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George Washington Georgetown Fordham Syracuse Mason Lafayette College DU Drexel William & Mary Elon University of Richmond Virginia Tech| American University | Virginia Military Institute | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
AU | VMI | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Lexington, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Distant Rural | ||
| Enrollment | 13,885 | 1,512 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #93 | #150 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | vmi.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | VMI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,070 | $9,782 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,070 | $39,590 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,706 | $10,674 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $41,369 | $18,129 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,138 | $19,111 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 66% | 69% |
Admission |
AU | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,510 | 1,192 | ||
| Admitted | 7,926 | 847 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 40.6% | 71.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.2% | 42.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.65 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 22/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1290/1430 | 1105/1300 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2025 | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
AU | VMI | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | VMI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 69% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $62,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $258 |
Diversity |
AU | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 87% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 80% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 0% |
Students |
AU | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 63% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 35% | ||
Campus |
AU | VMI | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- American University is larger than than VMI based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 1,512 students)
AU vs. VMI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or VMI?
- American University is 442.5% more expensive to attend than VMI for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $9,782.00)
- Out of state tuition is 34% higher at AU than Virginia Military Institute ($53,070.00 vs. $39,590.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Military Institute than AU ($18,129 vs. $41,369)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 47.1% lower than costs at American University ($10,674 vs. $15,706)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Military Institute than American University (69% vs. 66%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 42% larger than aid received Virginia Military Institute ($27,138 vs. $19,111)
AU vs. VMI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or VMI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VMI or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 113 points higher than at VMI (1139)
- Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at VMI (25)
- Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at VMI (3.65)
- VMI has a higher acceptance rate (71.1%) than AU (40.6%)
AU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or VMI? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between VMI and AU.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than Virginia Military Institute (77% vs. 69%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $2,700 more per year than VMI graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $62,100)
- American University students graduate with a $750 lower median federal student loan debt than VMI graduates. ($24,250 vs. $25,000)
- AU graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than VMI graduates. ($250 vs. $258)
- More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/