Virginia Military Institute is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Lexington, Virginia. It enrolls 1,527 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
79/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes77
Value88
Affordability38
Selectivity62
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 71.3%, Virginia Military Institute is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
71.3%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1050 – 1270
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
24 – 31
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Virginia Military Institute is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
22.2 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Virginia Military Institute isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,113 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,113
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
59%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$21,046
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$52,638
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,310
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,150
Total Cost of Attendance
$34,824
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,697
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,246
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,162
$75,001 – $110,000
$13,385
Over $110,000
$23,434
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$8,00025%percentile
$22,996Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$30,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,500
↓ $2,496
No Pell $16,250
↓ $6,746
Female students $12,750
↓ $10,246
Male students $19,500
↓ $3,496
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($22,996), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
81% of full-time students who enrolled at Virginia Military Institute graduate within six years, and 82% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
81%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
82%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Virginia Military Institute earn a median of $77,369 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$77,369
Earning > $25K
92%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
7.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Virginia Military Institute is home to 1,527 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,527
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
15%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 69.2%1,056
Hispanic 10.5%161
Black 7.7%118
Other 4.8%73
Asian 4.7%72
International 2.0%30
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Virginia Military Institute. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantLexington, Virginia
Housing
Strongly residential1,751 beds for 1,527 students
Adult Learners
0%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Virginia Military Institute offers
a varied set of programs:
14 distinct programs across
10 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia Military Institute is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$23,199
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$716M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$78,082
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
143 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
63
44%
$94,546
Associate Professors
25
17%
$69,830
Assistant Professors
43
30%
$65,222
Instructors
6
4%
$52,606
Lecturers
6
4%
$57,228
Pros & Cons of Virginia Military Institute
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Virginia Military Institute tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for:
Based on the data, Virginia Military Institute is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Virginia Military Institute
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Virginia Military Institute.
Is Virginia Military Institute hard to get into?
Admissions at Virginia Military Institute are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 71.3%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Virginia Military Institute?
Virginia Military Institute has an acceptance rate of 71.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Virginia Military Institute?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Virginia Military Institute scored between 1050 and 1270 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Virginia Military Institute?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Virginia Military Institute scored between 24 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Virginia Military Institute cost?
The average net price after aid at Virginia Military Institute is $17,113 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Virginia Military Institute worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $77,369 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,113 per year. That's roughly 4.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Virginia Military Institute known for?
Virginia Military Institute is best known for its programs in International Relations, Economics, History. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Virginia Military Institute graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Virginia Military Institute are $77,369, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Virginia Military Institute accredited?
Yes. Virginia Military Institute is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Virginia Military Institute?
Virginia Military Institute enrolls 1,527 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Virginia Military Institute?
Virginia Military Institute graduates 81% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Virginia Military Institute a public or private college?
Virginia Military Institute is a Public institution.
Where is Virginia Military Institute located?
Virginia Military Institute is located in Lexington, Virginia.
What programs does Virginia Military Institute offer?
Virginia Military Institute offers 14 distinct programs. The most popular include International Relations, Economics, History.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia Military Institute?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia Military Institute is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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