Coastal Carolina vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Coastal Carolina University is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (11,348 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Coastal Carolina University is located in Conway, SC (Small City setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Coastal Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Coastal Carolina University 17:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Coastal Carolina vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Coastal Carolina 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 Coastal Carolina University than VMI ($14,379 vs. $18,825).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 6.9% lower than at Coastal Carolina University ($11,310 vs. $12,146).
• Virginia Military Institute is 80.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastal Carolina (about $9,406 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 77.7% higher at VMI than at Coastal Carolina University (about $23,010 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $29,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Coastal Carolina University than at Virginia Military Institute (94% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 136.2% larger than aid received by Coastal Carolina University students ($23,821 vs. $10,087).

Coastal Carolina vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Coastal Carolina 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 Coastal Carolina.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Military Institute (1160) is 20 points higher than at Coastal Carolina (1140).
• Incoming VMI students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 23 at Coastal Carolina).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Coastal Carolina University 21/26; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Coastal Carolina - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at VMI (3.65).
• Coastal Carolina has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.9% at Coastal Carolina vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Coastal Carolina vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Coastal Carolina 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).

• Virginia Military Institute's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Coastal Carolina University's (46%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $19,900 more per year than Coastal Carolina graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastal Carolina University graduates have a $70 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($24,930 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Coastal Carolina graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($257 vs. $258).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Coastal Carolina students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 54%)

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.