Berea College vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Berea College in Berea, KY with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Berea College and VMI have the same total student enrollment (1,527 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berea College is located in Berea, KY (Distant Town setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Berea College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berea College 9:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Berea College vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Berea College or VMI? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Berea College than VMI ($5,888 vs. $18,825).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Berea College are 27.4% lower than at Virginia Military Institute ($8,208 vs. $11,310).
• Berea College is 145.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $30,612 more per year; $51,658.00 vs. $21,046.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at VMI than at Berea College (about $980 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $51,658.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Berea College than at Virginia Military Institute (100% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Berea College students is 130.2% larger than aid received by Virginia Military Institute students ($54,830 vs. $23,821).

Berea College vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Berea College or VMI? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between VMI and Berea College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Berea College (1250) is 90 points higher than at VMI (1160).
• Incoming VMI students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Berea College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Berea College 1156/1335; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Berea College 23/28; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Berea College - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Berea College Mar 31, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Berea College (3.62).
• VMI has a higher acceptance rate (71.2%) than Berea College (19.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Berea College vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Berea College vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Berea College and VMI? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $26,000 more per year than Berea College graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $36,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Berea College graduates have a $19,200 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($5,800 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Berea College graduates have an estimated $199 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($59 vs. $258).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Berea College students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.