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Virginia Military Institute: Paving the way for success in military and civilian careers
Never Settle for Ordinary While you may not have considered Virginia Military Institute in your college search, this article could change your mind. VMI is not your ordinary college experience, but it doesn’t claim to be.
Virginia Military Institute doesn’t do ordinary
With a Nobel Prize winner, 11 Rhodes scholars, 7 Medal of Honor recipients, a Pulitzer Prize winner, college presidents, and generals and flag officers in its ranks, VMI is far from ordinary. Ranked No. 2 among Virginia public colleges for the best return on investment, No. 4 in top public schools by U.S. News & World Report, and rated 4.5 stars out of a five-star scale in Money Magazine’s 2023 Best Colleges list against more than 730 colleges, VMI’s prestige is built on a tradition designed to shape cadets’ futures.
Pay less, get more
Eighty-eight percent of cadets get some form of scholarship or financial aid for academics and athletic ability, and 99% of cadets are employed or attending graduate school within five months of graduation.
VMI students are fit for life
By nature of military training, cadets are fit. With 18 NCAA Division 1 teams, VMI encourages sound mind and sound body, focusing on three all-encompassing educational pillars: academics, military training and athletics.
VMI develops leaders
We’re not just talking about student government here. Every cadet has the opportunity to lead others and is provided a chance to impact how the school is run.
Nurture lifetime friendships
VMI programs ensure cadets are not alone on their journey. The Center for Cadet Counseling, Writing Center, Office of Career Services and the Math Resource Center provide ongoing support year-round. In addition, the VMI Rat Line system is all about establishing bonds between classmates known as “brother rats,” now considered a gender-neutral term for the brotherhood and sisterhood that’s built at VMI. BRs stay friends for life, return for reunions and stay connected long after graduation.
Live the honor code
The honor code at VMI demands that cadets be good people with integrity. Need an example? A cadet who takes just a quarter from someone will get kicked out — seriously.
VMI alumni help graduates make valuable connections
Experience a small school with big opportunities No massive lecture halls here. VMI’s 11-to-1 faculty-to-cadet ratio creates a personalized classroom experience where cadets learn directly from their professors. The broad four-year curriculum offers majors in engineering, science, liberal arts and social sciences. The Institute houses quality equipment and research opportunities usually found only at top research institutions.
When it comes to navigating the workforce, it’s no secret that it helps to know people. The VMI alumni network is robust and far-reaching, so graduates have immediate connections that can help them land great jobs and career opportunities long after graduation.
Graduates do not have to serve in the military More than half of the cadets who come to VMI end up serving in the military. Whether they choose to serve in the military or not, every student leaves VMI with a citizen-soldier mentality that emphasizes the importance of service. VMI.edu/NeverSettle
Look good in gray
Admit it, uniforms look great. At VMI, cadets don’t have to worry about what to wear, and they look good every day.