Virginia Military Institute vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) stand as two distinct beacons of higher education, each offering a unique blend of academic rigor, tradition, and opportunity. VMI, a public military college in Lexington, Virginia, is renowned for its strong emphasis on leadership, ethics, and service, while MIT, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is celebrated for its groundbreaking contributions to science, technology, and innovation. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ significantly in terms of acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which institution better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
![]() Virginia Military Institute |
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Overview |
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Location | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Lexington, Virginia |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 99.0% | 87.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 4.1% | 63.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
|
$40 |
SAT range | N/A | 1080 - 1300 |
ACT range | N/A | 22 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 29.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 12.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 33,240 | 1,549 |
Total number of admissions given out | 1,365 | 990 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,177 | 461 |
Yield rate | 86.2% | 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 | $58,920 |
In state:
$33,182
Out of state:
$61,836
|
Average net price | $30,958 | $18,100 |
Tuition | $55,510 |
In state:
$9,782
Out of state:
$38,436
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$11,550
Meal plan:
$6,550
|
Room/dormitory:
$3,102
Meal plan:
$7,260
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $32,562 |
91.0%
Average amount $10,832 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
6.0%
Average amount $5,112 |
59.0%
Average amount $3,385 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $17,891 |
11.0%
Average amount $22,604 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
4,638
Men 51.9% Women 48.1% |
1,652
Men 86.2% Women 13.8% |
Graduate students |
7,296
Men 62.0% Women 38.0% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | 38.2% |
International students | 29.2% | 1.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 6,280 | 1,751 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Texas New York Florida 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 | 3:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 96.2% | 73.7% |
Dropout rate | 3.0% | 4.4% |
Transferred out | N/A | 21.7% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (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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