At A Glance…
Founded in 1839, Virginia Military Institute is the nation’s first state-supported military college. U.S. News & World Report has ranked VMI among the nation’s top undergraduate public liberal arts colleges for years. The Honor Code and the traditions and rules of the Institute regulate the daily life of cadets, all supported by dedicated faculty and staff, as well as one of the most invested and dedicated alumni networks in the nation, over 17,000 strong.
Who Makes Up the Corps?
~1500
30%
25%
~14%
64%
34%
2%
Spotlight on Academics
10:1 Student to Faculty
14 Majors
- 3 Engineering programs
- 3 distinct tracks in Computer and Information Science
27 Minors
51% of current cadets enrolled in STEM
Postgraduate Success
VMI’s historic mission to educate “citizen-soldiers” means that cadets are uniquely positioned to compete for prestigious national and international scholarships.
The Institute’s 11 Rhodes Scholars—and numerous others, including Gates Cambridge, Marshall, Goldwater, and Fulbright Scholars—exemplify the value of the VMI experience.
Rankings And Recognition
4.5
Stars (out of 5) Best Colleges in America 2026
Money Magazine
#4
Top Public Schools
U.S. News and World Report
#1
Liberal Arts College for ROTC Rank
Washington Monthly
Affordability
$33,016
23%
84%
Over $17M
Scholarship Highlight
Peay Merit Scholarships cover the full cost of tuition, room, board, and fees and are awarded to students who demonstrate: exceptional leadership, academic achievement, athletic commitment, and demonstrated interest in national service.
The Academic Year in Lexington
Nestled in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley, VMI begins its academic year in small-town Lexington, Virginia, in mid-August with the return of cadre and the matriculation of new recruits and completes the spring semester in mid-May. Graduation ceremonies are held in December and May.
Opportunity for Early Success
Appointed students are able to get a head start on their leadership journey at VMI by attending the Summer Transition Program (STP) during Summer Session II before they officially arrive for Matriculation in mid-August.
During the program they are able to experience what it means to be at VMI: rigorous academics, camaraderie of life in barracks, meals together in Crozet Hall, physical training on the Parade Ground and around the VMI campus (post), and access to services and staff committed to their success.
Fall Semester
Mid-August to Mid-December
Spring Semester
Mid-January to Mid-May
Summer Session I
Mid-May to Mid-June
Summer Session II
Late-June to Late-July
Return on Investment
97% of graduates are employed or attending graduate school within five months of graduation.
50%+ graduates commission into the armed forces through VMI’s ROTC program and Auxiliary University Program (AUP).
$77,370 Typical Early Career Pay (Money Magazine)
$88K Avg. Base Salary of Graduates (Payscale.com)
$2,016,000 20-year salary earnings potential (UniversityHQ.com)
Research Resources
The Institute is dedicated not only to undergraduate and faculty research, but also to providing educational materials and experiences to the public.
On Post
Preston Library – Collections include more than 200,000 volumes of print materials, 100,000 full-text electronic journals, 750,000 electronic books, government publications, non-print materials, and primary source collections housed in the VMI Archives.
VMI Museum – From the mounted hide of “Little Sorrel,” “Stonewall” Jackson’s favorite horse, to seven Medals of Honor awarded to VMI alumni, the museum chronicles the story of the nation’s first state sponsored military college.
Off Post
Jackson House Museum – Since 1954, Gen. Thomas Jackson’s Lexington home has been a museum and historic site. In 1979 the house was carefully restored to its appearance at the time of the Jacksons’ occupancy.
VMCW – The Virginia Museum of the Civil War, historic Bushong Farm, and self-guided battlefield tour provide many opportunities to reflect upon the Battle of New Market which raged just outside the museum and farm on May 15, 1864.