Penn State Beaver vs. VWC

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Beaver in Monaca, 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 Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (1,853 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Beaver is located in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Wesleyan University is in Virginia Beach, VA (Large City setting).
• Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Beaver 12:1; Virginia Wesleyan University 15:1.

Penn State Beaver vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Beaver 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 Penn State Beaver than VWC ($18,581 vs. $21,267).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan University are 17.6% lower than at Penn State Beaver ($11,930 vs. $14,474).
• Virginia Wesleyan University is 160.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $23,092 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 55.4% higher at VWC than at Penn State Beaver (about $13,366 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Wesleyan University than at Penn State Beaver (100% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Wesleyan University students is 230.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($29,923 vs. $9,045).

Penn State Beaver vs. VWC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Beaver 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 Penn State Beaver.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Wesleyan University (1250) is 60 points higher than at Penn State Beaver (1190).
• Incoming VWC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Penn State Beaver).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 1080/1290; Virginia Wesleyan University 1140/1350.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Beaver 24/27; Virginia Wesleyan University 28/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Beaver - Test optional; VWC - Test optional.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than VWC (72.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Penn State Beaver vs. 11.9% at VWC.

Penn State Beaver vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Beaver 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).

• Virginia Wesleyan University's six-year graduation rate (48%) is higher than Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than VWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Beaver graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than VWC graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Beaver graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VWC graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Beaver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VWC students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.