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Virginia Military Institute

Virginia Military Institute

Lexington, VA · Town · 1,527 students
4
Year
Public
Town
Small (<3k)
Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
About

As the nation's oldest state-supported military college, the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) is renowned for combining a rigorous undergraduate education with an uncompromising military framework and honor system. Academically, the institute is celebrated for its highly ranked programs in civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering, as well as international studies and history. Campus life revolves entirely around the Corps of Cadets, where all students wear uniforms, participate in ROTC, live in historic barracks, and bond through shared trials like the demanding freshman "Rat Line" initiation. While commissioning into the armed forces upon graduation is optional, this distinctive, immersive environment instills exceptional discipline and leadership skills that prepare graduates for top-tier civilian and military careers alike.


Wikipedia:The Virginia Military Institute (VMI) is a public senior military college in Lexington, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1839 as America's first state-sponsored and -supported military college and is the oldest public senior military college in the United States. In keeping with its founding principles and unlike any other senior military college in the United States, VMI enrolls cadets only and awards bachelor's degrees exclusively. The institute grants degrees in 14 disciplines in engineering, science, and the liberal arts.

Location
Lexington, VA, 24450-0304 · Town campus
Nearest airport from college
RIC · Richmond
117 mi away
Cost
In-state COA
$34,824
Out-of-state COA
$66,416
Avg net price
$17,113
Room & board
$11,310
In-state tuition
$21,046
Out-of-state tuition
$52,638
Books & supplies
$1,200/yr
Average net price by family income
$0–30k
$12,697
$30–48k
$9,246
$48–75k
$12,162
$75–110k
$13,385
$110k+
$23,434
Admissions
Admit rate
71%
Test policy
Test optional
SAT average
1244
Reading 550630
Math 500640
ACT midpoint
25
Composite 2431
English 2227
Math 2329
SAT range (25th–75th percentile)
40080012001600

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Essay Requirements

Virginia Military Institute accepts the Common Application. All Common App schools require the personal statement essay. Some schools also require supplemental essays — check the school's page on Common App for current prompts and word limits.

See the current Common App essay prompts for the personal statement options.

Outcomes
Graduation rate
79%
4-yr on-time completion
68%
1st-yr retention
81%
Transfer-out rate
17%
8-year outcomes
Graduated
76%
Transferred
21%
Still enrolled
0%
Dropped out / unknown
3%
Median earnings (6yr)
$63,545
Median earnings (10yr)
$77,369
Median debt
$22,996
Monthly loan payment
$244
Debt range (25th–75th)
$8,000$27,000
Debt (90th percentile)
$30,000
Student Body
Men 86%Women 14%
9
:
1
Student : Faculty ratio
Students   Faculty
Pell grant recipients
16%
First-generation
15%
Median family income
$99,470
Avg age at entry
19.0
Part-time students
0%
Race & ethnicity
White
69%
Hispanic
11%
Black
8%
Asian
5%
Two or more
4%
Non-resident
2%
NH/PI
1%
Unknown
1%
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings for graduates across all programs
6 years after entry
$63,545
10 years after entry
$77,369
International Relations and National Security Studies56
Economics50
History44
Civil Engineering42
Psychology, General34
Biology, General27
Mechanical Engineering19
Computer Science18
English Language and Literature, General18
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services16
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering11
Physics11
Chemistry7
Applied Mathematics6
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Endowment
$788M
Classification
Baccalaureate (Arts & Sciences)
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions
Full-time faculty
100%
Avg faculty salary
$9,070/mo
Instructional spend/student
$21,289
Federal loan rate
59%

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