ECU vs. VMI

Deciding between East Carolina University and Virginia Military Institute? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

East Carolina University
Virginia Military Institute

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ECU Greenville, NC
  • VMI Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • ECU Small City
  • VMI Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • ECU 26,940
  • VMI 1,527
  • Type
  • ECU Public 4 Year
  • VMI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECU #569
  • VMI #123
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECU -
  • VMI -
  • Status
  • ECU Non-profit
  • VMI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECU
  • VMI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECU $7,361
  • VMI $21,046
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECU $23,638
  • VMI $52,638
  • Room & Board
  • ECU $11,541
  • VMI $11,310
  • Average Net Price
  • ECU $13,755
  • VMI $18,825
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECU $9,776
  • VMI $23,821
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECU 55%
  • VMI 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ECU 26,369
  • VMI 2,066
  • Admitted
  • ECU 23,524
  • VMI 1,472
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ECU 89.2%
  • VMI 71.2%
  • Enrolled
  • ECU 17.1%
  • VMI 31.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ECU 1160
  • VMI 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • ECU 23
  • VMI 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • ECU 3.33
  • VMI 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ECU B+
  • VMI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ECU Moderate
  • VMI Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • ECU
  • VMI Low
  • ACT Range
  • ECU 21/26
  • VMI 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • ECU 1070/1240
  • VMI 1050/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ECU Test optional
  • VMI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ECU
  • VMI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECU 17:1
  • VMI 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ECU
    • Business (19%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • VMI
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • History (14%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECU 59%
  • VMI 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECU $43,900
  • VMI $62,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECU 63%
  • VMI 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECU $24,788
  • VMI $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECU $256
  • VMI $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECU 39%
  • VMI 86%
  • % Women
  • ECU 61%
  • VMI 14%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECU Medium
  • VMI Low
  • HBCU
  • ECU No
  • VMI No
  • % White
  • ECU 69%
  • VMI 80%
  • % Asian
  • ECU 3%
  • VMI 4%
  • % Black
  • ECU 16%
  • VMI 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECU 6%
  • VMI 5%
  • % Native American
  • ECU 1%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECU 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECU 3%
  • VMI 2%
  • % International
  • ECU 0%
  • VMI 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECU 2%
  • VMI 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECU 82%
  • VMI 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECU 17%
  • VMI 35%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ECU Yes
  • VMI Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ECU No
  • VMI Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • ECU Yes
  • VMI Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ECU No
  • VMI No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ECU No
  • VMI No

Comparable Facts

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

East Carolina University is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (26,940 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (Small City setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
  • East 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: East Carolina University 17:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

ECU vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU 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 East Carolina University than VMI ($13,755 vs. $18,825).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 2% lower than at East Carolina University ($11,310 vs. $11,541).
  • Virginia Military Institute is 185.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $13,685 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $7,361.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 122.7% higher at VMI than at East Carolina University (about $29,000 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $23,638.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Military Institute than at East Carolina University (81% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 143.7% larger than aid received by East Carolina University students ($23,821 vs. $9,776).

ECU vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECU 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 ECU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at East Carolina University (1160) is the same as at VMI (1160).
  • Incoming VMI students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 23 at ECU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 1070/1240; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 21/26; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at ECU (3.33).
  • ECU has a higher acceptance rate (89.2%) than VMI (71.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at ECU vs. 31.7% at VMI.

ECU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU 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 East Carolina University's (59%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $18,200 more per year than ECU graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, East Carolina University graduates have a $212 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($24,788 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($256 vs. $258).
  • More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 63%)

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.