Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Virginia Military Institute at a Glance
The Virginia Military Institute (VMI) is a public senior military college in Lexington, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1839 as America's first state-sponsored and -supported military college and is the oldest public senior military college in the United States. In keeping with its founding principles and unlike any other senior military college in the United States, VMI enrolls cadets only and awards bachelor's degrees exclusively. The institute grants degrees in 14 disciplines in en…
1839
187 years old
$835M
$835 million (2025)
1,560
134 acres
14
28 minors
Identity
How to Apply to Virginia Military Institute
Official admissions pageNovember 15
Testing policy
Is Virginia Military Institute Worth It?
Virginia Military Institute is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $17,113/year net price and $77,369 median earnings, graduates earn 4.5× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.9 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 79% graduation rate means roughly 21% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: Virginia Military Institute delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Virginia Military Institute compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 12 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Virginia Military Institute | 89 | $17,113 | $77,369 |
| #2 | SUNY Maritime College | 75 | $22,367 | $95,951 |
| #3 | Charter Oak State College | 68 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
| #4 | St. Mary's College of Maryland | 56 | $18,441 | $60,110 |
| #5 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | 50 | $20,183 | $72,257 |
| #6 | Oregon State University-Cascades Campus | 48 | $18,048 | $64,010 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Virginia Military Institute's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Virginia Military Institute
The highest-earning program at Virginia Military Institute is Civil Engineering at $40,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Psychology, General at $34,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Civil Engineering graduate from Virginia Military Institute earns $40,400, while a Psychology, General graduate earns $34,500. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Civil Engineering graduates carry $22,500 in median debt vs. $21,250 for Psychology, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $17,113/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering | $40,400 | $40,400 | $22,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $39,400 | $39,400 | $26,735 |
| Economics | $38,100 | $38,100 | $25,000 |
| Biology, General | $37,900 | $37,900 | $23,250 |
| History | $37,800 | $37,800 | $26,809 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $37,700 | $37,700 | $25,968 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $37,600 | $37,600 | N/A |
| Psychology, General | $34,500 | $34,500 | $21,250 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Lexington, VA
- Student Body
- 1,527 students
- Admission Rate
- 71%
- Graduation Rate
- 79%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $17,113
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $77,369
- Median Student Debt
- $22,996