SU vs. WVU

Deciding between Shenandoah University and West Virginia 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
West Virginia University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • SU Winchester, VA
  • WVU Morgantown, WV
  • Setting
  • SU Small City
  • WVU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • SU 4,454
  • WVU 23,643
  • Type
  • SU Private 4 Year
  • WVU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • SU #528
  • WVU #566
  • Religious Affiliation
  • SU United Methodist
  • WVU -
  • Status
  • SU Non-profit
  • WVU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • SU
  • WVU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • SU $36,950
  • WVU $10,104
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • SU $36,950
  • WVU $28,608
  • Room & Board
  • SU $12,490
  • WVU $14,582
  • Average Net Price
  • SU $27,181
  • WVU $15,169
  • Average Grant Aid
  • SU $24,747
  • WVU $12,363
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • SU 100%
  • WVU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • SU 4,200
  • WVU 18,729
  • Admitted
  • SU 3,232
  • WVU 16,669
  • Acceptance Rate
  • SU 77%
  • WVU 89%
  • Enrolled
  • SU 16.7%
  • WVU 24.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • SU 1120
  • WVU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • SU 22
  • WVU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • SU 3.7
  • WVU 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • SU A-
  • WVU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • SU Moderate
  • WVU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • SU
  • WVU
  • ACT Range
  • SU 19/26
  • WVU 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • SU 1010/1230
  • WVU 1010/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • SU Test-free
  • WVU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • SU Aug 1, 2027
  • WVU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • SU 12:1
  • WVU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • SU
    • Health Professions (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • WVU
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • SU 45%
  • WVU 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • SU $48,300
  • WVU $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • SU 60%
  • WVU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • SU $25,000
  • WVU $24,001
  • Median Loan Payment
  • SU $258
  • WVU $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • SU 30%
  • WVU 47%
  • % Women
  • SU 70%
  • WVU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • SU Medium
  • WVU Low
  • HBCU
  • SU No
  • WVU No
  • % White
  • SU 59%
  • WVU 81%
  • % Asian
  • SU 3%
  • WVU 1%
  • % Black
  • SU 11%
  • WVU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • SU 6%
  • WVU 4%
  • % Native American
  • SU 1%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • SU 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • SU 4%
  • WVU 3%
  • % International
  • SU 4%
  • WVU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • SU 13%
  • WVU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • SU 61%
  • WVU 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • SU 38%
  • WVU 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

West Virginia University is larger than SU based on total student enrollment (23,643 students vs. 4,454 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Shenandoah University is located in Winchester, VA (Small City setting); West Virginia University is in Morgantown, WV (Small City setting).
  • Shenandoah University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Shenandoah University 12:1; West Virginia University 19:1.

SU vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SU or WVU? 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 West Virginia University than SU ($15,169 vs. $27,181).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 14.3% lower than at West Virginia University ($12,490 vs. $14,582).
  • Shenandoah University is 265.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVU (about $26,846 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $10,104.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 29.2% higher at SU than at West Virginia University (about $8,342 more per year; $36,950.00 vs. $28,608.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shenandoah University than at West Virginia University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 100.2% larger than aid received by West Virginia University students ($24,747 vs. $12,363).

SU vs. WVU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SU or WVU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WVU and SU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Shenandoah University (1120) is the same as at WVU (1120).
  • Incoming WVU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (23 vs. 22 at SU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Shenandoah University 1010/1230; West Virginia University 1010/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Shenandoah University 19/26; West Virginia University 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SU - Test-free; WVU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: SU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman SU students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at WVU (3.45).
  • WVU has a higher acceptance rate (89%) than SU (77%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at SU vs. 24.8% at WVU.

SU vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SU and WVU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • West Virginia University's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Shenandoah University's (45%).
  • Graduates from West Virginia University earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than SU graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,600 vs. $48,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Virginia University graduates have a $999 lower median loan debt than SU graduates ($24,001 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, WVU graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SU graduates ($248 vs. $258).
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVU students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 59%)

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.