Annapolis vs. VMI

Deciding between United States Naval Academy and Virginia Military Institute? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

United States Naval Academy
Virginia Military Institute

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Annapolis Annapolis, Maryland
  • VMI Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • Annapolis Large Suburban
  • VMI Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • Annapolis 4,474
  • VMI 1,527
  • Type
  • Annapolis Public 4 Year
  • VMI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Annapolis
  • VMI #123
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Annapolis -
  • VMI -
  • Status
  • Annapolis Non-profit
  • VMI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Annapolis
  • VMI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Annapolis $0
  • VMI $21,046
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Annapolis $0
  • VMI $52,638
  • Room & Board
  • Annapolis $0
  • VMI $11,310
  • Average Net Price
  • Annapolis -
  • VMI $18,825
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Annapolis $0
  • VMI $23,821
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Annapolis 0%
  • VMI 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Annapolis 15,149
  • VMI 2,066
  • Admitted
  • Annapolis 1,405
  • VMI 1,472
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Annapolis 9.3%
  • VMI 71.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Annapolis 84.2%
  • VMI 31.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Annapolis 1310
  • VMI 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • Annapolis 28
  • VMI 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Annapolis 3.8
  • VMI 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Annapolis A-
  • VMI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Annapolis Very High
  • VMI Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Annapolis Extreme
  • VMI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Annapolis 25/31
  • VMI 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • Annapolis 1210/1410
  • VMI 1050/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Annapolis Required
  • VMI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Annapolis Jan 31, 2027
  • VMI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Annapolis 8:1
  • VMI 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Annapolis
    • Engineering (30%)
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Physical Sciences (17%)
    • History (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • VMI
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • History (14%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Annapolis -
  • VMI 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Annapolis N/A
  • VMI $62,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Annapolis -
  • VMI 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Annapolis N/A
  • VMI $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Annapolis N/A
  • VMI $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Annapolis 70%
  • VMI 86%
  • % Women
  • Annapolis 30%
  • VMI 14%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Annapolis -
  • VMI Low
  • HBCU
  • Annapolis No
  • VMI No
  • % White
  • Annapolis 0%
  • VMI 80%
  • % Asian
  • Annapolis 0%
  • VMI 4%
  • % Black
  • Annapolis 0%
  • VMI 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Annapolis 0%
  • VMI 5%
  • % Native American
  • Annapolis 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Annapolis 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Annapolis 0%
  • VMI 2%
  • % International
  • Annapolis 0%
  • VMI 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Annapolis 0%
  • VMI 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Annapolis 7%
  • VMI 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Annapolis 91%
  • VMI 35%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Annapolis Yes
  • VMI Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Annapolis Yes
  • VMI Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Annapolis Yes
  • VMI Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Annapolis No
  • VMI No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Annapolis No
  • VMI No

Comparable Facts

Compare United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

United States Naval Academy is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (4,474 students vs. 1,527 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • United States Naval Academy is located in Annapolis, Maryland (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
  • United States Naval Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: United States Naval Academy 8:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Annapolis vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Annapolis or VMI? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • In-state tuition differs between Virginia Military Institute and Annapolis ($21,046.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between VMI and United States Naval Academy ($52,638.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Military Institute than at United States Naval Academy (81% vs. 0%).

Annapolis vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Annapolis or VMI? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between VMI and Annapolis.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at United States Naval Academy (1310) is 150 points higher than at VMI (1160).
  • Incoming Annapolis students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (28 vs. 27 at VMI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: United States Naval Academy 1210/1410; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: United States Naval Academy 25/31; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Annapolis - Required; VMI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Annapolis Jan 31, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Annapolis students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at VMI (3.65).
  • VMI has a higher acceptance rate (71.2%) than Annapolis (9.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 84.2% at Annapolis vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Annapolis vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Annapolis and VMI? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Virginia Military Institute's six-year graduation rate is 69%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for Annapolis.
  • Graduates from Virginia Military Institute have median earnings of about $62,100 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for Annapolis.

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.