SU vs. VSU

Deciding between Shenandoah University and Virginia State 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 State University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SU Winchester, VA
  • VSU Petersburg, VA
  • Setting
  • SU Small City
  • VSU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • SU 4,454
  • VSU 5,605
  • Type
  • SU Private 4 Year
  • VSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SU #528
  • VSU #950
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SU United Methodist
  • VSU -
  • Status
  • SU Non-profit
  • VSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SU
  • VSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SU $36,950
  • VSU $10,043
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SU $36,950
  • VSU $22,650
  • Room & Board
  • SU $12,490
  • VSU $13,355
  • Average Net Price
  • SU $27,181
  • VSU $17,840
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SU $24,747
  • VSU $12,447
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SU 100%
  • VSU 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SU 4,200
  • VSU 11,775
  • Admitted
  • SU 3,232
  • VSU 10,436
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SU 77%
  • VSU 88.6%
  • Enrolled
  • SU 16.7%
  • VSU 14.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SU 1120
  • VSU 960
  • Typical ACT score
  • SU 22
  • VSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • SU 3.7
  • VSU 2.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SU A-
  • VSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • SU Moderate
  • VSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • SU
  • VSU
  • ACT Range
  • SU 19/26
  • VSU 14/20
  • SAT Range
  • SU 1010/1230
  • VSU 840/1070
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SU Test-free
  • VSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SU Aug 1, 2027
  • VSU May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SU 12:1
  • VSU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SU
    • Health Professions (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • VSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SU 45%
  • VSU 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SU $48,300
  • VSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SU 60%
  • VSU 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SU $25,000
  • VSU $29,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SU $258
  • VSU $305

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SU 30%
  • VSU 40%
  • % Women
  • SU 70%
  • VSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SU Medium
  • VSU Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • SU No
  • VSU Yes
  • % White
  • SU 59%
  • VSU 3%
  • % Asian
  • SU 3%
  • VSU 1%
  • % Black
  • SU 11%
  • VSU 87%
  • % Hispanic
  • SU 6%
  • VSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • SU 1%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SU 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SU 4%
  • VSU 0%
  • % International
  • SU 4%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SU 13%
  • VSU 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SU 61%
  • VSU 68%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SU 38%
  • VSU 31%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA 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 SU based on total student enrollment (5,605 students vs. 4,454 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Shenandoah University is located in Winchester, VA (Small City setting); Virginia State University is in Petersburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Shenandoah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Shenandoah University 12:1; Virginia State University 13:1.

SU vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SU 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 SU ($17,840 vs. $27,181).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 6.5% lower than at Virginia State University ($12,490 vs. $13,355).
  • Shenandoah University is 267.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than VSU (about $26,907 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $10,043.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 63.1% higher at SU than at Virginia State University (about $14,300 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $22,650.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shenandoah University than at Virginia State University (100% vs. 92%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 98.8% larger than aid received by Virginia State University students ($24,747 vs. $12,447).

SU vs. VSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SU 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 SU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Shenandoah University (1120) is 160 points higher than at VSU (960).
  • Incoming SU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (22 vs. 17 at VSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Shenandoah University 1010/1230; Virginia State University 840/1070.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Shenandoah University 19/26; Virginia State University 14/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SU - Test-free; VSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SU Aug 1, 2027; VSU May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.85 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at VSU (2.85).
  • VSU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than SU (77%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at SU vs. 14.3% at VSU.

SU vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SU 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).

  • Shenandoah University's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than Virginia State University's (40%).
  • Graduates from Shenandoah University earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than VSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Shenandoah University graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than VSU graduates ($25,000 vs. $29,500).
  • Among borrowers, SU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VSU graduates ($258 vs. $305).
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (60% 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.