AU vs. VSU

Deciding between Averett University and Virginia State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Averett University
Virginia State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Danville, VA
  • VSU Petersburg, VA
  • Setting
  • AU Small City
  • VSU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 1,476
  • VSU 5,605
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • VSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #637
  • VSU #950
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU -
  • VSU -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • VSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • VSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $38,550
  • VSU $10,043
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $38,550
  • VSU $22,650
  • Room & Board
  • AU $14,530
  • VSU $13,355
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $23,471
  • VSU $17,840
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $29,998
  • VSU $12,447
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 99%
  • VSU 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 2,573
  • VSU 11,775
  • Admitted
  • AU 1,456
  • VSU 10,436
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 56.6%
  • VSU 88.6%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 18.1%
  • VSU 14.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1030
  • VSU 960
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 21
  • VSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.07
  • VSU 2.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU B
  • VSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Moderate
  • VSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • VSU
  • ACT Range
  • AU 15/28
  • VSU 14/20
  • SAT Range
  • AU 926/1143
  • VSU 840/1070
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • VSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU
  • VSU May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 16:1
  • VSU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (7%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • VSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 41%
  • VSU 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $48,400
  • VSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 51%
  • VSU 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $25,000
  • VSU $29,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $258
  • VSU $305

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 45%
  • VSU 40%
  • % Women
  • AU 55%
  • VSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU Medium
  • VSU Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • VSU Yes
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • VSU 3%
  • % Asian
  • AU 1%
  • VSU 1%
  • % Black
  • AU 33%
  • VSU 87%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 4%
  • VSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • AU 1%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % International
  • AU 4%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 0%
  • VSU 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 54%
  • VSU 68%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 39%
  • VSU 31%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AU Yes
  • VSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AU No
  • VSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • AU Yes
  • VSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AU No
  • VSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • AU No
  • VSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Averett University in Danville, VA with Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia State University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (5,605 students vs. 1,476 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Averett University is located in Danville, VA (Small City setting); Virginia State University is in Petersburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Averett University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Averett University 16:1; Virginia State University 13:1.

AU vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or VSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia State University than AU ($17,840 vs. $23,471).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia State University are 8.1% lower than at Averett University ($13,355 vs. $14,530).
  • Averett University is 283.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than VSU (about $28,507 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $10,043.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 70.2% higher at AU than at Virginia State University (about $15,900 more per year; $38,550.00 vs. $22,650.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Averett University than at Virginia State University (99% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Averett University students is 141% larger than aid received by Virginia State University students ($29,998 vs. $12,447).

AU vs. VSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or VSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between VSU and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Averett University (1030) is 70 points higher than at VSU (960).
  • Incoming AU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 17 at VSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Averett University 926/1143; Virginia State University 840/1070.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Averett University 15/28; Virginia State University 14/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; VSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VSU May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.07) than students at VSU (2.85).
  • VSU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than AU (56.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at AU vs. 14.3% at VSU.

AU vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and VSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Averett University's six-year graduation rate (41%) is higher than Virginia State University's (40%).
  • Graduates from Averett University earn a median of about $11,700 more per year than VSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Averett University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than VSU graduates ($25,000 vs. $29,500).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VSU graduates ($258 vs. $305).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (51% vs. 28%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.