Virginia Military Institute vs Stanford
Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and Stanford University stand as two distinct beacons of higher education, each offering a unique blend of academic rigor, vibrant campus life, and diverse opportunities. VMI, a public military college in Lexington, Virginia, is renowned for its strong military heritage, small class sizes, and focus on leadership development. Stanford, a private research university in Stanford, California, is celebrated for its academic excellence, entrepreneurial spirit, and world-class faculty. 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 university better aligns with your academic aspirations, personal preferences, and long-term goals.
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![]() Stanford University |
![]() Virginia Military Institute |
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Overview |
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Location | Stanford, California | Lexington, Virginia |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Quarter | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 98.0% | 87.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 3.9% | 63.9% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$90
Graduate:
$125
|
$40 |
SAT range | 1470 - 1570 | 1080 - 1300 |
ACT range | 34 - 35 | 22 - 27 |
Students submitting SAT score | 15.0% | 29.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | 12.0% |
Total number of applicants | 55,471 | 1,549 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,190 | 990 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,757 | 461 |
Yield rate | 80.2% | 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 | $78,898 |
In state:
$33,182
Out of state:
$61,836
|
Average net price | $14,402 | $18,100 |
Tuition | $55,473 |
In state:
$9,782
Out of state:
$38,436
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$11,166
Meal plan:
$6,694
|
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) |
61.0%
Average amount $56,211 |
91.0%
Average amount $10,832 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
5.0%
Average amount $5,151 |
59.0%
Average amount $3,385 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $17,186 |
11.0%
Average amount $22,604 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
7,645
Men 49.4% Women 50.6% |
1,652
Men 86.2% Women 13.8% |
Graduate students |
10,035
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 58.5% | 38.2% |
International students | 24.4% | 1.7% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 14,621 | 1,751 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Texas Washington New York Illinois | 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 | 5:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 95.5% | 73.7% |
Dropout rate | 1.7% | 4.4% |
Transferred out | 0.6% | 21.7% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor'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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