VMI vs. Evergreen

Comparable Facts

Compare Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA with The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The Evergreen State College is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (2,490 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Virginia Military Institute is located in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting); The Evergreen State College is in Olympia, WA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The Evergreen State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Virginia Military Institute 9:1; The Evergreen State College 17:1.

VMI vs. Evergreen Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VMI or Evergreen? 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 The Evergreen State College than VMI ($18,350 vs. $18,825).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 22.5% lower than at The Evergreen State College ($11,310 vs. $14,589).
• Virginia Military Institute is 127.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Evergreen (about $11,782 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $9,264.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 65% higher at VMI than at The Evergreen State College (about $20,733 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $31,905.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The Evergreen State College than at Virginia Military Institute (90% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 107.8% larger than aid received by The Evergreen State College students ($23,821 vs. $11,466).

VMI vs. Evergreen Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VMI or Evergreen? 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 Evergreen and VMI.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Military Institute (1160) is 20 points higher than at Evergreen (1140).
• Incoming VMI students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 26 at Evergreen).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270; The Evergreen State College 1035/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Virginia Military Institute 24/31; The Evergreen State College 23/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: VMI - Test optional; Evergreen - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Evergreen (3.12).
• Evergreen has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.7% at VMI vs. 25.4% at Evergreen.

VMI vs. Evergreen Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for VMI and Evergreen? 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 The Evergreen State College's (54%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $25,100 more per year than Evergreen graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, The Evergreen State College graduates have a $7,405 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($17,595 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Evergreen graduates have an estimated $77 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($181 vs. $258).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Evergreen students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 57%)

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.