Key differences on Cost & aid
- 1
Southwest Minnesota State costs about $10K less per year on average than Virginia Military Institute ($17,534 vs. $27,507, all students)
Average cost, all students - 2
Virginia Military Institute's grants cover 41% of its full price on average, vs. 32% at Southwest Minnesota State
Aid generosity
Cost & aid
Cost & aid
Average cost, aid generosity, net price by family income, sticker prices, and grants.
What students pay
Grants
Sticker prices
On one scale, so the bars read against each other.
Up to $110K: the average net price per year for students receiving federal aid, 2023–24; families who didn't file the FAFSA aren't included. Above it the published data end. For your own number, use the college's net price calculator .
Family income per year $150K
- Southwest Minnesota StatePublished data end at $110K
- Virginia Military InstituteLittle need-based aid above $110K
Published (federal figure, up to $110K) EstimateBars share one scale: the largest full price.
Where need-based aid ends, merit, and published promises
| Metric | Southwest Minnesota State | Virginia Military Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Need-based aid up to | Published data end at $110K | Little need-based aid above $110K |
| Merit for students without need | – | – |
| Published promise | – | – |
A college's own promise is stated for a typical family and changes yearly; where a promise and our estimate disagree, the promise wins. Merit has no income limit, so it can lower the price above the point where need-based aid ends.
Tuition guarantee & Promise program
| Metric | Southwest Minnesota State | Virginia Military Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition guarantee | No | No |
| Promise program | No | No |
From the colleges' Common Data Sets
| Metric | Southwest Minnesota State | Virginia Military Institute |
|---|---|---|
| Aid forms | – | FAFSA |
| Aid priority date or deadline | – | March 1 (priority) |
| Need met, first-years | – | 68% |
| Average aid package, first-years | – | $25,200 |
| College grant dollars given as merit | – | 79% |
| Aid for international students | – | 11 students, average $32.2K |
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Common Data Set, most recent release;Virginia Military Institute Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;Virginia Military Institute Common Data Set 2025–26, 2024–25;Virginia Military Institute Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why