SWU vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Southern Wesleyan University in Central, SC 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 SWU based on total student enrollment (1,527 students vs. 980 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southern Wesleyan University is located in Central, SC (Distant Town setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Southern 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: Southern Wesleyan University 10:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

SWU vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SWU 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 SWU ($18,825 vs. $20,134).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 10.5% lower than at Virginia Military Institute ($10,126 vs. $11,310).
• Southern Wesleyan University is 41.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $8,754 more per year; $29,800.00 vs. $21,046.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 76.6% higher at VMI than at Southern Wesleyan University (about $22,838 more per year; $52,638.00 vs. $29,800.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern Wesleyan University than at Virginia Military Institute (100% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 22.2% larger than aid received by Southern Wesleyan University students ($23,821 vs. $19,498).

SWU vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SWU or VMI? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between VMI and SWU.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Virginia Military Institute (1160) is 30 points higher than at SWU (1130).
• Incoming VMI students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (27 vs. 25 at SWU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Southern Wesleyan University 1040/1210; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Southern Wesleyan University 22/28; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SWU - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman SWU students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at VMI (3.65).
• SWU has a higher acceptance rate (99.5%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.4% at SWU vs. 31.7% at VMI.

SWU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SWU and VMI? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Virginia Military Institute's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Southern Wesleyan University's (42%).
• Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $17,300 more per year than SWU graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Military Institute graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than SWU graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SWU graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 50%)

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.