MWSU vs. VSU

Should I go to Missouri Western State University or Virginia State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if MWSU or VSU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Missouri Western State University vs. Virginia State University comparison
Missouri Western State University Virginia State University College 3 College 4
Virginia State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

MWSU VSU
Location Saint Joseph, MO Petersburg, VA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,023 4,648
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #980
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website missouriwestern.edu vsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

MWSU VSU
Tuition (In State) $6,540 $5,540
Tuition (Out of State) $13,550 $16,542
Room & Board $10,200 $11,544
Avg Net Price $11,917 $15,773
Avg Grant Aid $10,531 $11,498
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 92%

Admission

MWSU VSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied - 8,230
Admitted - 7,384
Acceptance Rate Open 89.7%
Enrolled % Open 18.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.25 2.85
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 14/17
SAT Range 830/1030
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2025

Academics

MWSU VSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Health Professions (15%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

MWSU VSU
Graduation Rate 27% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,500 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 28%
Median Student Loan Debt $21,818 $29,500
Median Loan Payment $225 $305

Diversity

MWSU VSU
% Men 38% 40%
% Women 62% 60%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 79% 3%
% Black 10% 87%
% Hispanic 1% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 1% 0%
% Unknown Race 3% 7%

Students

MWSU VSU
% In-State 82% 72%
% Out-of-State 17% 27%

Campus

MWSU VSU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Virginia State University is larger than than MWSU based on total student enrollment (4,648 students vs. 4,023 students)

MWSU vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MWSU or VSU?

  • Missouri Western State University is 18.1% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($6,540.00 vs. $5,540.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.1% higher at VSU than Missouri Western State University ($16,542.00 vs. $13,550.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Missouri Western State University than VSU ($11,917 vs. $15,773)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Missouri Western State University are 13.2% lower than costs at Virginia State University ($10,200 vs. $11,544)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Missouri Western State University than Virginia State University (100% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia State University students is 9.2% larger than aid received Missouri Western State University ($11,498 vs. $10,531)

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

  • Accepted freshman MWSU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.25) than students at VSU (2.85)

MWSU vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, MWSU or VSU? 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 VSU and MWSU.

  • The graduation rate at VSU is higher than Missouri Western State University (40% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Virginia State University earn on average $200 more per year than MWSU graduates after ten years. ($36,700 vs. $36,500)
  • Missouri Western State University students graduate with a $7,682 lower median federal student loan debt than VSU graduates. ($21,818 vs. $29,500)
  • MWSU graduates are paying $80 less per month on federal student loans than VSU graduates. ($225 vs. $305)
  • More MWSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 28%)

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