Virginia Military Institute vs University of Virginia-Main Campus (UVA)
Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and University of Virginia-Main Campus (UVA) are two distinct institutions of higher learning in Virginia, each offering unique educational experiences. VMI, a public military college, stands out with its rigorous military training and strong emphasis on leadership development, while UVA, a public research university, boasts a diverse academic landscape and a vibrant college town atmosphere. With acceptance rates of 34% and 26%, respectively, both institutions are highly selective, attracting academically talented students. While VMI's student body is predominantly male and focused on STEM fields, UVA's coeducational student body pursues a wide range of majors, including humanities, social sciences, and business. With graduation rates of 68% and 89%, respectively, both institutions prioritize student success and provide ample resources to support their students' academic journeys. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions between these two esteemed institutions and make an informed decision about your higher education path.
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![]() University of Virginia-Main Campus |
![]() Virginia Military Institute |
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Overview |
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Location | Charlottesville, Virginia | Lexington, Virginia |
Campus setting | Suburb: Small | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 97.0% | 87.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 20.7% | 63.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$85
|
$40 |
SAT range | 1380 - 1500 | 1080 - 1300 |
ACT range | 32 - 35 | 22 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 52.0% | 29.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 21.0% | 12.0% |
Total number of applicants | 47,971 | 1,549 |
Total number of admissions given out | 9,951 | 990 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,889 | 461 |
Yield rate | 39.1% | 46.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$36,314
Out of state:
$70,696
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In state:
$33,182
Out of state:
$61,836
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Average net price | $20,401 | $18,100 |
Tuition |
In state:
$16,010
Out of state:
$49,710
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In state:
$9,782
Out of state:
$38,436
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,110
Meal plan:
$5,550
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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) |
46.0%
Average amount $19,612 |
91.0%
Average amount $10,832 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
25.0%
Average amount $4,845 |
59.0%
Average amount $3,385 |
Students taking out private loans |
6.0%
Average amount $11,030 |
11.0%
Average amount $22,604 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
17,294
Men 43.7% Women 56.3% |
1,652
Men 86.2% Women 13.8% |
Graduate students |
8,711
Men 46.9% Women 53.1% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 35.2% | 38.2% |
International students | 8.8% | 1.7% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Small | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 7,645 | 1,751 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Virginia New York Maryland Pennsylvania New Jersey | 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 | 15:1 | 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 | 93.7% | 73.7% |
Dropout rate | 2.3% | 4.4% |
Transferred out | 3.6% | 21.7% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer Software and Media Applications (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Systems Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Master'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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