Guilford College vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Military Institute is larger than Guilford College based on total student enrollment (1,527 students vs. 1,180 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Guilford College is located in Greensboro, NC (Large City setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Guilford College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Guilford College 12:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Guilford College vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Guilford 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 Virginia Military Institute than Guilford College ($18,825 vs. $22,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 15.6% lower than at Guilford College ($11,310 vs. $13,400).
• Guilford College is 96.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $20,316 more per year; $41,362.00 vs. $21,046.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.3% higher at VMI than at Guilford College (about $11,276 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $41,362.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Guilford College than at Virginia Military Institute (100% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Guilford College students is 40.3% larger than aid received by Virginia Military Institute students ($33,419 vs. $23,821).

Guilford College vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Guilford 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 Guilford College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Guilford College (1190) is 30 points higher than at VMI (1160).
• Incoming VMI students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 21 at Guilford College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Guilford College 1120/1260; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Guilford College 18/24; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Guilford College - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Guilford College (3.14).
• Guilford College has a higher acceptance rate (80%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.1% at Guilford College vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Guilford College vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Guilford 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).

• Virginia Military Institute's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Guilford College's (60%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $21,800 more per year than Guilford College graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $40,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Military Institute graduates have a $1,635 lower median loan debt than Guilford College graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,635).
• Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Guilford College graduates ($258 vs. $275).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Guilford College students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 51%)

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.