OWU vs. VMI

Deciding between Ohio Wesleyan 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.

Ohio Wesleyan University
Virginia Military Institute

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • OWU Delaware, OH
  • VMI Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • OWU Distant Town
  • VMI Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • OWU 1,525
  • VMI 1,527
  • Type
  • OWU Private 4 Year
  • VMI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • OWU #386
  • VMI #123
  • Religious Affiliation
  • OWU United Methodist
  • VMI -
  • Status
  • OWU Non-profit
  • VMI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • OWU
  • VMI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • OWU $53,888
  • VMI $21,046
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • OWU $53,888
  • VMI $52,638
  • Room & Board
  • OWU $14,684
  • VMI $11,310
  • Average Net Price
  • OWU $23,006
  • VMI $18,825
  • Average Grant Aid
  • OWU $45,481
  • VMI $23,821
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • OWU 100%
  • VMI 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • OWU 6,144
  • VMI 2,066
  • Admitted
  • OWU 3,416
  • VMI 1,472
  • Acceptance Rate
  • OWU 55.6%
  • VMI 71.2%
  • Enrolled
  • OWU 12.6%
  • VMI 31.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • OWU 1230
  • VMI 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • OWU 28
  • VMI 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • OWU 3.54
  • VMI 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • OWU A-
  • VMI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • OWU Difficult
  • VMI Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • OWU Low
  • VMI Low
  • ACT Range
  • OWU 25/31
  • VMI 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • OWU 1105/1350
  • VMI 1050/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • OWU Test-free
  • VMI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • OWU Mar 1, 2027
  • VMI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • OWU 12:1
  • VMI 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • OWU
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • VMI
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • History (14%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • OWU 61%
  • VMI 69%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • OWU $49,600
  • VMI $62,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • OWU 80%
  • VMI 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • OWU $27,000
  • VMI $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • OWU $279
  • VMI $258

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • OWU 44%
  • VMI 86%
  • % Women
  • OWU 56%
  • VMI 14%
  • Racial Diversity
  • OWU Medium
  • VMI Low
  • HBCU
  • OWU No
  • VMI No
  • % White
  • OWU 70%
  • VMI 80%
  • % Asian
  • OWU 3%
  • VMI 4%
  • % Black
  • OWU 8%
  • VMI 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • OWU 5%
  • VMI 5%
  • % Native American
  • OWU 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • OWU 0%
  • VMI 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • OWU 5%
  • VMI 2%
  • % International
  • OWU 6%
  • VMI 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • OWU 3%
  • VMI 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • OWU 71%
  • VMI 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • OWU 24%
  • VMI 35%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, OH with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Military Institute is larger than OWU based on total student enrollment (1,527 students vs. 1,525 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Ohio Wesleyan University is located in Delaware, OH (Distant Town setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
  • Ohio Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Ohio Wesleyan University 12:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

OWU vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, OWU 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 Virginia Military Institute than OWU ($18,825 vs. $23,006).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 23% lower than at Ohio Wesleyan University ($11,310 vs. $14,684).
  • Ohio Wesleyan University is 156% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $32,842 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $21,046.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at OWU than at Virginia Military Institute (about $1,250 more per year; $53,888.00 vs. $52,638.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Wesleyan University than at Virginia Military Institute (100% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 90.9% larger than aid received by Virginia Military Institute students ($45,481 vs. $23,821).

OWU vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, OWU 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 OWU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Ohio Wesleyan University (1230) is 70 points higher than at VMI (1160).
  • Incoming OWU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at VMI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Wesleyan University 1105/1350; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Ohio Wesleyan University 25/31; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: OWU - Test-free; VMI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: OWU Mar 1, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at OWU (3.54).
  • VMI has a higher acceptance rate (71.2%) than OWU (55.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.6% at OWU vs. 31.7% at VMI.

OWU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for OWU 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 Ohio Wesleyan University's (61%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $12,500 more per year than OWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $49,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Military Institute graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than OWU graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OWU graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OWU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 80%)

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.