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VMI Rankings
Those who choose VMI don’t settle for ordinary.
The unique experience at VMI, balancing academics, military training, and athletics, results in the Institute consistently being recognized in college rankings as a top choice for undergraduate education.
U.S. News & World Report (2026)
Smart Choice for Your Education
- 4.5 out of 5-star rating as one of the Best Colleges in America [Money magazine]
- Top 8% Best Small Colleges in America [Niche]
- Top 26% Best Liberal Arts Colleges in America [Niche]
- Top 35% of Liberal Arts Colleges [Washington Monthly]
Smart Choice for Your Wallet
- No. 2 Best Value College in Virginia [Smart Asset]
- $77,370 typical early career earnings [Money magazine]
- Top 4% Best Value Colleges in America [Niche]
- Included on Best Bang for the Buck lists [Washington Monthly]
Reputation for Excellence and Value
VMI is consistently included in rankings and recognitions from leading industry experts. While criteria and categories evolve, the Institute maintains its reputation as a top-choice destination for undergraduate education.
Past accolades include:
- No. 1 liberal arts college in the nation for ROTC Rank [Washington Monthly, 2024]
- No. 30 liberal arts college in the nation for net price rank [Washington Monthly, 2024]
- No. 3 in Virginia for college/university with best alumni salary potential [Payscale.com, 2024]
- No. 78 in the nation for top colleges for a bachelor's degree with the highest-paid graduates [Payscale.com, 2024]
- A- in Best Colleges in America, based on categories such as academics, diversity, Athletics, and value. [Niche, 2024]