WCU vs. VMI

Deciding between Western Carolina University 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.

Western Carolina University
Virginia Military Institute

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WCU Cullowhee, NC
  • VMI Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • WCU Distant Town
  • VMI Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • WCU 11,686
  • VMI 1,527
  • Type
  • WCU Public 4 Year
  • VMI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WCU #698
  • VMI #123
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WCU -
  • VMI -
  • Status
  • WCU Non-profit
  • VMI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WCU
  • VMI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WCU $4,630
  • VMI $21,046
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WCU $8,630
  • VMI $52,638
  • Room & Board
  • WCU $12,354
  • VMI $11,310
  • Average Net Price
  • WCU $13,767
  • VMI $18,825
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WCU $5,993
  • VMI $23,821
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WCU 81%
  • VMI 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WCU 19,742
  • VMI 2,066
  • Admitted
  • WCU 16,154
  • VMI 1,472
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WCU 81.8%
  • VMI 71.2%
  • Enrolled
  • WCU 12.7%
  • VMI 31.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WCU 1180
  • VMI 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • WCU 22
  • VMI 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • WCU 3.44
  • VMI 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WCU B+
  • VMI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WCU Moderate
  • VMI Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • WCU
  • VMI Low
  • ACT Range
  • WCU 19/25
  • VMI 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • WCU 1080/1270
  • VMI 1050/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WCU Test optional
  • VMI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WCU Mar 1, 2027
  • VMI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WCU 16:1
  • VMI 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WCU
    • Education (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Engineering Technology (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • VMI
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • History (14%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WCU 50%
  • VMI 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WCU $39,100
  • VMI $62,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WCU 58%
  • VMI 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WCU $22,010
  • VMI $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WCU $227
  • VMI $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WCU 41%
  • VMI 86%
  • % Women
  • WCU 59%
  • VMI 14%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WCU Low
  • VMI Low
  • HBCU
  • WCU No
  • VMI No
  • % White
  • WCU 79%
  • VMI 80%
  • % Asian
  • WCU 1%
  • VMI 4%
  • % Black
  • WCU 6%
  • VMI 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • WCU 6%
  • VMI 5%
  • % Native American
  • WCU 1%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WCU 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WCU 4%
  • VMI 2%
  • % International
  • WCU 1%
  • VMI 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WCU 1%
  • VMI 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WCU 75%
  • VMI 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WCU 22%
  • VMI 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Western Carolina University is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (11,686 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Western Carolina University is located in Cullowhee, NC (Distant Town setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
  • Western Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Carolina University 16:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

WCU vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU 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 Western Carolina University than VMI ($13,767 vs. $18,825).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 8.5% lower than at Western Carolina University ($11,310 vs. $12,354).
  • Virginia Military Institute is 354.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than WCU (about $16,416 more per year; $21,046.00 vs. $4,630.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 509.9% higher at VMI than at Western Carolina University (about $44,008 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $8,630.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Western Carolina University as at Virginia Military Institute (81% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 297.5% larger than aid received by Western Carolina University students ($23,821 vs. $5,993).

WCU vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WCU 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 WCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Western Carolina University (1180) is 20 points higher than at VMI (1160).
  • Incoming VMI students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 22 at WCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Carolina University 1080/1270; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Carolina University 19/25; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WCU - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WCU Mar 1, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at WCU (3.44).
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (81.8%) than VMI (71.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at WCU vs. 31.7% at VMI.

WCU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WCU 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 Western Carolina University's (50%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $23,000 more per year than WCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Carolina University graduates have a $2,990 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($22,010 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, WCU graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($227 vs. $258).
  • More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WCU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 58%)

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.