SVU vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, VA 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 SVU based on total student enrollment (1,527 students vs. 936 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southern Virginia University is located in Buena Vista, VA (Distant Town setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Southern Virginia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern Virginia University 14:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

SVU vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SVU 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 SVU ($18,825 vs. $24,561).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Virginia University are 12.5% lower than at Virginia Military Institute ($9,894 vs. $11,310).
• Southern Virginia University is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $234 more per year; $21,280.00 vs. $21,046.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 147.4% higher at VMI than at Southern Virginia University (about $31,358 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $21,280.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern Virginia University than at Virginia Military Institute (100% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 137.2% larger than aid received by Southern Virginia University students ($23,821 vs. $10,041).

SVU vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SVU 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 SVU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Military Institute (1160) is 60 points higher than at SVU (1100).
• Incoming VMI students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 21 at SVU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southern Virginia University 943/1253; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Southern Virginia University 18/25; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SVU - Test-free; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at SVU (3.19).
• SVU has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.4% at SVU vs. 31.7% at VMI.

SVU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SVU 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 Southern Virginia University's (25%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $21,500 more per year than SVU graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $40,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Virginia University graduates have a $1,346 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($23,654 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, SVU graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($244 vs. $258).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SVU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 53%)

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.