William & Mary vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

William & Mary is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (9,818 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: William & Mary 12:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

William & Mary vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, William & Mary 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 Virginia Military Institute than William & Mary ($18,825 vs. $19,686).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 30.1% lower than at William & Mary ($11,310 vs. $16,182).
• William & Mary is 23.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $4,868 more per year; $25,914.00 vs. $21,046.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at VMI than at William & Mary (about $1,600 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $51,038.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Military Institute than at William & Mary (81% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 2.9% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($23,821 vs. $23,144).

William & Mary vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, William & Mary 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 William & Mary.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at William & Mary (1470) is 310 points higher than at VMI (1160).
• Incoming William & Mary students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 27 at VMI).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William & Mary 1400/1530; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: William & Mary 32/34; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: William & Mary - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: William & Mary Jan 2, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman William & Mary students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at VMI (3.65).
• VMI has a higher acceptance rate (71.2%) than William & Mary (34.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26.6% at William & Mary vs. 31.7% at VMI.

William & Mary vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for William & Mary 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).

• William & Mary's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Virginia Military Institute's (69%).
• Graduates from William & Mary earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than VMI graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,700 vs. $62,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($19,500 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($201 vs. $258).
• More William & Mary graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VMI students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 84%)

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.