Birmingham Southern College vs. VWC

Should I go to Birmingham Southern College or Virginia Wesleyan College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Birmingham Southern College or VWC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Birmingham Southern College vs. Virginia Wesleyan College comparison
Birmingham Southern College Virginia Wesleyan College College 3 College 4
Birmingham Southern College Virginia Wesleyan College
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Overview

Birmingham Southern College VWC
Location Birmingham, AL Norfolk, VA
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 731 1,711
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #679
Religious Affiliation United Methodist United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bsc.edu vwc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Birmingham Southern College VWC
Tuition (In State) $21,500 $36,010
Tuition (Out of State) $21,500 $36,010
Room & Board $14,300 $11,513
Avg Net Price $24,170 $21,862
Avg Grant Aid $14,223 $29,360
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Birmingham Southern College VWC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,987 2,651
Admitted 2,071 1,890
Acceptance Rate 51.9% 71.3%
Enrolled % 7.1% 19.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.72 3.39
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 21/27 28/29
SAT Range 1150/1340 1140/1350
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Birmingham Southern College VWC
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

Outcomes

Birmingham Southern College VWC
Graduation Rate 62% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,000 $41,700
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,850 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $277 $279

Diversity

Birmingham Southern College VWC
% Men 2% 2%
% Women 0% 3%
Racial Diversity Low High
HBCU No No
% White 79% 54%
% Black 11% 24%
% Hispanic 2% 8%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 5%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 6%

Students

Birmingham Southern College VWC
% In-State 61% 73%
% Out-of-State 38% 26%

Campus

Birmingham Southern College VWC
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Virginia Wesleyan College is larger than than Birmingham Southern College based on total student enrollment (1,711 students vs. 731 students)

Birmingham Southern College vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Birmingham Southern College or VWC?

  • Virginia Wesleyan College is 67.5% more expensive to attend than Birmingham Southern College for in-state tuition ($36,010.00 vs. $21,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 67.5% higher at VWC than Birmingham Southern College ($36,010.00 vs. $21,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Wesleyan College than Birmingham Southern College ($21,862 vs. $24,170)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan College are 24.2% lower than costs at Birmingham Southern College ($11,513 vs. $14,300)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Birmingham Southern College as Virginia Wesleyan College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Wesleyan College students is 106.4% larger than aid received Birmingham Southern College ($29,360 vs. $14,223)

Birmingham Southern College vs. VWC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Birmingham Southern College or VWC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VWC or Birmingham Southern College .

  • The average SAT score at Birmingham Southern College (1167) is 185 points higher than at VWC (982)
  • Incoming Birmingham Southern College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at VWC (22)
  • Accepted freshman Birmingham Southern College students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at VWC (3.39)
  • VWC has a higher acceptance rate (71.3%) than Birmingham Southern College (51.9%)

Birmingham Southern College vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Birmingham Southern College or VWC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between VWC and Birmingham Southern College.

  • The graduation rate at Birmingham Southern College is higher than Virginia Wesleyan College (62% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Birmingham Southern College earn on average $9,300 more per year than VWC graduates after ten years. ($51,000 vs. $41,700)
  • Birmingham Southern College students graduate with a $150 lower median federal student loan debt than VWC graduates. ($26,850 vs. $27,000)
  • Birmingham Southern College graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than VWC graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Birmingham Southern College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VWC students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/