SU vs. VCU

Deciding between Shenandoah University and Virginia Commonwealth University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Shenandoah University
Virginia Commonwealth University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SU Winchester, VA
  • VCU Richmond, VA
  • Setting
  • SU Small City
  • VCU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • SU 4,454
  • VCU 28,464
  • Type
  • SU Private 4 Year
  • VCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SU #528
  • VCU #465
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SU United Methodist
  • VCU -
  • Status
  • SU Non-profit
  • VCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SU
  • VCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SU $36,950
  • VCU $16,945
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SU $36,950
  • VCU $40,109
  • Room & Board
  • SU $12,490
  • VCU $18,254
  • Average Net Price
  • SU $27,181
  • VCU $26,836
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SU $24,747
  • VCU $14,186
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SU 100%
  • VCU 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SU 4,200
  • VCU 20,954
  • Admitted
  • SU 3,232
  • VCU 19,408
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SU 77%
  • VCU 92.6%
  • Enrolled
  • SU 16.7%
  • VCU 21.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SU 1120
  • VCU 1140
  • Typical ACT score
  • SU 22
  • VCU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • SU 3.7
  • VCU 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SU A-
  • VCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • SU Moderate
  • VCU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • SU
  • VCU
  • ACT Range
  • SU 19/26
  • VCU 22/30
  • SAT Range
  • SU 1010/1230
  • VCU 1010/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SU Test-free
  • VCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SU Aug 1, 2027
  • VCU Jan 18, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SU 12:1
  • VCU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SU
    • Health Professions (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • VCU
    • Business (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SU 45%
  • VCU 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SU $48,300
  • VCU $47,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SU 60%
  • VCU 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SU $25,000
  • VCU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SU $258
  • VCU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SU 30%
  • VCU 36%
  • % Women
  • SU 70%
  • VCU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SU Medium
  • VCU High
  • HBCU
  • SU No
  • VCU No
  • % White
  • SU 59%
  • VCU 50%
  • % Asian
  • SU 3%
  • VCU 13%
  • % Black
  • SU 11%
  • VCU 18%
  • % Hispanic
  • SU 6%
  • VCU 8%
  • % Native American
  • SU 1%
  • VCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SU 0%
  • VCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SU 4%
  • VCU 6%
  • % International
  • SU 4%
  • VCU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SU 13%
  • VCU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SU 61%
  • VCU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SU 38%
  • VCU 6%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • SU Yes
  • VCU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • SU No
  • VCU No
  • Meal Plan
  • SU Yes
  • VCU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • SU Yes
  • VCU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • SU No
  • VCU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA with Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than SU based on total student enrollment (28,464 students vs. 4,454 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Shenandoah University is located in Winchester, VA (Small City setting); Virginia Commonwealth University is in Richmond, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Shenandoah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Shenandoah University 12:1; Virginia Commonwealth University 17:1.

SU vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SU or VCU? 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 Commonwealth University than SU ($26,836 vs. $27,181).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 31.6% lower than at Virginia Commonwealth University ($12,490 vs. $18,254).
  • Shenandoah University is 118.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than VCU (about $20,005 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $16,945.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.5% higher at VCU than at Shenandoah University (about $3,159 more per year; $40,109.00 vs. $36,950.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shenandoah University than at Virginia Commonwealth University (100% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 74.4% larger than aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students ($24,747 vs. $14,186).

SU vs. VCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SU or VCU? 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 VCU and SU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Commonwealth University (1140) is 20 points higher than at SU (1120).
  • Incoming VCU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 22 at SU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Shenandoah University 1010/1230; Virginia Commonwealth University 1010/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Shenandoah University 19/26; Virginia Commonwealth University 22/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SU - Test-free; VCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SU Aug 1, 2027; VCU Jan 18, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at SU (3.7).
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (92.6%) than SU (77%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at SU vs. 21.6% at VCU.

SU vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SU and VCU? 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 Commonwealth University's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than Shenandoah University's (45%).
  • Graduates from Shenandoah University earn a median of about $800 more per year than VCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Commonwealth University graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than SU graduates ($23,250 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, VCU graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SU graduates ($240 vs. $258).
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 56%)

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.