Penn State Brandywine vs. VWC

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Brandywine in Media, 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 Brandywine based on total student enrollment (1,853 students vs. 1,236 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Brandywine is located in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Wesleyan University is in Virginia Beach, VA (Large City setting).
• Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine 15:1; Virginia Wesleyan University 15:1.

Penn State Brandywine vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Brandywine 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 Virginia Wesleyan University than Penn State Brandywine ($21,267 vs. $22,710).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan University are 17.6% lower than at Penn State Brandywine ($11,930 vs. $14,474).
• Virginia Wesleyan University is 146.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Brandywine (about $22,292 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.7% higher at VWC than at Penn State Brandywine (about $12,108 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Wesleyan University than at Penn State Brandywine (100% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Wesleyan University students is 228.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($29,923 vs. $9,113).

Penn State Brandywine vs. VWC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Wesleyan University (1250) is 50 points higher than at Penn State Brandywine (1200).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310; Virginia Wesleyan University 1140/1350.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia Wesleyan University 28/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Brandywine - Test optional; VWC - Test optional.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than VWC (72.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine vs. 11.9% at VWC.

Penn State Brandywine vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than VWC graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Brandywine graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VWC graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Brandywine 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.