FDU vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus in Madison, NJ with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (2,885 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is located in Madison, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 11:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

FDU vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FDU 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 FDU ($18,825 vs. $25,585).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 30.5% lower than at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus ($11,310 vs. $16,270).
• Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is 80.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $16,958 more per year; $38,004.00 vs. $21,046.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 38.5% higher at VMI than at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus (about $14,634 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $38,004.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus than at Virginia Military Institute (100% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus students is 18.8% larger than aid received by Virginia Military Institute students ($28,294 vs. $23,821).

FDU vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FDU 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 FDU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus (1180) is 20 points higher than at VMI (1160).
• Incoming VMI students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at FDU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 1040/1310; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 19/30; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FDU - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at FDU (3.42).
• FDU has a higher acceptance rate (95.2%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.5% at FDU vs. 31.7% at VMI.

FDU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FDU 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 Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus's (55%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than FDU graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Military Institute graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than FDU graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than FDU graduates ($258 vs. $268).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FDU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 60%)

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.