wonder that over 90 percent of freshmen return for their sophomore year. Engineering is a relatively new program at JMU, and the first cohort of students earning their BS degrees in engineering graduated in 2012. An ABET accredited program, the engineering major features a required 2-year capstone project that culminates in a presentation at the annual xChange showcase. Head just a few miles off campus and you’ll encounter the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, complete with acres of farmland and lots of cows! But downtown Harrisonburg has a decidedly college-town feel, with an abundance of great restaurants and shops to keep students entertained.  Image Credit: Top, Courtesy James Madison University