SU vs. UVA

Should I go to Shenandoah University or University of Virginia Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SU or UVA 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. University of Virginia Main Campus comparison
Shenandoah University University of Virginia Main Campus College 3 College 4
Shenandoah University University of Virginia Main Campus
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Overview

 SU UVA
Location Winchester, VA Charlottesville, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 4,260 26,082
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #537 #59
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website su.edu virginia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SU UVA
Tuition (In State) $33,790 $16,980
Tuition (Out of State) $33,790 $51,870
Room & Board $11,230 $12,890
Avg Net Price $26,143 $19,469
Avg Grant Aid $23,467 $26,818
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 34%

Admission

 SU UVA
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,296 50,926
Admitted 1,845 9,503
Acceptance Rate 80.4% 18.7%
Enrolled % 25.7% 42.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.85
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Elite
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 19/26 32/34
SAT Range 1010/1230 1400/1540
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 UVA
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Engineering (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 SU UVA
Graduation Rate 45% 94%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $48,300 $77,200
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $201

Diversity

 SU UVA
% Men 32% 45%
% Women 68% 55%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 60%
% Black 11% 6%
% Hispanic 6% 6%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 5%
% International 4% 5%
% Unknown Race 13% 6%

Students

 SU UVA
% In-State 52% 62%
% Out-of-State 48% 33%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Virginia Main Campus is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (26,082 students vs. 4,260 students)

SU vs. UVA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SU or UVA?

  • Shenandoah University is 99% more expensive to attend than UVA for in-state tuition ($33,790.00 vs. $16,980.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 53.5% higher at UVA than Shenandoah University ($51,870.00 vs. $33,790.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Virginia Main Campus than SU ($19,469 vs. $26,143)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 14.8% lower than costs at University of Virginia Main Campus ($11,230 vs. $12,890)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than University of Virginia Main Campus (100% vs. 34%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Virginia Main Campus students is 14.3% larger than aid received Shenandoah University ($26,818 vs. $23,467)

SU vs. UVA Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Virginia Main Campus (1364) is 359 points higher than at SU (1005)
  • Incoming UVA students have a 9 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at SU (22)
  • Accepted freshman UVA students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at SU (3.7)
  • SU has a higher acceptance rate (80.4%) than UVA (18.7%)

SU vs. UVA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at UVA is higher than Shenandoah University (94% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from University of Virginia Main Campus earn on average $28,900 more per year than SU graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $48,300)
  • University of Virginia Main Campus students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($19,500 vs. $25,000)
  • UVA graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than SU graduates. ($201 vs. $258)
  • More UVA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 60%)

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