University of Scranton vs. VMI

Deciding between University of Scranton 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.

University of Scranton
Virginia Military Institute

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Scranton Scranton, PA
  • VMI Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • University of Scranton Small City
  • VMI Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Scranton 4,724
  • VMI 1,527
  • Type
  • University of Scranton Private 4 Year
  • VMI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Scranton #219
  • VMI #123
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Scranton Roman Catholic
  • VMI -
  • Status
  • University of Scranton Non-profit
  • VMI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Scranton
  • VMI
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Scranton $53,983
  • VMI $21,046
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Scranton $53,983
  • VMI $52,638
  • Room & Board
  • University of Scranton $17,380
  • VMI $11,310
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Scranton $34,234
  • VMI $18,825
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Scranton $35,606
  • VMI $23,821
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Scranton 96%
  • VMI 81%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Scranton 9,666
  • VMI 2,066
  • Admitted
  • University of Scranton 7,852
  • VMI 1,472
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Scranton 81.2%
  • VMI 71.2%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Scranton 11.3%
  • VMI 31.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Scranton 1240
  • VMI 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Scranton 27
  • VMI 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Scranton 3.56
  • VMI 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Scranton A-
  • VMI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Scranton Difficult
  • VMI Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Scranton
  • VMI Low
  • ACT Range
  • University of Scranton 25/30
  • VMI 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • University of Scranton 1160/1318
  • VMI 1050/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Scranton Test optional
  • VMI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Scranton Mar 1, 2027
  • VMI Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Scranton 11:1
  • VMI 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Scranton
    • Business (20%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • VMI
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • History (14%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Scranton 77%
  • VMI 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Scranton $62,100
  • VMI $62,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Scranton 81%
  • VMI 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Scranton $27,000
  • VMI $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Scranton $279
  • VMI $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Scranton 43%
  • VMI 86%
  • % Women
  • University of Scranton 57%
  • VMI 14%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Scranton Very Low
  • VMI Low
  • HBCU
  • University of Scranton No
  • VMI No
  • % White
  • University of Scranton 82%
  • VMI 80%
  • % Asian
  • University of Scranton 2%
  • VMI 4%
  • % Black
  • University of Scranton 2%
  • VMI 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Scranton 9%
  • VMI 5%
  • % Native American
  • University of Scranton 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Scranton 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Scranton 2%
  • VMI 2%
  • % International
  • University of Scranton 1%
  • VMI 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Scranton 2%
  • VMI 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Scranton 45%
  • VMI 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Scranton 55%
  • VMI 35%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Scranton in Scranton, PA with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Scranton is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (4,724 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Scranton is located in Scranton, PA (Small City setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
  • University of Scranton is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Scranton 11:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

University of Scranton vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Scranton 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 University of Scranton ($18,825 vs. $34,234).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 34.9% lower than at University of Scranton ($11,310 vs. $17,380).
  • University of Scranton is 156.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $32,937 more per year; $53,983.00 vs. $21,046.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.6% higher at University of Scranton than at Virginia Military Institute (about $1,345 more per year; $53,983.00 vs. $52,638.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Scranton than at Virginia Military Institute (96% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Scranton students is 49.5% larger than aid received by Virginia Military Institute students ($35,606 vs. $23,821).

University of Scranton vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Scranton 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 University of Scranton.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Scranton (1240) is 80 points higher than at VMI (1160).
  • Incoming University of Scranton students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 27) as students at VMI (27).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Scranton 1160/1318; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Scranton 25/30; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Scranton - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Scranton Mar 1, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at University of Scranton (3.56).
  • University of Scranton has a higher acceptance rate (81.2%) than VMI (71.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.3% at University of Scranton vs. 31.7% at VMI.

University of Scranton vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Scranton 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).

  • University of Scranton's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Virginia Military Institute's (69%).
  • Graduates of University of Scranton and VMI have equivalent median earnings about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $62,100), per the federal College Scorecard cohort (typically among students working and not enrolled).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Military Institute graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than University of Scranton graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Scranton graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Scranton students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 81%)

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.