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Moderately selectiveProfile current for 2026-2027

Virginia Military Institute acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

Virginia Military Institute is a public university in Virginia that admits most qualified applicants (around 71%), which puts it in the moderately selective range. A rate like this means it admits more applicants than it rejects; the bar is less about clearing a single cutoff and more about how your full profile compares to admitted students.

Your odds at Virginia Military Institute
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Virginia Military Institute weighs, where it ranks among Virginia schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1230, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
71%
Moderately selective
SAT middle 50%
1050-1270
of admitted students
Type
Public
Lexington, VA
Average net price
$17,113
per year after aid

What do students study at Virginia Military Institute?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Social Sciences · 101 (25.9%)Engineering · 84 (21.5%)History · 44 (11.3%)Psychology · 43 (11%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 30 (7.7%)Computer and Information Sciences · 26 (6.7%)English Language and Literature · 23 (5.9%)Mathematics and Statistics · 18 (4.6%)Physical Sciences · 12 (3.1%)

Will I get into Virginia Military Institute?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Virginia Military Institute, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Virginia Military Institute?

At Virginia Military Institute, your real chance depends on far more than the published 71% admit rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Virginia Military Institute in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Virginia Military Institute hard to get into?

Virginia Military Institute is moderately selective: it admits more applicants than it rejects, with about a 71% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Virginia Military Institute?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Virginia Military Institute, but admitted students often present roughly a 3.2 to 3.7 GPA. Virginia Military Institute reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Virginia Military Institute →

Your chances at Virginia Military Institute by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Virginia Military Institute for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Virginia Military Institute with a 3.1 GPA and a 1160 SAT?

About 87% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1160 SAT, the middle of Virginia Military Institute's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1270 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Virginia Military Institute by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 105025th pctSAT 1160middleSAT 127075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.524%Reach42%Target63%Likely31%Target
2.850%Likely70%Safety84%Safety66%Likely
3.175%Safety87%Safety94%Safety88%Safety
3.490%Safety96%Safety98%Safety97%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/virginia-military-institute.

How to get into Virginia Military Institute

Built from Virginia Military Institute's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

Getting into Virginia Military Institute comes down to four decisions, each one visible in the data on this page.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Virginia Military Institute carries about a 3.22 core GPA and a 1220 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 1050 to 1270 SAT (24 to 31 ACT). Submit a score at 1160 or higher; below 1050, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Virginia Military Institute weighs

Virginia Military Institute rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by Virginia Military Institute's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.vmi.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.

See your odds and your top moves at Virginia Military Institute →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.vmi.edu ↗

How many students apply to Virginia Military Institute, and how many get in?

1,171 students applied to Virginia Military Institute for fall 2023; 957 were admitted (81.7%). 469 enrolled. Roughly 49% of admitted students enrolled, a typical yield for a school in this range. Virginia Military Institute enrolls about 1,527 undergraduates in total, 14% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1.

Applied
1,171
fall 2023
Admitted
957
81.7% of applicants
Enrolled
469
49% yield
Undergraduates
1,527
Lexington, distant town

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Virginia Military Institute?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Virginia Military Institute scored between 1050 and 1270 on the SAT (average 1244). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 24 to 31. A score above 1270 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1050 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Virginia Military Institute is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
1050-1270
average 1244
ACT middle 50%
24-31
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Virginia Military Institute looks for

What Virginia Military Institute weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

Virginia Military Institute signals that it values rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank above the rest of the file. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Virginia Military Institute's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Important
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Important
Recommendations
Important
Interview
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Virginia Military Institute

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Virginia Military Institute
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1230 SAT →Colleges for a 26 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Virginia Military Institute cost after financial aid?

Virginia Military Institute's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $34,824 per year. Tuition and fees are $21,046 for VA residents and $52,638 for out-of-state students, a $31,592 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $17,113 a year, and it ranges from $12,697 for families earning under $30,000 to $23,434 for families earning over $110,000. 16% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$34,824
per year, before aid
Average net price
$17,113
after grants and scholarships
In-state tuition
$21,046
$52,638 out of state
Pell recipients
16%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$12,697
$30k to $48k$9,246
$48k to $75k$12,162
$75k to $110k$13,385
Over $110k$23,434

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Virginia Military Institute graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Ten years after enrolling, the median Virginia Military Institute student who received federal aid earns $77,369 a year, up from $63,545 at six years. 76% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 81% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $22,996; 59% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$77,369
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
76%
within six years
Retention
81%
return for year two
Median debt
$22,996
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Virginia Military Institute compares in Virginia

Virginia Military Institute ranks #10 most selective of 28 schools in Virginia in our database.

Among the 28 Virginia schools we track, Virginia Military Institute ranks #10 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Washington and Lee University (14%) and University of Virginia (17%) sit nearby, which makes Virginia a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Washington and Lee University
14%acceptance · VA
University of Virginia
17%acceptance · VA
University of Richmond
22%acceptance · VA
William & Mary
34%acceptance · VA
Regent University
38%acceptance · VA
Virginia Tech
55%acceptance · VA
Averett University
57%acceptance · VA
Bluefield University
59%acceptance · VA
See all Virginia schools →

Similar to Virginia Military Institute

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

If Virginia Military Institute is on your list, schools with a similar admit profile are worth a look: University of Delaware, University of South Alabama, and Western Illinois University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

University of Delaware
71%acceptance · DE
University of South Alabama
71%acceptance · AL
Western Illinois University
71%acceptance · IL
Henderson State University
71%acceptance · AR
Ramapo College
71%acceptance · NJ
Rutgers-Newark
71%acceptance · NJ

Frequently asked questions

What is Virginia Military Institute's acceptance rate?

Virginia Military Institute admitted 957 of 1,171 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 81.7% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 49% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Virginia Military Institute?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1050 to 1270 on the SAT and 24 to 31 on the ACT. A score above 1270 is in the top quarter of admits. Virginia Military Institute is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Virginia Military Institute test-optional?

Yes. Virginia Military Institute reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Virginia Military Institute cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Virginia Military Institute, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $17,113 a year against a sticker price of about $34,824. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $12,697 on average.

What do Virginia Military Institute graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Virginia Military Institute are $77,369 a year among students who received federal aid, and 76% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Virginia Military Institute value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Virginia Military Institute weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and class rank most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Virginia Military Institute favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Virginia Military Institute generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at Virginia Military Institute?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Virginia Military Institute specifically.

How does residency affect admission to Virginia Military Institute?

As a public university, Virginia Military Institute typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.