Plaza College vs. VSU

Comparable Facts

Compare Plaza College in Forest Hills, NY with Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia State University is larger than Plaza College based on total student enrollment (5,605 students vs. 1,002 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Plaza College is located in Forest Hills, NY (Large City setting); Virginia State University is in Petersburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Plaza College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Plaza College 28:1; Virginia State University 13:1.

Plaza College vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Plaza College or VSU? 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 State University than Plaza College ($17,840 vs. $19,860).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia State University are 13.8% lower than at Plaza College ($13,355 vs. $15,500).
• Plaza College is 53.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than VSU (about $5,407 more per year; $15,450.00 vs. $10,043.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46.6% higher at VSU than at Plaza College (about $7,200 more per year; $22,650.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Plaza College than at Virginia State University (93% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia State University students is 86.8% larger than aid received by Plaza College students ($12,447 vs. $6,665).

Plaza College vs. VSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Plaza College or VSU? 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 VSU and Plaza College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia State University 840/1070.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia State University 14/20.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Plaza College - Test-free; VSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VSU May 1, 2027.
• VSU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than Plaza College (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 54.9% at Plaza College vs. 14.3% at VSU.

Plaza College vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Plaza College and VSU? 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).

• Graduates from Virginia State University earn a median of about $9,400 more per year than Plaza College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Plaza College graduates have a $15,585 lower median loan debt than VSU graduates ($13,915 vs. $29,500).
• Among borrowers, Plaza College graduates have an estimated $162 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VSU graduates ($143 vs. $305).
• More Plaza College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (30% vs. 28%)

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.