Hampden-Sydney vs Virginia Military Institute
Hampden-Sydney College and Virginia Military Institute, both esteemed institutions in Virginia, offer distinct educational experiences. Hampden-Sydney, a private liberal arts college, boasts a higher acceptance rate (68%) compared to VMI's selective admissions (22%). While VMI is renowned for its military focus and mandatory ROTC program, Hampden-Sydney provides a traditional undergraduate curriculum with popular majors in business, history, and political science. VMI's student body is predominantly male (98%) and residential (99%), while Hampden-Sydney enrolls a more diverse population with a higher percentage of female students (44%) and a significant number of commuters (30%). Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with Hampden-Sydney at 86% and VMI at 83%. Explore the detailed comparison table to discover more distinctions and determine which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Hampden-Sydney College |
![]() Virginia Military Institute |
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Overview |
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Location | Hampden-Sydney, Virginia | Lexington, Virginia |
Campus setting | Rural: Distant | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 90.0% | 87.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 36.8% | 63.9% |
Application fees | $40 | |
SAT range | 1080 - 1260 | 1080 - 1300 |
ACT range | 22 - 25 | 22 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 17.0% | 29.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 9.0% | 12.0% |
Total number of applicants | 2,907 | 1,549 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,070 | 990 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 222 | 461 |
Yield rate | 20.7% | 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 | $64,112 |
In state:
$33,182
Out of state:
$61,836
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Average net price | $28,679 | $18,100 |
Tuition | $47,014 |
In state:
$9,782
Out of state:
$38,436
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Room & board | $14,278 |
Room/dormitory:
$3,102
Meal plan:
$7,260
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $36,319 |
91.0%
Average amount $10,832 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
59.0%
Average amount $5,247 |
59.0%
Average amount $3,385 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $18,800 |
11.0%
Average amount $22,604 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
851
Men 99.5% Women 0.5% |
1,652
Men 86.2% Women 13.8% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 38.2% |
International students | 0.6% | 1.7% |
Campus local/setting | Rural: Distant | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 1,100 | 1,751 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | 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 | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 65.2% | 73.7% |
Dropout rate | 22.7% | 4.4% |
Transferred out | 11.7% | 21.7% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (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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