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James Madison UniversityMove-In Guide

Harrisonburg, Virginia

🏫 Public UniversityEst. 1908🔗 www.jmu.edu

James Madison University's campus in Harrisonburg centers on the historic Quad and Wilson Hall, with first-year students housed across five residential areas including Skyline, Bluestone, and Hillside.

Enrollment

22,224

Total Students

Freshman Class

5,556

Approx.

Move-In Dates

Aug 21-24, 2026

Fall 2026 (completed)

Acceptance Rate

72%

Most recent cycle

Move-In

Fall 2026 Move-In Details

Room assignments arrive by July 31; an email with Move-In Appointment Selection instructions goes out by August 1, with selection open August 3-6. Classes begin August 26. Coordinate with your roommate before bringing appliances, so you don't end up with two of everything - all appliances not plugged directly into a wall receptacle must be plugged into a circuit-protected power strip. If your available move-in appointment times don't work for your situation, contact the Housing Office directly to make other arrangements.

Check your assignment in the housing portal for your specific date and time.

Move-in day logistics

Arrival window
First-year move-in runs Friday, Aug. 21 through Monday, Aug. 24 - appointment times run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on most days, with a shorter window (8 a.m. to noon) on Sunday, Aug. 23, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the final day, Monday, Aug. 24.
Check-in location
All students moving into residence halls go through a check-in process at their own residence hall when they arrive on campus - individual parking and move-in instructions for each hall are available on the Office of Residence Life website.
What you'll receive
Online orders placed by Aug. 23 are available for on-campus pickup during move-in at the D3 Parking Lot.

Move-in day tips

  • Arrive during your assigned move-in window - arriving early may mean waiting until your time slot.
  • Bring a rolling cart or hand truck - campus carts can run out quickly during busy move-in periods.
  • Have a parking backup plan - spaces near residence halls can fill up quickly, so know where you can unload if your preferred area is full.
  • Watch the loading-zone time limit - many campuses require you to move your vehicle to longer-term parking after unloading.

Housing & Dorms

First-year halls (24)

Reserved for first-year students

  • Alger Hall

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only

  • Bell Hall

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only

  • Cedar Hall

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only

  • Chandler Hall

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only
Show 20 more

  • Chappelear Hall

    Suite · Coed

    First-year only

  • Chesapeake Hall

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only

  • Dingledine Hall

    Suite · Coed

    First-year only

  • Dogwood Hall

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only

  • Eagle Hall

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only

  • Frederikson Hall

    Suite · Coed

    First-year only

  • Garber Hall

    Suite · Coed

    First-year only

  • Gifford Hall

    Suite · Coed

    First-year only

  • Hanson Hall

    Suite · Coed

    First-year only

  • Hillside Hall

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only

  • Hoffman Hall

    Suite · Coed

    First-year only

  • Huffman Hall

    Suite · Coed

    First-year only

  • Magnolia Hall

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only

  • McGraw-Long Hall

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only

  • Oak Hall

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only

  • Shenandoah Hall

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only

  • Shorts Hall

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only

  • Wayland Hall

    Suite-style · Coed

    First-year only

  • Weaver Hall

    Suite · Coed

    First-year only

  • White Hall

    Suite · Coed

    First-year only

Residence halls (6)

Open to undergraduates (first-year students may be able to live here)

  • Converse Hall

    Suite · Coed

  • Harper Allen-Lee Hall

    Suite · Coed

  • Logan Hall

    Suite · Coed

  • Paul Jennings Hall

    Traditional · Coed

Show 2 more

  • Potomac Hall

    Traditional · Coed

  • Wampler Hall

    Suite · Coed

Apartments (1)

Apartment-style housing, usually for upperclass students

  • Apartments on Grace

    Apartment · Coed

Housing Links

Who can live where

First-year only:
Reserved for incoming first-year students.
Residence halls:
Not marked first-year only, so they may also house returning students. Assignment follows the school's housing process.
Apartments:
Apartment-style housing, often for sophomores and up. Confirm eligibility with the housing office.

Eligibility rules vary and can change. Check with the housing office.

Orientation

Summer Orientation (mandatory, one-day, in-person or virtual)

All new students are required to attend one orientation session.

June 1 - August 14, 2026

Orientation tips

  • Register as early as your class allows - popular session dates fill up first.
  • Bring a parent/guardian if separate family programming is offered.
  • Check whether placement testing or advising sign-ups happen the same day.

Costs

Room & Board

$14,368

Estimated / Year

Figures shown are estimates for room and board only, and can vary by hall and meal plan. Check with James Madison University's financial aid office for a cost breakdown specific to your situation.

Nearby Essentials

  • CVS Pharmacy0.9 miles
  • Walmart1 miles
  • Target1.8 miles
  • Walgreens2.1 miles

Need Dorm Essentials Delivered?

More Links

Checklists

Get the Ultimate College Move-In Checklist

A free, printable packing checklist covering everything from bedding to important documents - built for any freshman, including yours at James Madison University.

Get the checklist

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Dates last checked August 2026.