VMI vs. VWC

Deciding between Virginia Military Institute and Virginia Wesleyan University? 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.

Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Wesleyan University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • VMI Lexington, VA
  • VWC Virginia Beach, VA
  • Setting
  • VMI Distant Rural
  • VWC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • VMI 1,527
  • VWC 1,853
  • Type
  • VMI Public 4 Year
  • VWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • VMI #123
  • VWC #684
  • Religious Affiliation
  • VMI -
  • VWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • VMI Non-profit
  • VWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • VMI
  • VWC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • VMI $21,046
  • VWC $37,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • VMI $52,638
  • VWC $37,500
  • Room & Board
  • VMI $11,310
  • VWC $11,930
  • Average Net Price
  • VMI $18,825
  • VWC $21,267
  • Average Grant Aid
  • VMI $23,821
  • VWC $29,923
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • VMI 81%
  • VWC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • VMI 2,066
  • VWC 3,808
  • Admitted
  • VMI 1,472
  • VWC 2,775
  • Acceptance Rate
  • VMI 71.2%
  • VWC 72.9%
  • Enrolled
  • VMI 31.7%
  • VWC 11.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • VMI 1160
  • VWC 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • VMI 27
  • VWC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • VMI 3.65
  • VWC 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • VMI A-
  • VWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • VMI Challenging
  • VWC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • VMI Low
  • VWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • VMI 24/31
  • VWC 28/29
  • SAT Range
  • VMI 1050/1270
  • VWC 1140/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • VMI Test optional
  • VWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • VMI Feb 1, 2027
  • VWC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • VMI 9:1
  • VWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • VMI
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • History (14%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • VWC
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • VMI 69%
  • VWC 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • VMI $62,100
  • VWC $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • VMI 84%
  • VWC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • VMI $25,000
  • VWC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • VMI $258
  • VWC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • VMI 86%
  • VWC 47%
  • % Women
  • VMI 14%
  • VWC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • VMI Low
  • VWC High
  • HBCU
  • VMI No
  • VWC No
  • % White
  • VMI 80%
  • VWC 54%
  • % Asian
  • VMI 4%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Black
  • VMI 6%
  • VWC 24%
  • % Hispanic
  • VMI 5%
  • VWC 8%
  • % Native American
  • VMI 1%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • VMI 1%
  • VWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • VMI 2%
  • VWC 5%
  • % International
  • VMI 2%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • VMI 0%
  • VWC 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • VMI 64%
  • VWC 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • VMI 35%
  • VWC 25%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Wesleyan University is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (1,853 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Virginia Military Institute is located in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting); Virginia Wesleyan University is in Virginia Beach, VA (Large City setting).
  • Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Virginia Military Institute 9:1; Virginia Wesleyan University 15:1.

VMI vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VMI or VWC? 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 VWC ($18,825 vs. $21,267).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 5.2% lower than at Virginia Wesleyan University ($11,310 vs. $11,930).
  • Virginia Wesleyan University is 78.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $16,454 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $21,046.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.4% higher at VMI than at Virginia Wesleyan University (about $15,138 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $37,500.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Wesleyan University than at Virginia Military Institute (100% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Wesleyan University students is 25.6% larger than aid received by Virginia Military Institute students ($29,923 vs. $23,821).

VMI vs. VWC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Wesleyan University (1250) is 90 points higher than at VMI (1160).
  • Incoming VWC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at VMI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270; Virginia Wesleyan University 1140/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Virginia Military Institute 24/31; Virginia Wesleyan University 28/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: VMI - Test optional; VWC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at VWC (3.39).
  • VWC has a higher acceptance rate (72.9%) than VMI (71.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.7% at VMI vs. 11.9% at VWC.

VMI vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for VMI and VWC? 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 Virginia Wesleyan University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $20,400 more per year than VWC 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 VWC graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VWC graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VWC 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.