Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Virginia Tech JMU Annapolis Washington and Lee Citadel Military College of South Carolina Mason VCU William & Mary Old Dominion UVA AU CNU| Southern Wesleyan University | Virginia Military Institute | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
||||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SWU | VMI | ||
| Location | Central, SC | Lexington, VA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Distant Rural | ||
| Enrollment | 1,188 | 1,560 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #1043 | #175 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Wesleyan | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | edu. | vmi.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SWU | VMI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $26,520 | $10,076 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $26,520 | $40,778 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,654 | $10,990 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,336 | $17,229 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $18,771 | $13,735 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 81% |
Admission |
SWU | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 472 | 1,171 | ||
| Admitted | 472 | 957 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 100% | 81.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 33.7% | 49% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 4.0 | 3.65 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A/A+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/24 | 22/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1200 | 1040/1260 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2026 |
Academics |
SWU | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 10:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
SWU | VMI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 69% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,800 | $62,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 50% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $258 |
Diversity |
SWU | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 61% | ||
| % Women | 22% | 9% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 63% | 80% | ||
| % Black | 28% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 1% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 0% |
Students |
SWU | VMI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 59% | 63% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 41% | 35% | ||
Campus |
SWU | 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
- Virginia Military Institute is larger than than SWU based on total student enrollment (1,560 students vs. 1,188 students)
SWU vs. VMI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SWU or VMI?
- Southern Wesleyan University is 163.2% more expensive to attend than VMI for in-state tuition ($26,520.00 vs. $10,076.00)
- Out of state tuition is 53.8% higher at VMI than Southern Wesleyan University ($40,778.00 vs. $26,520.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Military Institute than SWU ($17,229 vs. $20,336)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 3.2% lower than costs at Virginia Military Institute ($10,654 vs. $10,990)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than Virginia Military Institute (100% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students is 36.7% larger than aid received Virginia Military Institute ($18,771 vs. $13,735)
SWU vs. VMI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SWU or VMI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VMI or SWU .
- Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at VMI (3.65)
- SWU has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than VMI (81.7%)
SWU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SWU 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 SWU.
- The graduation rate at VMI is higher than Southern Wesleyan University (69% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn on average $17,300 more per year than SWU graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $44,800)
- Virginia Military Institute students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SWU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- VMI graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than SWU graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
- More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 50%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/