Admin v2 Preview — Sections marked with a yellow border use mock data until v2 scraping is complete.
v2 Admin
Virginia Military Institute logo
PublicTown

Virginia Military Institute

VMI

Lexington, Virginia 24450-0304

Visit website

Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateRuralPublicEngineering FocusClose Faculty Access

Strong graduate outcomes — known for engineering

Virginia Military Institute is a public institution in Lexington with particular strength in engineering and psychology. With an average SAT of 1183, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 1.6K undergraduates with a 10:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

82% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $77,369 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $18,849.

Established
1839
Motto
Latin: In Pace Decus, In Bello PraesidiumLatin: Consilio et Animis
Mascot
Moe the Kangaroo
Type
Public senior military college
Division
Division I

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

82%Acceptance
1183SAT Avg
1,560Students
10:1Student:Faculty
82%Grad Rate
$77,369Earnings 10yr
$18,849Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Virginia Military Institute Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate81.7%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1183

Reading & WritingMid: 600
530640
MathMid: 590
510620

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 25
2228

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

81.7%

Trend

SAT Avg

1183

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$20,484
Tuition (out-of-state)$51,186
Room & Board$10,990
Books & Supplies$1,200
Total Cost of Attendance$33,738
Average Net Price$18,849
Median Debt at Graduation$22,996
Monthly Payment (10yr)$244

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$3,152
$30–48K$5,980
$48–75K$10,551
$75–110K$16,055
$110K+$25,359

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

40.1%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$19,000

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

9

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

3

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (16)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

84%

Mixed
  • 84% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
1,560
Gender Split
13% / 87%
Women / Men
First Generation
15%
Pell Grant Recipients
16%

Race & Ethnicity

White 72%
Black 7%
Hispanic 9%
Asian 5%
Two+ 4%
Int'l 2%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate81.8%
Freshman Retention84.4%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$63,545
10 Years$77,369

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
3
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports

Water poloBasketballBasketball perhapsSwimming diving

History & Fun Facts

  • The organizers of the planned school formed a board of visitors, which included Preston, and the board selected Claudius Crozet as their first president.
  • Preston was also tasked with hiring VMI's first superintendent.
  • Preston successfully recruited Smith, and convinced him to become the first superintendent and Professor of Tactics.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

RIC Richmond117 mi
IAD Washington Dulles134 mi
RDU Raleigh-Durham137 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA544 mi · ~15h 43m drive
New York, NY354 mi · ~10h 14m drive
Hartford, CT452 mi · ~13h 3m drive
Providence, RI509 mi · ~14h 42m drive
Albany, NY450 mi · ~13h drive
Syracuse, NY402 mi · ~11h 37m drive
Rochester, NY383 mi · ~11h 4m drive
Buffalo, NY353 mi · ~10h 12m drive
Philadelphia, PA274 mi · ~7h 55m drive
Pittsburgh, PA186 mi · ~5h 22m drive
Harrisburg, PA219 mi · ~6h 20m drive
Newark, NJ347 mi · ~10h 1m drive
Washington, DC151 mi · ~4h 22m drive
Baltimore, MD185 mi · ~5h 21m drive
Atlanta, GA394 mi · ~11h 23m drive
Charlotte, NC194 mi · ~5h 36m drive
Raleigh, NC146 mi · ~4h 13m drive
Miami, FL832 mi · ~24h 2m drive
Orlando, FL649 mi · ~18h 45m drive
Tampa, FL702 mi · ~20h 17m drive
Nashville, TN421 mi · ~12h 10m drive
New Orleans, LA815 mi · ~23h 33m drive
Richmond, VA111 mi · ~3h 12m drive
Chicago, IL518 mi · ~14h 58m drive
Detroit, MI367 mi · ~10h 36m drive
Minneapolis, MN870 mi · ~25h 8m drive
St. Louis, MO587 mi · ~16h 57m drive
Kansas City, MO823 mi · ~23h 47m drive
Indianapolis, IN387 mi · ~11h 11m drive
Columbus, OH243 mi · ~7h 1m drive
Cleveland, OH283 mi · ~8h 11m drive
Milwaukee, WI574 mi · ~16h 35m drive
Dallas, TX1037 mi · ~29h 57m drive
Houston, TX1068 mi · ~30h 51m drive
Austin, TX1167 mi · ~33h 43m drive
San Antonio, TX1236 mi · ~35h 42m drive
Los Angeles, CA2171 mi · ~62h 43m drive
San Francisco, CA2326 mi · ~67h 12m drive
San Diego, CA2142 mi · ~61h 53m drive
Seattle, WA2249 mi · ~64h 58m drive
Portland, OR2266 mi · ~65h 28m drive
Denver, CO1379 mi · ~39h 50m drive
Phoenix, AZ1848 mi · ~53h 23m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1738 mi · ~50h 13m drive
Honolulu, HI4716 mi · ~136h 14m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Richmond (RIC)117 miles
Rental car
176 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
234 min$140-234
Washington Dulles (IAD)134 miles
Rental car
201 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
268 min$161-268

Deadline Calendar

Virginia Military Institute Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

Virginia Military Institute — v2 Preview — TourStack