Wagner College vs. VMI

Comparable Facts

Compare Wagner College in Staten Island, NY with Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Wagner College is larger than VMI based on total student enrollment (2,001 students vs. 1,527 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Wagner College is located in Staten Island, NY (Large City setting); Virginia Military Institute is in Lexington, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Wagner College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Military Institute is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Wagner College 11:1; Virginia Military Institute 9:1.

Wagner College vs. VMI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wagner College 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 Wagner College ($18,825 vs. $28,033).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Military Institute are 31.4% lower than at Wagner College ($11,310 vs. $16,485).
• Wagner College is 152.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than VMI (about $32,154 more per year; $53,200.00 vs. $21,046.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at Wagner College than at Virginia Military Institute (about $562 more per year; $53,200.00 vs. $52,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wagner College than at Virginia Military Institute (100% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wagner College students is 59.1% larger than aid received by Virginia Military Institute students ($37,897 vs. $23,821).

Wagner College vs. VMI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wagner College 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 Wagner College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Wagner College (1240) is 80 points higher than at VMI (1160).
• Incoming VMI students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 25 at Wagner College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wagner College 1190/1290; Virginia Military Institute 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wagner College 23/28; Virginia Military Institute 24/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wagner College - Test optional; VMI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Wagner College Feb 15, 2027; VMI Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman VMI students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.65) than students at Wagner College (3.5).
• Wagner College has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than VMI (71.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.1% at Wagner College vs. 31.7% at VMI.

Wagner College vs. VMI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wagner College 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 Wagner College's (67%).
• Graduates from Wagner College earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than VMI graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,100 vs. $62,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Military Institute graduates have a $1,379 lower median loan debt than Wagner College graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,379).
• Among borrowers, VMI graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wagner College graduates ($258 vs. $272).
• More VMI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wagner College 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.