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JMU Mason Virginia Tech Mary Washington College Old Dominion CNU William & Mary UVA WVU UMBC Howard University of Richmond| Shenandoah University | Virginia Commonwealth University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
SU | VCU | ||
| Location | Winchester, VA | Richmond, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,260 | 28,082 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #537 | #442 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | su.edu | vcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
SU | VCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $33,790 | $12,458 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $33,790 | $33,726 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,230 | $12,279 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,143 | $21,294 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $23,467 | $12,583 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 83% |
Admission |
SU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,296 | 18,242 | ||
| Admitted | 1,845 | 16,600 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.4% | 91% | ||
| Enrolled % | 25.7% | 25.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1230 | 1030/1290 | ||
| 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 | Jan 18, 2025 |
Academics |
SU | VCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
SU | VCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 45% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $48,300 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 60% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $240 |
Diversity |
SU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 32% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 68% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 50% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 6% | ||
| % International | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 13% | 1% |
Students |
SU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 52% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 48% | 6% | ||
Campus |
SU | VCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 4,260 students)
SU vs. VCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, SU or VCU?
- Shenandoah University is 171.2% more expensive to attend than VCU for in-state tuition ($33,790.00 vs. $12,458.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0.2% higher at SU than Virginia Commonwealth University ($33,790.00 vs. $33,726.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Commonwealth University than SU ($21,294 vs. $26,143)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 9.3% lower than costs at Virginia Commonwealth University ($11,230 vs. $12,279)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than Virginia Commonwealth University (100% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 86.5% larger than aid received Virginia Commonwealth University ($23,467 vs. $12,583)
SU vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, SU or VCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCU or SU .
- The average SAT score at Virginia Commonwealth University (1097) is 92 points higher than at SU (1005)
- Incoming VCU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at SU (22)
- 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 (91%) than SU (80.4%)
SU vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, SU or VCU? 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 VCU and SU.
- The graduation rate at VCU is higher than Shenandoah University (53% vs. 45%)
- Graduates from Shenandoah University earn on average $800 more per year than VCU graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $47,500)
- Virginia Commonwealth University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,000)
- VCU graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans 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/