Bucknell University vs Virginia Military Institute
Bucknell University and Virginia Military Institute (VMI) stand as two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering a unique educational experience. Bucknell, a private liberal arts university in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, boasts a 29% acceptance rate and is renowned for its strong programs in the humanities, social sciences, and engineering. VMI, a public military college in Lexington, Virginia, has a 68% acceptance rate and is known for its rigorous academic curriculum, leadership development, and strong ROTC program. While both institutions offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, Bucknell's most popular majors include business, engineering, and psychology, while VMI's popular majors include civil engineering, business, and mechanical engineering. Explore the comparison table below to delve deeper into the differences between these two esteemed institutions and discover which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Bucknell University |
![]() Virginia Military Institute |
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Overview |
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Location | Lewisburg, Pennsylvania | Lexington, Virginia |
Campus setting | Town: Distant | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 91.0% | 87.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 34.5% | 63.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$40
Graduate:
$50
|
$40 |
SAT range | 1295 - 1450 | 1080 - 1300 |
ACT range | 29 - 33 | 22 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 35.0% | 29.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 17.0% | 12.0% |
Total number of applicants | 11,263 | 1,549 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,886 | 990 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,027 | 461 |
Yield rate | 26.4% | 46.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $77,740 |
In state:
$33,182
Out of state:
$61,836
|
Average net price | $38,170 | $18,100 |
Tuition | $59,474 |
In state:
$9,782
Out of state:
$38,436
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,192
Meal plan:
$5,682
|
Room/dormitory:
$3,102
Meal plan:
$7,260
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
59.0%
Average amount $37,752 |
91.0%
Average amount $10,832 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
32.0%
Average amount $5,232 |
59.0%
Average amount $3,385 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $23,169 |
11.0%
Average amount $22,604 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,724
Men 47.1% Women 52.9% |
1,652
Men 86.2% Women 13.8% |
Graduate students |
33
Men 30.3% Women 69.7% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 76.9% | 38.2% |
International students | 5.3% | 1.7% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Distant | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 3,394 | 1,751 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Pennsylvania New Jersey New York Connecticut Maryland | Virginia Pennsylvania Maryland North Carolina New Jersey |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 88.0% | 73.7% |
Dropout rate | 0.6% | 4.4% |
Transferred out | 11.3% | 21.7% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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