VCU vs. VMI

Should I go to Virginia Commonwealth University or Virginia Military Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if VCU or VMI is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

JMU Mason Virginia Tech Mary Washington College Old Dominion CNU William & Mary UVA WVU UMBC Howard University of Richmond
Virginia Commonwealth University vs. Virginia Military Institute comparison
Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Military Institute College 3 College 4
Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Military Institute
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 VCU VMI
Location Richmond, VA Lexington, VA
Setting Midsize City Distant Rural
Enrollment 28,082 1,512
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #442 #150
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website vcu.edu vmi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 VCU VMI
Tuition (In State) $12,458 $9,782
Tuition (Out of State) $33,726 $39,590
Room & Board $12,279 $10,674
Avg Net Price $21,294 $18,129
Avg Grant Aid $12,583 $19,111
% Receiving Grant Aid 83% 69%

Admission

 VCU VMI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 18,242 1,192
Admitted 16,600 847
Acceptance Rate 91% 71.1%
Enrolled % 25.1% 42.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.65
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/30 22/29
SAT Range 1030/1290 1105/1300
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 18, 2024 Feb 1, 2024

Academics

 VCU VMI
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Social Sciences (30%)
  • Engineering (23%)
  • History (14%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)

Outcomes

 VCU VMI
Graduation Rate 53% 69%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,500 $62,100
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 84%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,250 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $240 $258

Diversity

 VCU VMI
% Men 36% 87%
% Women 64% 13%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 50% 80%
% Black 18% 6%
% Hispanic 8% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 6% 2%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 0%

Students

 VCU VMI
% In-State 92% 63%
% Out-of-State 6% 35%

Campus

 VCU VMI
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than VMI based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 1,512 students)

VCU vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCU or VMI?

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is 27.4% more expensive to attend than VMI for in-state tuition ($12,458.00 vs. $9,782.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.4% higher at VMI than Virginia Commonwealth University ($39,590.00 vs. $33,726.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Military Institute than VCU ($18,129 vs. $21,294)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 15% lower than costs at Virginia Commonwealth University ($10,674 vs. $12,279)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than Virginia Military Institute (83% vs. 69%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Military Institute students is 51.9% larger than aid received Virginia Commonwealth University ($19,111 vs. $12,583)

VCU vs. VMI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VCU or VMI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VMI or VCU .

  • The average SAT score at Virginia Military Institute (1139) is 42 points higher than at VCU (1097)
  • Incoming VMI students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at VCU (24)
  • Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at VMI (3.65)
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than VMI (71.1%)

VCU vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, VCU or VMI? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between VMI and VCU.

  • The graduation rate at VMI is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University (69% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Virginia Military Institute earn on average $14,600 more per year than VCU graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $47,500)
  • Virginia Commonwealth University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than VMI graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,000)
  • VCU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than VMI graduates. ($240 vs. $258)
  • More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 56%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/