F&M vs. VWC

Deciding between Franklin and Marshall College and Virginia Wesleyan 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.

Franklin and Marshall College
Virginia Wesleyan University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • VWC Virginia Beach, VA
  • Setting
  • F&M Small City
  • VWC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • F&M 1,808
  • VWC 1,853
  • Type
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • VWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • F&M #60
  • VWC #684
  • Religious Affiliation
  • F&M -
  • VWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • F&M Non-profit
  • VWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • F&M
  • VWC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • F&M $70,794
  • VWC $37,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • F&M $70,794
  • VWC $37,500
  • Room & Board
  • F&M $16,188
  • VWC $11,930
  • Average Net Price
  • F&M $43,987
  • VWC $21,267
  • Average Grant Aid
  • F&M $41,901
  • VWC $29,923
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • F&M 80%
  • VWC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • F&M 9,881
  • VWC 3,808
  • Admitted
  • F&M 2,785
  • VWC 2,775
  • Acceptance Rate
  • F&M 28.2%
  • VWC 72.9%
  • Enrolled
  • F&M 17.1%
  • VWC 11.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • F&M 1390
  • VWC 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • F&M 31
  • VWC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • F&M -
  • VWC 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • F&M -
  • VWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • F&M Very High
  • VWC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • F&M High
  • VWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • F&M 30/33
  • VWC 28/29
  • SAT Range
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • VWC 1140/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • F&M Test optional
  • VWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027
  • VWC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • F&M 9:1
  • VWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • VWC
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • F&M 85%
  • VWC 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • F&M $61,900
  • VWC $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • F&M 88%
  • VWC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • F&M $22,000
  • VWC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • F&M $227
  • VWC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • F&M 49%
  • VWC 47%
  • % Women
  • F&M 51%
  • VWC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • F&M High
  • VWC High
  • HBCU
  • F&M No
  • VWC No
  • % White
  • F&M 59%
  • VWC 54%
  • % Asian
  • F&M 5%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Black
  • F&M 6%
  • VWC 24%
  • % Hispanic
  • F&M 8%
  • VWC 8%
  • % Native American
  • F&M 0%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • F&M 0%
  • VWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • F&M 2%
  • VWC 5%
  • % International
  • F&M 14%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • F&M 6%
  • VWC 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • F&M 29%
  • VWC 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • F&M 55%
  • VWC 25%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • F&M Yes
  • VWC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • F&M No
  • VWC No
  • Meal Plan
  • F&M Yes
  • VWC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • F&M No
  • VWC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • F&M No
  • VWC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA with Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Wesleyan University is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (1,853 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Franklin and Marshall College is located in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting); Virginia Wesleyan University is in Virginia Beach, VA (Large City setting).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Franklin and Marshall College 9:1; Virginia Wesleyan University 15:1.

F&M vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, F&M or VWC? 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 Wesleyan University than F&M ($21,267 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan University are 26.3% lower than at Franklin and Marshall College ($11,930 vs. $16,188).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 88.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than VWC (about $33,294 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $37,500.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 88.8% higher at F&M than at Virginia Wesleyan University (about $33,294 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $37,500.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Wesleyan University than at Franklin and Marshall College (100% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 40% larger than aid received by Virginia Wesleyan University students ($41,901 vs. $29,923).

F&M vs. VWC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, F&M or VWC? 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 VWC and F&M.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franklin and Marshall College (1390) is 140 points higher than at VWC (1250).
  • Incoming F&M students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 28 at VWC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463; Virginia Wesleyan University 1140/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 30/33; Virginia Wesleyan University 28/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: F&M - Test optional; VWC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • VWC has a higher acceptance rate (72.9%) than F&M (28.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at F&M vs. 11.9% at VWC.

F&M vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for F&M and VWC? 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).

  • Franklin and Marshall College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Virginia Wesleyan University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn a median of about $20,200 more per year than VWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than VWC graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VWC graduates ($227 vs. $279).
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VWC students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 57%)

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.