Outcomes-based program rankings.
Program outcomes at Virginia Military Institute vary significantly by field of study, though all benefit from the institution's distinctive military education approach. The rankings below evaluate programs based on graduate earnings, debt levels, and return on investment rather than traditional prestige measures.
Use this page to compare how different majors perform in the labor market while considering VMI's unique military college environment.
Analyzing 11 programs with available earnings data.
These highlights showcase programs that demonstrate exceptional performance across earnings, national rankings, and career preparation within VMI's military college framework.
#177 nationally
$61K median earnings
This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.
The tables below compare programs in each category by earnings, national rank, cohort size, and value score performance.
These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at Virginia Military Institute.
Engineering programs at VMI demonstrate strong earning potential with Civil Engineering ranking #58 nationally and producing $71,338 median earnings. Mechanical Engineering graduates earn $73,138, representing the highest earnings among VMI programs.
Both programs benefit from VMI's emphasis on technical leadership and disciplined problem-solving approaches valued by engineering employers.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering. | #177 | $73,138★ | — |
Program rankings reflect post-graduation labor market outcomes rather than traditional prestige measures or faculty research profiles. Earnings differences between programs at the same institution occur because graduates enter different career fields with varying compensation structures and advancement opportunities. Computer Science earnings, for example, may appear lower than expected due to sample composition or geographic factors specific to VMI graduates. Rankings use federal College Scorecard data requiring minimum cohort sizes for statistical reliability, meaning some programs may not appear despite institutional offerings. Value scores integrate earnings, debt levels, and completion rates to assess return on investment across different career pathways. These metrics provide objective measures of program performance while recognizing that individual outcomes depend on career choices, geographic location, and personal goals beyond immediate post-graduation earnings.
Median earnings 10 years post-enrollment
Debt burden relative to earnings
Institutional contribution to outcomes
recent graduates
| 23 |
| Civil Engineering, General. | #52 | $71,338 | — | 50 |
| Computer Science. | #180 | $64,493 | — | 20 |
Biology represents VMI's strongest science program, ranking #1 in Virginia among general biology programs while graduating 38 students with median earnings of $63,600. The program's value score of 86.7 reflects strong outcomes relative to educational investment, benefiting from VMI's disciplined approach to scientific inquiry and research methodology.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General. | #49 | $63,600★ | — | 38 |
| Acoustics.Small sample | #58 | $46,641 | — | 12 |
Social science programs excel at VMI, with International Relations ranking #15 nationally and Psychology ranking #9 nationally with an outstanding value score of 97.7. These programs leverage VMI's leadership development and strategic thinking emphasis to prepare graduates for government service, diplomacy, and corporate roles requiring analytical and interpersonal skills.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Economics. | #80 | $70,038★ | — | 50 |
| International Relations and Affairs. | #15 | $64,800 | — | 50 |
| Psychology, General. | #10 | $60,540 | — | 39 |
American History demonstrates exceptional performance at VMI, ranking #11 nationally and #2 in Virginia with a remarkable value score of 96.2. The program produces graduates earning $64,539, well above typical history program outcomes.
VMI's military heritage and strategic studies focus enhance traditional liberal arts education with leadership and analytical capabilities.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American History (United States). | #11 | $64,539★ | — | 42 |
| English Language and Literature, General.Small sample | #30 | $59,857 | — | 11 |
| Applied Linguistics.Small sample | #50 | $39,909 | — | 11 |
Resources, cohort size, and graduation rates
Trajectory from early to mid-career
Why rankings may differ by program: A university's nursing program and business program can have entirely different outcome profiles. Our methodology surfaces these differences so you can evaluate programs — not just institutions.
