Match #1
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA
Profile closeness74/100
Admit rate80%
- 3,566 students
- Public
- Suburb: Midsize
- Graduation rate 65%, close to 72%
- Acceptance rate 80%, close to 71%
The colleges most similar to Virginia Military Institute are University of Mary Washington, Christopher Newport University, and Longwood University. Virginia Military Institute admits 71% of applicants and has an average net price of $15,585 a year; 5 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 8 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Virginia Military Institute. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Closest matches
Algorithm-ranked matches similar to Virginia Military Institute
Match #2
Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA
Profile closeness72/100
Admit rate86%
- 4,365 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 75%, close to 72%
- Same control type (public)
Match #3
Longwood University
Farmville, VA
Profile closeness69/100
Admit rate90%
- 3,015 students
- Public
- Town: Remote
- Same control type (public)
Match #4
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
Profile closeness55/100
Admit rate87%
- 27,752 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 66%, close to 72%
- Average net price $14,697, close to $15,585
Match #5
University of Virginia's College at Wise
Wise, VA
Profile closeness53/100
Admit rate29%
- 1,101 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
- Enrollment 1,101 students, close to 1,527
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #6
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
Profile closeness51/100
Admit rate72%
- 20,888 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 80%, close to 72%
- Acceptance rate 72%, close to 71%
Match #7
Virginia State University
Petersburg, VA
Profile closeness49/100
Admit rate89%
- 5,074 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Average net price $14,893, close to $15,585
- Same control type (public)
Match #8
Radford University
Radford, VA
Profile closeness48/100
Admit rate90%
- 6,038 students
- Public
- Suburb: Small
- Average net price $13,701, close to $15,585
- Same control type (public)
Match #9
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA
Profile closeness45/100
Admit rate34%
- 7,055 students
- Public
- Suburb: Small
- Same control type (public)
Match #10
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, VA
Profile closeness44/100
Admit rate88%
- 5,392 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Same control type (public)
AI-assisted picks
Editor-curated list for Virginia Military Institute
Match #1
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston, SC
Profile closeness—
Admit rate23%
- 2,705 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
Match #2
Norwich University
Northfield, VT
Profile closeness—
Admit rate74%
- 2,428 students
- Private nonprofit
- Town: Distant
Match #3
Texas A & M University-College Station
College Station, TX
Profile closeness—
Admit rate57%
- 59,615 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
Match #4
United States Military Academy at West Point
West Point, NY
Profile closeness—
Admit rate12%
- 4,408 students
- Public
- Town: Fringe
Match #5
United States Naval Academy at Annapolis
Annapolis, MD
Profile closeness—
Admit rate9%
- 4,474 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
Match #6
United States Air Force Academy
USAF Academy, CO
Profile closeness—
Admit rate14%
- 4,114 students
- Public
- Town: Fringe
Match #7
Valley Forge Military College
Wayne, PA
Profile closeness—
Admit rate—
- 90 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Large
Match #8
University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, GA
Profile closeness—
Admit rate68%
- 16,146 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
Match #9
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA
Profile closeness—
Admit rate55%
- 30,923 students
- Public
- City: Small
Match #10
Georgia Military College
Milledgeville, GA
Profile closeness—
Admit rate—
- 3,992 students
- Public
- Town: Distant
Questions about Virginia Military Institute alternatives
What colleges are similar to Virginia Military Institute?
The closest matches to Virginia Military Institute are University of Mary Washington, Christopher Newport University, Longwood University, George Mason University, and University of Virginia's College at Wise. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is Virginia Military Institute hard to get into?
Virginia Military Institute admitted 71% of its 1,549 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is moderately selective. 8 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which Virginia Military Institute alternatives cost less?
5 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Virginia Military Institute ($15,585 a year), including University of Virginia's College at Wise ($5,869), Norfolk State University ($12,180), and Radford University ($13,701). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
