Hood vs. VSU

Comparable Facts

Compare Hood College in Frederick, MD 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 Hood based on total student enrollment (5,605 students vs. 2,101 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hood College is located in Frederick, MD (Small City setting); Virginia State University is in Petersburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Hood College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hood College 10:1; Virginia State University 13:1.

Hood vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hood 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 Hood ($17,840 vs. $23,350).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia State University are 17.6% lower than at Hood College ($13,355 vs. $16,200).
• Hood College is 375% more expensive for in-state tuition than VSU (about $37,657 more per year; $47,700.00 vs. $10,043.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 110.6% higher at Hood than at Virginia State University (about $25,050 more per year; $47,700.00 vs. $22,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hood College than at Virginia State University (100% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hood College students is 204.9% larger than aid received by Virginia State University students ($37,957 vs. $12,447).

Hood vs. VSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hood 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 Hood.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia State University 840/1070.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia State University 14/20.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hood - Test-free; VSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hood Aug 15, 2027; VSU May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Hood students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at VSU (2.85).
• VSU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than Hood (77.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12% at Hood vs. 14.3% at VSU.

Hood vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hood 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).

• Hood College's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Virginia State University's (40%).
• Graduates from Hood College earn a median of about $10,600 more per year than VSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,300 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Hood College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than VSU graduates ($27,000 vs. $29,500).
• Among borrowers, Hood graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VSU graduates ($279 vs. $305).
• More Hood graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (73% 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.