UNCG vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Greensboro, NC with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of North Carolina at Greensboro is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (18,012 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of North Carolina at Greensboro is located in Greensboro, NC (Large City setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of North Carolina at Greensboro 18:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

UNCG vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNCG 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 University of North Carolina at Greensboro than VMI ($11,404 vs. $18,825).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Greensboro are 5.5% lower than at Virginia Military Institute ($10,688 vs. $11,310).
• Virginia Military Institute is 174.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNCG (about $13,385 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $7,661.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 119.2% higher at VMI than at University of North Carolina at Greensboro (about $28,626 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $24,012.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of North Carolina at Greensboro than at Virginia Military Institute (87% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 141.5% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Greensboro students ($23,821 vs. $9,863).

UNCG vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNCG 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 UNCG.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1250) is 90 points higher than at VMI (1160).
• Incoming VMI students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at UNCG).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Greensboro 1150/1355; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of North Carolina at Greensboro 22/27; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNCG - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UNCG Mar 1, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at UNCG (3.59).
• UNCG has a higher acceptance rate (88.5%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.2% at UNCG vs. 31.7% at VMI.

UNCG vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNCG 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 University of North Carolina at Greensboro's (53%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $23,000 more per year than UNCG graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Greensboro graduates have a $2,263 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($22,737 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, UNCG graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($235 vs. $258).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UNCG students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 56%)

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.