MLC vs. SVU

Deciding between Martin Luther College and Southern Virginia 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.

Martin Luther College
Southern Virginia University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MLC New Ulm, MN
  • SVU Buena Vista, VA
  • Setting
  • MLC Remote Town
  • SVU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • MLC 878
  • SVU 936
  • Type
  • MLC Private 4 Year
  • SVU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MLC
  • SVU
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MLC Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
  • SVU -
  • Status
  • MLC Non-profit
  • SVU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MLC
  • SVU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MLC $18,120
  • SVU $21,280
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MLC $18,120
  • SVU $21,280
  • Room & Board
  • MLC $7,900
  • SVU $9,894
  • Average Net Price
  • MLC $18,974
  • SVU $24,561
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MLC $10,276
  • SVU $10,041
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MLC 100%
  • SVU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MLC 226
  • SVU 1,451
  • Admitted
  • MLC 197
  • SVU 1,399
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MLC 87.2%
  • SVU 96.4%
  • Enrolled
  • MLC 88.3%
  • SVU 21.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MLC 1170
  • SVU 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • MLC 24
  • SVU 21
  • Average High School GPA
  • MLC 3.56
  • SVU 3.19
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MLC A-
  • SVU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • MLC Average
  • SVU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • MLC
  • SVU
  • ACT Range
  • MLC 22/27
  • SVU 18/25
  • SAT Range
  • MLC 1078/1256
  • SVU 943/1253
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MLC Test optional
  • SVU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • MLC
  • SVU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MLC 10:1
  • SVU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MLC
    • Education (67%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (33%)
  • SVU
    • Business (21%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Work and Family Studies (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MLC 73%
  • SVU 25%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MLC $38,000
  • SVU $40,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MLC 89%
  • SVU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MLC $23,125
  • SVU $23,654
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MLC $239
  • SVU $244

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MLC 44%
  • SVU 53%
  • % Women
  • MLC 56%
  • SVU 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MLC Extremely Low
  • SVU Low
  • HBCU
  • MLC No
  • SVU No
  • % White
  • MLC 93%
  • SVU 80%
  • % Asian
  • MLC 1%
  • SVU 1%
  • % Black
  • MLC 1%
  • SVU 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • MLC 1%
  • SVU 4%
  • % Native American
  • MLC 0%
  • SVU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MLC 0%
  • SVU 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MLC 1%
  • SVU 7%
  • % International
  • MLC 2%
  • SVU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MLC 0%
  • SVU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MLC 16%
  • SVU 22%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MLC 80%
  • SVU 76%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN with Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southern Virginia University is larger than MLC based on total student enrollment (936 students vs. 878 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Martin Luther College is located in New Ulm, MN (Remote Town setting); Southern Virginia University is in Buena Vista, VA (Distant Town setting).
  • Martin Luther College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern Virginia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Martin Luther College 10:1; Southern Virginia University 14:1.

MLC vs. SVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MLC or SVU? 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 Martin Luther College than SVU ($18,974 vs. $24,561).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Martin Luther College are 20.2% lower than at Southern Virginia University ($7,900 vs. $9,894).
  • Southern Virginia University is 17.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than MLC (about $3,160 more per year; $21,280.00 vs. $18,120.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.4% higher at SVU than at Martin Luther College (about $3,160 more per year; $21,280.00 vs. $18,120.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Martin Luther College as at Southern Virginia University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Martin Luther College students is 2.3% larger than aid received by Southern Virginia University students ($10,276 vs. $10,041).

MLC vs. SVU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MLC or SVU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SVU and MLC.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Martin Luther College (1170) is 70 points higher than at SVU (1100).
  • Incoming MLC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (24 vs. 21 at SVU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Martin Luther College 1078/1256; Southern Virginia University 943/1253.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Martin Luther College 22/27; Southern Virginia University 18/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MLC - Test optional; SVU - Test-free.
  • Enrolled freshman MLC students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at SVU (3.19).
  • SVU has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than MLC (87.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 88.3% at MLC vs. 21.4% at SVU.

MLC vs. SVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MLC and SVU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Martin Luther College's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Southern Virginia University's (25%).
  • Graduates from Southern Virginia University earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than MLC graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,600 vs. $38,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Martin Luther College graduates have a $529 lower median loan debt than SVU graduates ($23,125 vs. $23,654).
  • Among borrowers, MLC graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SVU graduates ($239 vs. $244).
  • More MLC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SVU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 53%)

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.