Virginia Military Institute (VMI), located in Lexington, Virginia, is a four-year undergraduate college founded in 1839. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Virginia's system of higher education. Virginia Military Institute is the nation's first state military college. Located in the Shenandoah Valley in historic Lexington, Virginia, the campus, referred to as "the Post," sits on 134 acres, 12 of which are designated as a National Historic District. It is the mission of the Virginia Military Institute to produce educated and honorable men and women, prepared for the varied work of civil life, imbued with love of learning, confident in the functions and attitudes of leadership, possessing a high sense of public service, advocates of the American Democracy and free enterprise system, and ready as citizen-soldiers to defend their country in time of national peril.
The Shenandoah Valley stretches 200 miles across the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. The natural scenic beauty of the area is accompanied by a variety of recreational opportunities and historic sites. The Institute is located approximately three hours from Washington, D.C., and 2 hours from the Richmond metropolitan area.
