SU vs. VWC

Deciding between Shenandoah University and Virginia Wesleyan 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 Wesleyan University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • SU Winchester, VA
  • VWC Virginia Beach, VA
  • Setting
  • SU Small City
  • VWC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • SU 4,454
  • VWC 1,853
  • Type
  • SU Private 4 Year
  • VWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SU #528
  • VWC #684
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SU United Methodist
  • VWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • SU Non-profit
  • VWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SU
  • VWC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SU $36,950
  • VWC $37,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SU $36,950
  • VWC $37,500
  • Room & Board
  • SU $12,490
  • VWC $11,930
  • Average Net Price
  • SU $27,181
  • VWC $21,267
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SU $24,747
  • VWC $29,923
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SU 100%
  • VWC 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SU 4,200
  • VWC 3,808
  • Admitted
  • SU 3,232
  • VWC 2,775
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SU 77%
  • VWC 72.9%
  • Enrolled
  • SU 16.7%
  • VWC 11.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SU 1120
  • VWC 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • SU 22
  • VWC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • SU 3.7
  • VWC 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SU A-
  • VWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • SU Moderate
  • VWC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • SU
  • VWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • SU 19/26
  • VWC 28/29
  • SAT Range
  • SU 1010/1230
  • VWC 1140/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SU Test-free
  • VWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SU Aug 1, 2027
  • VWC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SU 12:1
  • VWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SU
    • Health Professions (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • VWC
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SU 45%
  • VWC 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SU $48,300
  • VWC $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SU 60%
  • VWC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SU $25,000
  • VWC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SU $258
  • VWC $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SU 30%
  • VWC 47%
  • % Women
  • SU 70%
  • VWC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SU Medium
  • VWC High
  • HBCU
  • SU No
  • VWC No
  • % White
  • SU 59%
  • VWC 54%
  • % Asian
  • SU 3%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Black
  • SU 11%
  • VWC 24%
  • % Hispanic
  • SU 6%
  • VWC 8%
  • % Native American
  • SU 1%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SU 0%
  • VWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SU 4%
  • VWC 5%
  • % International
  • SU 4%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SU 13%
  • VWC 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SU 61%
  • VWC 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SU 38%
  • VWC 25%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Shenandoah University is larger than VWC based on total student enrollment (4,454 students vs. 1,853 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Shenandoah University is located in Winchester, VA (Small City setting); Virginia Wesleyan University is in Virginia Beach, VA (Large City setting).
  • Shenandoah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Shenandoah University 12:1; Virginia Wesleyan University 15:1.

SU vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SU or VWC? 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 Wesleyan University than SU ($21,267 vs. $27,181).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan University are 4.5% lower than at Shenandoah University ($11,930 vs. $12,490).
  • Virginia Wesleyan University is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SU (about $550 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $36,950.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at VWC than at Shenandoah University (about $550 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $36,950.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Shenandoah University as at Virginia Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Wesleyan University students is 20.9% larger than aid received by Shenandoah University students ($29,923 vs. $24,747).

SU vs. VWC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Wesleyan University (1250) is 130 points higher than at SU (1120).
  • Incoming VWC students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 22 at SU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Shenandoah University 1010/1230; Virginia Wesleyan University 1140/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Shenandoah University 19/26; Virginia Wesleyan University 28/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SU - Test-free; VWC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at VWC (3.39).
  • SU has a higher acceptance rate (77%) than VWC (72.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at SU vs. 11.9% at VWC.

SU vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SU and VWC? 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 Wesleyan University's six-year graduation rate (48%) is higher than Shenandoah University's (45%).
  • Graduates from Shenandoah University earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than VWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,300 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Shenandoah University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than VWC graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, SU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VWC graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VWC students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 57%)

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.