Miami vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

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

Miami University Oxford is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (18,838 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Miami University Oxford is located in Oxford, OH (Distant Town setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Miami University Oxford is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Miami University Oxford 16:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Miami vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Miami 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 Miami ($18,825 vs. $28,229).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 32.5% lower than at Miami University Oxford ($11,310 vs. $16,750).
• Virginia Military Institute is 15.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Miami (about $2,885 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $18,161.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.7% higher at VMI than at Miami University Oxford (about $11,417 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $41,221.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Miami University Oxford than at Virginia Military Institute (93% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 70.9% larger than aid received by Miami University Oxford students ($23,821 vs. $13,937).

Miami vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Miami 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 Miami.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Miami University Oxford (1310) is 150 points higher than at VMI (1160).
• Incoming Miami students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 27) as students at VMI (27).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Miami University Oxford 1220/1390; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Miami University Oxford 25/30; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Miami - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Miami Feb 1, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Miami students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at VMI (3.65).
• Miami has a higher acceptance rate (75.4%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at Miami vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Miami vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Miami 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).

• Miami University Oxford's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Virginia Military Institute's (69%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than Miami graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $54,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Miami University Oxford graduates have a $250 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($24,750 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Miami graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($255 vs. $258).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Miami students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 57%)

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.