Virginia Military Institute
#63 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tie)
Overview
Virginia Military Institute is a public institution that was founded in 1839. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,512 (fall 2022), its setting is city, and the campus size is 200 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Virginia Military Institute's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #63. Its in-state tuition and fees are $19,914; out-of-state tuition and fees are $49,722.
Located in Lexington, Virginia, the Virginia Military Institute is the oldest state-supported military college in the United States. Students admitted to the college are known as military cadets and are required to participate in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Unlike the federal service academies, Virginia Military Institute cadets are not required to serve in the military upon graduation. Cadets have about 80 academic, professional and social clubs and organizations to choose from upon entering the college.
Freshmen admitted to VMI are immediately exposed to the Rat Line, which is a system designed to create equality among all cadets and prepare them mentally and physically for their career in the Corps. This is done through a series of team-building exercises and stringent regulations. The housing situation is very different from most universities' campuses. In the Barracks, cadets live modestly, with limited space and multiple other occupants, and are expected to maintain cleanliness and order at all times. The Virginia Military Institute Keydets participate in 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs and are members of the Southern Conference and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Students who have been accepted to the Virginia Military Institute have the opportunity to take part in the Summer Transition Program, which helps incoming cadets improve both academically and physically. This program takes place during the last four weeks of the college's second summer term. VMI follows an honor code and strictly enforces its practices upon its cadets. When cadets first arrive on campus, they are issued their first cadet haircut at the VMI barbershop. Notable alumni include George Marshall, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and former U.S. secretary of state; Benjamin Franklin Ficklin, one of the founders of the historic Pony Express; and actor and comedian Fred Willard.
Virginia Military Institute is a public institution that was founded in 1839. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,512 (fall 2022), its setting is city, and the campus size is 200 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Virginia Military Institute's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Liberal Arts Colleges, #63. Its in-state tuition and fees are $19,914; out-of-state tuition and fees are $49,722.
Located in Lexington, Virginia, the Virginia Military Institute is the oldest state-supported military college in the United States. Students admitted to the college are known as military cadets and are required to participate in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Unlike the federal service academies, Virginia Military Institute cadets are not required to serve in the military upon graduation. Cadets have about 80 academic, professional and social clubs and organizations to choose from upon entering the college.
Freshmen admitted to VMI are immediately exposed to the Rat Line, which is a system designed to create equality among all cadets and prepare them mentally and physically for their career in the Corps. This is done through a series of team-building exercises and stringent regulations. The housing situation is very different from most universities' campuses. In the Barracks, cadets live modestly, with limited space and multiple other occupants, and are expected to maintain cleanliness and order at all times. The Virginia Military Institute Keydets participate in 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs and are members of the Southern Conference and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Students who have been accepted to the Virginia Military Institute have the opportunity to take part in the Summer Transition Program, which helps incoming cadets improve both academically and physically. This program takes place during the last four weeks of the college's second summer term. VMI follows an honor code and strictly enforces its practices upon its cadets. When cadets first arrive on campus, they are issued their first cadet haircut at the VMI barbershop. Notable alumni include George Marshall, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and former U.S. secretary of state; Benjamin Franklin Ficklin, one of the founders of the historic Pony Express; and actor and comedian Fred Willard.
+ Show More
At-a-Glance
Setting
City
In-state tuition and fees
$19,914
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,512
Acceptance Rate
71%
2024 Rankings
Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.
My Fit Score
My Fit Custom College Ranking
Does this school fit your college needs? Receive a personalized ranking provided by U.S. News College Compass and find out. Try it now
Admissions
Cost
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$49,722
In-State Tuition & Fees
$19,914
Room & Board
$10,674(2022-23)
Average Need-Based Aid Package
N/A
$21,325
$21,325
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees
$49,722
In-State Tuition & Fees
$19,914
Room & Board
$10,674(2022-23)
Average Need-Based Aid Package
N/A
*Average in-state cost after aid
Academics
65%
9:1
86%
Popular Majors
MAJOR
% OF GRADUATES
ALUMNI STARTING SALARY
Civil Engineering, General
15%
$45,364
International Relations and Affairs
11%
$41,158
Economics, General
11%
$42,428
Psychology, General
10%
$42,186
History, General
9%
$41,200
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
|
* In cases where salary data at the specific major level is unavailable, a general salary for the major category is displayed.
Pick the Perfect Major
Discover the perfect major for you based on your innate wiring. The Innate Assessment sets you up for success by pairing you with majors, colleges and careers that fit your unique skills and abilities.
Students
1,512
Graduate Enrollment
N/A
Total Enrollment
1,512
Full-Time Degree-Seeking Students
1,512
Student Diversity
Gender Distribution
Ethnic Diversity
24%
Minority Enrollment
24%
Minority Enrollment
74%
White
8%
Hispanic
7%
Black
5%
Asian
3%
Two or more races
2%
International
1%
Pacific Islander
Not Specified is not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%.
Campus Life
Housing and Dorms
Types of campus housing available:
Student Activities
70+
Sports Teams
N/A
Fraternities
N/A
Sororities
After College
Graduation Rate
65%
Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)
N/A
Average Debt at Graduation
N/A
$41,825
$41,825
Graduation Rate
65%
Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)
N/A
Average Debt at Graduation
N/A
Schools You Might Also Like
Reviews & Ratings
See reviews and ratings of this school from students, alumni, staff and others. These reviews are not written by U.S. News and have no impact on any of the Best Colleges rankings. Read an explanation of user ratings.
Read More
Undergraduate data are based on the 2022 school year.
My Fit Score
My Fit Custom College Ranking
Does this school fit your college needs? Receive a personalized ranking provided by U.S. News College Compass and find out. Try it now
Top Schools in Virginia
You can compare up to 25 schools at a time. Please remove a school before adding another.