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Virginia Tech JMU Annapolis Washington and Lee Citadel Military College of South Carolina University of Lynchburg Roanoke College VCU Marymount University Longwood University Liberty University Mason| Shenandoah University | Virginia Military Institute | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SU | VMI | ||
| Location | Winchester, VA | Lexington, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Rural | ||
| Enrollment | 4,343 | 1,560 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #523 | #175 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | su.edu | vmi.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SU | VMI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $34,614 | $10,076 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $34,614 | $40,778 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,800 | $10,990 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,400 | $17,229 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $24,100 | $13,735 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 81% |
Admission |
SU | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,763 | 1,171 | ||
| Admitted | 2,929 | 957 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.8% | 81.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.6% | 49% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.65 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | 22/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1230 | 1040/1260 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
SU | VMI | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SU | VMI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 45% | 69% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,300 | $62,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 60% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $258 |
Diversity |
SU | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 9% | 61% | ||
| % Women | 31% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 80% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 13% | 0% |
Students |
SU | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 58% | 63% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 42% | 35% | ||
Campus |
SU | VMI | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Shenandoah University is larger than than VMI based on total student enrollment (4,343 students vs. 1,560 students)
SU vs. VMI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SU or VMI?
- Shenandoah University is 243.5% more expensive to attend than VMI for in-state tuition ($34,614.00 vs. $10,076.00)
- Out of state tuition is 17.8% higher at VMI than Shenandoah University ($40,778.00 vs. $34,614.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Military Institute than SU ($17,229 vs. $26,400)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 7.4% lower than costs at Shenandoah University ($10,990 vs. $11,800)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than Virginia Military Institute (100% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 75.5% larger than aid received Virginia Military Institute ($24,100 vs. $13,735)
SU vs. VMI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SU or VMI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VMI or SU .
- The average SAT score at Virginia Military Institute (1139) is 134 points higher than at SU (1005)
- Incoming VMI students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at SU (22)
- Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at VMI (3.65)
- VMI has a higher acceptance rate (81.7%) than SU (77.8%)
SU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SU or VMI? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between VMI and SU.
- The graduation rate at VMI is higher than Shenandoah University (69% vs. 45%)
- Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn on average $13,800 more per year than SU graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $48,300)
- Virginia Military Institute and SU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($25,000 vs. $25,000)
- Virginia Military Institute and SU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($258 vs. $258)
- More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 60%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/