Profile

Founded in 1839, Virginia Military Institute is the nation’s first state-supported military college and the last to admit women. Located in Lexington, VA, the institute offers 14 majors and 22 minors in 14 disciplines. Social sciences, engineering and history are the most common. Students can join any number of the school’s 80 student organizations that range from military to religious organizations, and from science to music and theatre.All cadets are required to participate in one of the four ROTC programs: Army, Marines, Navy or Air Force. Dating back to the 1920s, Ring Figure is an annual tradition held every November for juniors; cadets are given a class ring, a formal ring and a combat ring at a presentation ceremony. Every year in May, the school honors its fallen cadets during a New Market Day parade. VMI’s sports teams, known as the Keydets, compete at the Division I level, and they are also a member of the Southern Conference for wrestling and the Atlantic Sun Conference for men’s lacrosse. VMI alumni include U.S. Army’s chief of staff during World War II and architect of the Marshall Plan, George Marshall. The school has also produced a Nobel Peace Prize winner, Pulitzer Prize winners, Rhodes Scholars and an Academy Award winner.