Franciscan vs. SU

Should I go to Franciscan University of Steubenville or Shenandoah University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Franciscan or SU 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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Franciscan University of Steubenville vs. Shenandoah University comparison
Franciscan University of Steubenville Shenandoah University College 3 College 4
Franciscan University of Steubenville Shenandoah University
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Overview

 Franciscan SU
Location Steubenville, OH Winchester, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 3,750 4,343
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #549 #523
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website franciscan.edu su.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Franciscan SU
Tuition (In State) $32,070 $34,614
Tuition (Out of State) $32,070 $34,614
Room & Board $9,540 $11,800
Avg Net Price $24,490 $26,400
Avg Grant Aid $18,561 $24,100
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 100%

Admission

 Franciscan SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,265 3,763
Admitted 1,636 2,929
Acceptance Rate 72.2% 77.8%
Enrolled % 41.2% 16.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.78 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/29 19/26
SAT Range 1100/1290 1010/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2026

Academics

 Franciscan SU
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (30%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Business (10%)
  • Education (8%)
  • English and Literature (6%)
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

 Franciscan SU
Graduation Rate 70% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,800 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $227 $258

Diversity

 Franciscan SU
% Men 9% 9%
% Women 11% 31%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 83% 59%
% Black 1% 11%
% Hispanic 10% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 13%

Students

 Franciscan SU
% In-State 17% 58%
% Out-of-State 82% 42%

Campus

 Franciscan SU
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

  • Shenandoah University is larger than than Franciscan based on total student enrollment (4,343 students vs. 3,750 students)

Franciscan vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Franciscan or SU?

  • Shenandoah University is 7.9% more expensive to attend than Franciscan for in-state tuition ($34,614.00 vs. $32,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.9% higher at SU than Franciscan University of Steubenville ($34,614.00 vs. $32,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Franciscan University of Steubenville than SU ($24,490 vs. $26,400)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franciscan University of Steubenville are 23.7% lower than costs at Shenandoah University ($9,540 vs. $11,800)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than Franciscan University of Steubenville (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 29.8% larger than aid received Franciscan University of Steubenville ($24,100 vs. $18,561)

Franciscan vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Franciscan University of Steubenville (1165) is 160 points higher than at SU (1005)
  • Incoming Franciscan students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at SU (22)
  • Accepted freshman Franciscan students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at SU (3.7)
  • SU has a higher acceptance rate (77.8%) than Franciscan (72.2%)

Franciscan vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Franciscan or SU? 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 SU and Franciscan.

  • The graduation rate at Franciscan is higher than Shenandoah University (70% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Shenandoah University earn on average $8,500 more per year than Franciscan graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $39,800)
  • Franciscan University of Steubenville students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($22,000 vs. $25,000)
  • Franciscan graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($227 vs. $258)
  • More Franciscan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 60%)

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