Penn State Beaver vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA 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 Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (1,527 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Beaver is located in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Beaver 12:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Penn State Beaver vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Beaver 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 Penn State Beaver than VMI ($18,581 vs. $18,825).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 21.9% lower than at Penn State Beaver ($11,310 vs. $14,474).
• Virginia Military Institute is 46.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $6,638 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 118.1% higher at VMI than at Penn State Beaver (about $28,504 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Beaver than at Virginia Military Institute (88% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 163.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($23,821 vs. $9,045).

Penn State Beaver vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Beaver 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 Penn State Beaver.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Beaver (1190) is 30 points higher than at VMI (1160).
• Incoming VMI students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Penn State Beaver).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 1080/1290; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 24/27; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Beaver - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Penn State Beaver vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Penn State Beaver vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Beaver 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 Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Penn State Beaver graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Military Institute graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Beaver graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Beaver students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 69%)

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.