Sweet Briar College vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, 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 Sweet Briar College based on total student enrollment (1,527 students vs. 444 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sweet Briar College is located in Sweet Briar, VA (Small Suburban setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Sweet Briar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Sweet Briar College 9:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Sweet Briar College vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sweet Briar College 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 Sweet Briar College ($18,825 vs. $21,322).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 25.7% lower than at Sweet Briar College ($11,310 vs. $15,230).
• Sweet Briar College is 24.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $5,114 more per year; $26,160.00 vs. $21,046.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 101.2% higher at VMI than at Sweet Briar College (about $26,478 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $26,160.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sweet Briar College than at Virginia Military Institute (99% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 6.4% larger than aid received by Sweet Briar College students ($23,821 vs. $22,387).

Sweet Briar College vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sweet Briar College 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 Sweet Briar College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sweet Briar College (1210) is 50 points higher than at VMI (1160).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Sweet Briar College 1100/1310; 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: Sweet Briar College - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Sweet Briar College (3.54).
• Sweet Briar College has a higher acceptance rate (75.5%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.2% at Sweet Briar College vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Sweet Briar College vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sweet Briar College 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).

• Sweet Briar College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Virginia Military Institute's (69%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $20,400 more per year than Sweet Briar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Military Institute graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Sweet Briar College graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sweet Briar College graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sweet Briar College students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 72%)

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.