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Lexington , VA
Virginia Military Institute (VMI) is a private, four-year coeducational senior military college located in Lexington, Virginia. Established in 1839, VMI is renowned for its rigorous academic curriculum, strong emphasis on military training, and commitment to producing disciplined and well-rounded leaders. VMI's mission is to educate and develop cadets through a unique and challenging environment that fosters leadership, character, and integrity.
Academically, VMI offers a wide range of undergraduate programs, with majors in engineering, science, humanities, and social sciences. The institute follows the "honors" system, which encourages academic excellence through an honor code system that promotes honesty and integrity. Class sizes are small, allowing for intimate student-faculty interactions and personalized attention. VMI also places a strong emphasis on leadership development, providing cadets with experiential learning opportunities both in the classroom and through various leadership positions within the Corps of Cadets.
At VMI, the military training and discipline are integral parts of the cadet experience. The Corps of Cadets serves as the military unit on campus and all students, referred to as cadets, are members of the corps. The cadet experience involves rigorous physical training, development of teamwork and leadership skills, as well as participation in military drills and ceremonies. VMI places a high value on cultivating character and integrity in its cadets, preparing them for a life of service, leadership, and responsibility in both military and civilian sectors.
Overall, Virginia Military Institute offers a unique academic and military experience, preparing cadets for successful careers and leadership roles. Through its emphasis on rigorous academics, military training, and character development, VMI instills the values of discipline, honor, and integrity in its graduates. VMI's proud heritage, commitment to excellence, and strong sense of community make it a highly respected institution and attract students seeking a transformative educational experience.
Virginia Military Institute is a public four-year college located in Lexington, VA. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 71%. The freshman retention rate at Virginia Military Institute is 80.98% and the six-year graduation rate is 76%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is February 1. The transfer application deadline is February 1.
Here are some recent data on important things to consider about Virginia Military Institute.
Quick Facts
1,527
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
76%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Here are the most essential information you should know about admission at Virginia Military Institute.
In 2025, the school accepted 1,472 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
4.1% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 3.4% submitted ACT scores, out of the overall number of those who submitted test scores. 5.26% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 36.84% between 1,200 and 1,399, 47.37% between 1,000 and 1,199, 5.26% of the students between 800 and 999, and 5.26% between 600 and 799. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 31.25, 43.75 between 24-29 and 25 in the range between 18-23.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 27 and the average GPA was 3.59. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Virginia Military Institute; the same goes for your ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 548 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 574.
Deadlines
The deadline for submitting applications to Virginia Military Institute is February 1. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is February 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Virginia Military Institute was 80.98%, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 76%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Virginia Military Institute in 2025 was 1,527.
That year, the school had 37.54% of out-of-state students. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 1,527, 30 of which were international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 30.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,307 male and 220 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 72, while the number of Black American students was 118. 161 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 68 as multirace. The school also had 9 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 7 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 6 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Virginia Military Institute.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Virginia Military Institute? Here is what you need to know.
For the students who live in the area, the tuition cost was $10,368, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $41,960 in 2025. For the students coming from abroad, tuition at this school was $41,960, as well. Full-time students in 2025 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $10,998.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $41,960 | $10,998 | $52,958 |
| In-State | $10,368 | $10,998 | $21,366 |
Books and Supplies
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another important expense. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,200.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2025, the price of room and board at Virginia Military Institute was $11,650 per academic year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 totaled $3,488 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 10,368 |
| Room and Board | $ 11,650 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 23,218 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial support available to students. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Virginia Military Institute, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 357 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students amounted to $27,274.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
660 students received some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Virginia Military Institute is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 980. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $1,633,145, and state $1,597,063. The students of Virginia Military Institute received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $3,391,506, and external in the amount of $449,345.
$14,579
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 470 students overall (including freshmen) at Virginia Military Institute in 2025. 96 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $1,633,145 while the state aid is $13,392,026. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $14,227,957. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $916,367 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at Virginia Military Institute was 9:1. That means that there were 9 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 205 teachers at this school. Out of that number, there were 136 men and 69 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Virginia Military Institute is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some info about campus life at Virginia Military Institute.
Its campus spans 134 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
Based on the most up-to-date information available, there are 70 open-membership organizations at Virginia Military Institute. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Newman Club, followed by Rugby and Promaji Club. Other popular student organizations at this school are Building BRIDGES and EMT.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Virginia Military Institute band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Virginia Military Institute publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Virginia Military Institute, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There is a 24-hour security patrol. There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Virginia Military Institute is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Virginia Military Institute.
Career Counselling
At Virginia Military Institute, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Being aware of the projected salary upon finishing your studies can be important in determining if a specific school is in line with your career ambitions.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this institution is 60,387 USD.
$60,387
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Virginia Military Institute is located in Lexington, VA.
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Virginia Military Institute offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Virginia Military Institute is 71%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Virginia Military Institute is 80.98%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
