SU vs. SVU

Should I go to Shenandoah University or Southern Virginia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SU or SVU 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.

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Shenandoah University vs. Southern Virginia University comparison
Shenandoah University Southern Virginia University College 3 College 4
Shenandoah University Southern Virginia University
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Overview

SU SVU
Location Winchester, VA Buena Vista, VA
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 4,260 1,053
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #537 #984
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website su.edu svu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

SU SVU
Tuition (In State) $33,790 $18,858
Tuition (Out of State) $33,790 $18,858
Room & Board $11,230 $9,150
Avg Net Price $26,143 $23,274
Avg Grant Aid $23,467 $8,188
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

SU SVU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,296 1,090
Admitted 1,845 1,084
Acceptance Rate 80.4% 99.4%
Enrolled % 25.7% 35.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.19
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 18/24
SAT Range 1010/1230 900/1250
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

SU SVU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • English and Literature (13%)
  • Work and Family Studies (12%)

Outcomes

SU SVU
Graduation Rate 45% 25%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,300 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $23,654
Median Loan Payment $258 $244

Diversity

SU SVU
% Men 32% 53%
% Women 68% 47%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 80%
% Black 11% 4%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 13% 1%

Students

SU SVU
% In-State 52% 12%
% Out-of-State 48% 73%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Shenandoah University is larger than than SVU based on total student enrollment (4,260 students vs. 1,053 students)

SU vs. SVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SU or SVU?

  • Shenandoah University is 79.2% more expensive to attend than SVU for in-state tuition ($33,790.00 vs. $18,858.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 79.2% higher at SU than Southern Virginia University ($33,790.00 vs. $18,858.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Virginia University than SU ($23,274 vs. $26,143)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Virginia University are 22.7% lower than costs at Shenandoah University ($9,150 vs. $11,230)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than Southern Virginia University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 186.6% larger than aid received Southern Virginia University ($23,467 vs. $8,188)

SU vs. SVU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southern Virginia University (1041) is 36 points higher than at SU (1005)
  • Incoming SVU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at SU (22)
  • Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at SVU (3.19)
  • SVU has a higher acceptance rate (99.4%) than SU (80.4%)

SU vs. SVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SU or SVU? 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 SVU and SU.

  • The graduation rate at SU is higher than Southern Virginia University (45% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Shenandoah University earn on average $7,700 more per year than SVU graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $40,600)
  • Southern Virginia University students graduate with a $1,346 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($23,654 vs. $25,000)
  • SVU graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($244 vs. $258)
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SVU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 53%)

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