Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Virginia Military Institute #472 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $75,027, placing Virginia Military Institute in the 75.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Virginia Military Institute #328 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Virginia Military Institute's composite ranking reflects strong graduate earnings and a return-on-investment profile that places it well above most institutions in the Azimuth coverage set. Median 4-year earnings and a high return rank together signal that graduates enter the workforce with durable financial footing relative to peers across nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Virginia Military Institute #472 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 67.2 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Lexington, VA, Virginia Military Institute enrolls roughly 1,527 undergraduates. Retention stands at 81.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 76.2%, reflecting a student body that completes at rates well above what enrollment size alone would predict. The composite is anchored in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Virginia Military Institute #328 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 77.9 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $75,027, placing Virginia Military Institute in the 75.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's dominant program concentration in Engineering — a field with strong and consistent labor-market demand — is a primary driver of that earnings position. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Virginia Military Institute admits about 71.2% of applicants, a selectivity level that shapes the entering class and limits the share of low-income students enrolled — 16.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 15.2% are first-generation college students, figures that place the institution in the 6.8 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 56.4 percentile, and mobility in the 87.4 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Virginia Military Institute's published cost of attendance is $34,824. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid availability: low-income families pay approximately $12,697, middle-income families pay around $12,162, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,434. Azimuth ranks Virginia Military Institute #622 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. As a public military academy, Virginia Military Institute combines a tuition structure aligned with Virginia residents' access alongside a distinctive residential and educational model. The institution's aid structure emphasizes need-based support for families demonstrating financial need, with application through the FAFSA. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,996, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $36,278; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $75,027, median federal debt of $22,996 projects to a monthly payment of about $260 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Virginia Military Institute is a strong fit for students drawn to Engineering and applied technical fields who want a structured, military-affiliated public institution in VA — and who are prepared for a highly disciplined environment that combines undergraduate education with officer commissioning pathways. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $75,027, placing Virginia Military Institute in the 75.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a strong return signal for a small public institution with a focused program portfolio. Virginia Military Institute enrolls a modest share of Pell-eligible students — 16.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 15.2% are first-generation — and net price for higher-income families runs around $23,434, with median student debt near $22,996. Families considering VMI should weigh the full cost picture against the institution's strong earnings trajectory for graduates who enter military, engineering, or government careers. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Virginia Military Institute admits roughly 71.2% of applicants, and its program mix is concentrated in Engineering and related disciplines — students whose goals align with those fields and with the institute's military structure will find the strongest outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Virginia Military Institute hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Virginia Military Institute's published cost of attendance is $34,824. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid availability: low-income families pay approximately $12,697, middle-income families pay around $12,162, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,434.
Azimuth ranks Virginia Military Institute #622 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
As a public military academy, Virginia Military Institute combines a tuition structure aligned with Virginia residents' access alongside a distinctive residential and educational model. The institution's aid structure emphasizes need-based support for families demonstrating financial need, with application through the FAFSA.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,996, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $36,278; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $75,027, median federal debt of $22,996 projects to a monthly payment of about $260 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Virginia Military Institute earn median 4-year earnings of $75,027, placing the institution in the 75.0th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $52,621 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band). Azimuth ranks Virginia Military Institute #328 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 77.9th percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects Virginia Military Institute's focus on Engineering, which represents 26% of graduates. Civil Engineering is the highest-earning program with 57 graduates earning median earnings of $76,991 four years after enrollment — ranking #123 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Azimuth ranks International Relations and National Security Studies #19 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions with 45 graduates earning $72,700, while Economics ranks #126 nationally with graduates earning $76,296. The concentration in quantitative fields helps explain the institution's above-average earnings relative to peers.
Computer Science
24 graduates
Civil Engineering
57 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
30 graduates
Economics
43 graduates
Psychology, General
39 graduates
Virginia Military Institute's program mix is anchored in engineering and applied sciences — a signature consistent with its identity as a military college that channels graduates into technically demanding careers in defense, government, and the private sector. Engineering accounts for 26% of degrees, with Social Sciences and other STEM fields rounding out the institution's academic portfolio.
Across 14 programs serving roughly 394 students annually, the strongest financial outcomes cluster in engineering and quantitative fields where VMI's military-professional pipeline creates direct pathways into high-demand roles. Civil Engineering anchors the institution's earnings profile, combining meaningful cohort scale with strong four-year outcomes.
Civil Engineering, the largest program with 57 graduates, delivers median earnings of $76,991 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #107 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. International Relations and National Security Studies follows with 45 graduates earning $72,700, ranked #18 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Among the highest-earning programs at VMI, Computer Science leads with median earnings of $94,397 and Azimuth ranks it #156 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program families at Virginia Military Institute are high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways — engineering, applied sciences, and related technical fields where graduates enter the labor market immediately after commissioning or graduation rather than proceeding to graduate study.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with national labor-market demand, particularly in defense-adjacent and infrastructure sectors where VMI's graduate profile is well represented. For a fuller view of how individual programs rank, see [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Puerto Rico-Bayamon Similar quality tier (#15321 ranked) | PR | 35% | $34,409 | #15321 | Compare |
Southeastern Oklahoma State University Similar quality tier (#15306 ranked) | OK | 76% | $45,079 | #15306 | Compare |
Delaware State University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#15324 ranked) | DE | 47% | $49,307 | #15324 | Compare |
Grambling State University Similar quality tier (#15331 ranked) | LA | 45% | $41,109 | #15331 | Compare |
Suny College Of Technology At Delhi Similar quality tier (#15332 ranked) | NY | 89% | $51,629 | #15332 | Compare |
