Salisbury vs. VMI

Salisbury University and Virginia Military Institute side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Salisbury University
Virginia Military Institute

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: VMI (71.2% admitted vs 87.5%). Typical SAT 1160 vs 1250.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $18,760 at Salisbury vs $18,825 at VMI. VMI in-state tuition is about $9,962 more per year.
  • Graduation: Salisbury 67% vs VMI 69%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Salisbury $52,000 vs VMI $62,100 (median).
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Key differences

Salisbury University Virginia Military Institute
Acceptance rate
VMI more selective
Salisbury87.5%
VMI71.2%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Salisbury higher
Salisbury1180-1320
VMI1050-1270
Average net price
About even
Salisbury$18,760
VMI$18,825
In-state tuition
Salisbury $9,962 less
Salisbury$11,084
VMI$21,046
Out-of-state tuition
Salisbury $30,464 less
Salisbury$22,174
VMI$52,638
Graduation rate
VMI +2 pts
Salisbury67%
VMI69%
Median earnings (10 years)
VMI +$10,100
Salisbury$52,000
VMI$62,100

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Salisbury 8,845
  • VMI 2,066
  • Admitted
  • Salisbury 7,737
  • VMI 1,472
  • Acceptance rate
  • Salisbury 87.5%
  • VMI 71.2%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Salisbury 18.4%
  • VMI 31.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Salisbury 1250
  • VMI 1160
  • Typical ACT score
  • Salisbury 24
  • VMI 27
  • Average high school GPA
  • Salisbury 3.73
  • VMI 3.65
  • Typical high school grades
  • Salisbury A-
  • VMI A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Salisbury Challenging
  • VMI Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • Salisbury
  • VMI Low
  • SAT range
  • Salisbury 1180-1320
  • VMI 1050-1270
  • ACT range
  • Salisbury 20-29
  • VMI 24-31
  • Submit test scores
  • Salisbury Test optional
  • VMI Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Salisbury Jan 15, 2027
  • VMI Feb 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Salisbury $11,084
  • VMI $21,046
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Salisbury $22,174
  • VMI $52,638
  • Room & board
  • Salisbury $13,900
  • VMI $11,310
  • Average net price
  • Salisbury $18,760
  • VMI $18,825
  • Average grant aid
  • Salisbury $9,124
  • VMI $23,821
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Salisbury 88%
  • VMI 81%
  • Graduation rate
  • Salisbury 67%
  • VMI 69%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Salisbury $52,000
  • VMI $62,100
  • Making student loan payments
  • Salisbury 68%
  • VMI 84%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Salisbury $20,153
  • VMI $25,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Salisbury $208
  • VMI $258
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Salisbury 14:1
  • VMI 9:1
  • Popular majors
  • Salisbury
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • VMI
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • History (14%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Location
  • Salisbury Salisbury, MD
  • VMI Lexington, VA
  • Setting
  • Salisbury Small Suburban
  • VMI Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • Salisbury 7,025
  • VMI 1,527
  • Type
  • Salisbury Public 4 Year
  • VMI Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Salisbury #352
  • VMI #123

Comparable Facts

Compare Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Salisbury University is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (7,025 students vs. 1,527 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
  • Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Salisbury University 14:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 18.6% lower than at Salisbury University ($11,310 vs. $13,900).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 137.4% higher at VMI than at Salisbury University (about $30,464 more per year; $52,638 vs. $22,174).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salisbury University than at Virginia Military Institute (88% vs. 81%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 161.1% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($23,821 vs. $9,124).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at VMI than at Salisbury (27 vs. 24, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Salisbury and VMI.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Salisbury Jan 15, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Salisbury average a 3.73 high school GPA, 0.08 higher than at VMI (3.65).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at Salisbury vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Salisbury University graduates have a $4,847 lower median loan debt than VMI graduates ($20,153 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VMI graduates ($208 vs. $258).
  • More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salisbury students, three years after graduation (84% vs. 68%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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