VMI vs. WVU

Deciding between Virginia Military Institute and West Virginia 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
West Virginia University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • VMI Lexington, VA
  • WVU Morgantown, WV
  • Setting
  • VMI Distant Rural
  • WVU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • VMI 1,527
  • WVU 23,643
  • Type
  • VMI Public 4 Year
  • WVU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • VMI #123
  • WVU #566
  • Religious Affiliation
  • VMI -
  • WVU -
  • Status
  • VMI Non-profit
  • WVU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • VMI
  • WVU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • VMI $21,046
  • WVU $10,104
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • VMI $52,638
  • WVU $28,608
  • Room & Board
  • VMI $11,310
  • WVU $14,582
  • Average Net Price
  • VMI $18,825
  • WVU $15,169
  • Average Grant Aid
  • VMI $23,821
  • WVU $12,363
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • VMI 81%
  • WVU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • VMI 2,066
  • WVU 18,729
  • Admitted
  • VMI 1,472
  • WVU 16,669
  • Acceptance Rate
  • VMI 71.2%
  • WVU 89%
  • Enrolled
  • VMI 31.7%
  • WVU 24.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • VMI 1160
  • WVU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • VMI 27
  • WVU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • VMI 3.65
  • WVU 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • VMI A-
  • WVU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • VMI Challenging
  • WVU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • VMI Low
  • WVU
  • ACT Range
  • VMI 24/31
  • WVU 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • VMI 1050/1270
  • WVU 1010/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • VMI Test optional
  • WVU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • VMI Feb 1, 2027
  • WVU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • VMI 9:1
  • WVU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • VMI
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • History (14%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • WVU
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • VMI 69%
  • WVU 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • VMI $62,100
  • WVU $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • VMI 84%
  • WVU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • VMI $25,000
  • WVU $24,001
  • Median Loan Payment
  • VMI $258
  • WVU $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • VMI 86%
  • WVU 47%
  • % Women
  • VMI 14%
  • WVU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • VMI Low
  • WVU Low
  • HBCU
  • VMI No
  • WVU No
  • % White
  • VMI 80%
  • WVU 81%
  • % Asian
  • VMI 4%
  • WVU 1%
  • % Black
  • VMI 6%
  • WVU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • VMI 5%
  • WVU 4%
  • % Native American
  • VMI 1%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • VMI 1%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • VMI 2%
  • WVU 3%
  • % International
  • VMI 2%
  • WVU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • VMI 0%
  • WVU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • VMI 64%
  • WVU 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • VMI 35%
  • WVU 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

West Virginia University is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (23,643 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Virginia Military Institute is located in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting); West Virginia University is in Morgantown, WV (Small City setting).
  • Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Virginia Military Institute 9:1; West Virginia University 19:1.

VMI vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VMI or WVU? 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 West Virginia University than VMI ($15,169 vs. $18,825).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 22.4% lower than at West Virginia University ($11,310 vs. $14,582).
  • Virginia Military Institute is 108.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVU (about $10,942 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $10,104.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 84% higher at VMI than at West Virginia University (about $24,030 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $28,608.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Virginia University than at Virginia Military Institute (94% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 92.7% larger than aid received by West Virginia University students ($23,821 vs. $12,363).

VMI vs. WVU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Military Institute (1160) is 40 points higher than at WVU (1120).
  • Incoming VMI students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 23 at WVU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270; West Virginia University 1010/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Virginia Military Institute 24/31; West Virginia University 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: VMI - Test optional; WVU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at WVU (3.45).
  • WVU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than VMI (71.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.7% at VMI vs. 24.8% at WVU.

VMI vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for VMI and WVU? 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 West Virginia University's (57%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $11,500 more per year than WVU graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Virginia University graduates have a $999 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($24,001 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, WVU graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($248 vs. $258).
  • More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 59%)

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.