Penn State Beaver vs. SVU

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA 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 Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (936 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Beaver is located in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting); Southern Virginia University is in Buena Vista, VA (Distant Town setting).
• Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern Virginia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Beaver 12:1; Southern Virginia University 14:1.

Penn State Beaver vs. SVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Beaver 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 Penn State Beaver than SVU ($18,581 vs. $24,561).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Virginia University are 31.6% lower than at Penn State Beaver ($9,894 vs. $14,474).
• Southern Virginia University is 47.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $6,872 more per year; $21,280.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.4% higher at Penn State Beaver than at Southern Virginia University (about $2,854 more per year; $24,134.00 vs. $21,280.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southern Virginia University than at Penn State Beaver (100% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Virginia University students is 11% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($10,041 vs. $9,045).

Penn State Beaver vs. SVU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Beaver or SVU? 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 SVU and Penn State Beaver.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Beaver (1190) is 90 points higher than at SVU (1100).
• Incoming Penn State Beaver students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 21 at SVU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 1080/1290; Southern Virginia University 943/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 24/27; Southern Virginia University 18/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Beaver - Test optional; SVU - Test-free.
• SVU has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than Penn State Beaver (95.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Penn State Beaver vs. 21.4% at SVU.

Penn State Beaver vs. SVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Beaver and SVU? 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).

• Penn State Beaver's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than Southern Virginia University's (25%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver earn a median of about $14,700 more per year than SVU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $40,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Virginia University graduates have a $3,164 lower median loan debt than Penn State Beaver graduates ($23,654 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, SVU graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($244 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Beaver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SVU students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.