Penn State Shenango vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Shenango in Sharon, 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 Shenango based on total student enrollment (1,527 students vs. 265 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Shenango is located in Sharon, PA (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Penn State Shenango 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 Shenango 7:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Penn State Shenango vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Shenango 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 Shenango than VMI ($18,383 vs. $18,825).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 26% lower than at Penn State Shenango ($11,310 vs. $15,274).
• Virginia Military Institute is 50.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Shenango (about $7,022 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $14,024.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 123.4% higher at VMI than at Penn State Shenango (about $29,078 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $23,560.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Shenango than at Virginia Military Institute (97% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 165.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Shenango students ($23,821 vs. $8,962).

Penn State Shenango vs. VMI Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Military Institute (1160) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Shenango (1140).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Shenango 1040/1230; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Shenango - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Penn State Shenango has a higher acceptance rate (92.2%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28% at Penn State Shenango vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Penn State Shenango vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Shenango 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 Shenango's (44%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Penn State Shenango 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 Shenango graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Shenango graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Shenango 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.