Kent State vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Kent State University at Kent in Kent, OH with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Kent State University at Kent is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (26,374 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Kent State University at Kent is located in Kent, OH (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Kent State University at Kent is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Kent State University at Kent 20:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Kent State vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kent State 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 Kent State ($18,825 vs. $21,278).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 18% lower than at Kent State University at Kent ($11,310 vs. $13,794).
• Virginia Military Institute is 59.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kent State (about $7,814 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $13,232.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 128% higher at VMI than at Kent State University at Kent (about $29,556 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $23,082.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kent State University at Kent than at Virginia Military Institute (95% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 136.4% larger than aid received by Kent State University at Kent students ($23,821 vs. $10,076).

Kent State vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kent State 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 Kent State.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Military Institute (1160) is 30 points higher than at Kent State (1130).
• Incoming VMI students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 21 at Kent State).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kent State University at Kent 1010/1240; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kent State University at Kent 18/25; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kent State - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Kent State Aug 1, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Kent State (3.61).
• Kent State has a higher acceptance rate (86.3%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.3% at Kent State vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Kent State vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kent State 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 Kent State University at Kent's (50%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $21,800 more per year than Kent State 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 $825 lower median loan debt than Kent State graduates ($25,000 vs. $25,825).
• Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kent State graduates ($258 vs. $267).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 46%)

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.