With Early Action on the rise, JMU sees increased first-generation, minority applications

By ABI MIDDLETON

The

Breeze

JMU Early Action acceptance decisions have officially gone out for the class of 2027, revealing yet another drastic increase in applicants and a rise in the diversity of those applying.

JMU received a total of 24,156 applicants this year, setting a 30% increase in Early Action applicants within the last academic year and an 83% increase within the last two years, according to a Dec. 14 JMU press release. This is in comparison to the 2021 pool of 18,533 applicants and the 2020 pool of 13,190 applicants.

Melinda Wood, associate vice president for access and enrollment management and director of admissions, said in the same press release that JMU’s positive national exposure is contributing to this increase, citing JMU’s top 75 Public National University ranking from US News & World Report, rise to R2 and an athletics program.

Wood spoke to The Breeze on the probable cause for this increase, explaining that JMU joined the Common App, a single online application form used by hundreds of colleges, just last year, leading to an expected increase.

“Naturally, we’ve seen it increase in applications because students today prefer the Common App,” Wood said. “It’s the way that they can seamlessly manage their applications.”

Not only is the Common App platform preferred by students, it’s more accessible for minority applicants, Wood said, leading to an increase in firstgeneration college applicants, applicants of color, out-of-state applicants and international applicants.

“The Common App is designed to reduce barriers for students,” Wood said, “and now that we’re in that platform, students can apply to JMU.” see EARLY ACTION, page 4

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