,·Public Military Liberal Arts·Est. 1839
“The only public senior military college in the US where every undergraduate is a uniformed cadet — combining a rigorous liberal arts and engineering education with full military training.”
Virginia Military Institute (VMI) is the oldest state-supported military college in the United States and the only public institution in the country where every undergraduate student serves as a uniformed cadet in the Corps of Cadets. Founded in 1839 in Lexington, Virginia, VMI combines an accredited liberal arts and engineering education with a rigorous military formation program rooted in honor, discipline, and leadership. Virginia state law requires all cadets to participate in ROTC throughout their enrollment, making a VMI degree simultaneously an academic credential and a leadership development program recognized across the US military, government, and private sector. The Institute's undergraduate engineering program ranks #29 nationally among schools without doctoral programs, and its economics and liberal arts curricula are nationally recognized for academic rigor relative to class size. The Corps of Cadets numbers about 1,500 and all students — from day one — enter the "Rat Line," a first-year rite of passage designed to build unity, resilience, and mutual accountability. Alumni (called "Old Boys" and "Old Girls") include General George C. Marshall, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and dozens of distinguished military and civilian leaders. At $18,214/year in-state tuition, VMI offers an exceptional value for Virginians; out-of-state cost is $43,902. With a #4 ranking among public national liberal arts colleges, VMI delivers elite outcomes at a public institution price.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Top Public Schools
US News 2026
Undergraduate Engineering (non-doctorate)
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Decision
Binding ED.
Regular Decision
Priority deadline. FAFSA priority deadline March 1.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$18,214 – $43,902
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$43,902
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Offers Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, and Chemical Engineering plus Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Ranked #29 nationally for undergraduate engineering among non-doctorate institutions.
Encompasses History, English, Modern Languages, Psychology, and International Studies — grounded in the VMI leadership mission with strong emphasis on communication and critical reasoning.
VMI's Economics program is nationally recognized; the school also offers Applied Mathematics. Prepares cadets for careers in government, defense, finance, and consulting.
4 years
VMI's engineering programs are ABET-accredited and ranked #29 nationally among non-doctorate-granting institutions. The combination of engineering rigor with military discipline produces graduates who excel in defense, infrastructure, and technology industries.
4 years
Designed for cadets interested in diplomacy, national security, and global affairs. Combines regional studies, language training, and political science with VMI's leadership curriculum — strong preparation for intelligence agencies, State Department, and multinational organizations.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $52,638
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
