SU vs. WVU

Should I go to Shenandoah University or West Virginia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SU or WVU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Shenandoah University vs. West Virginia University comparison
Shenandoah University West Virginia University College 3 College 4
Shenandoah University West Virginia University
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Overview

 SU WVU
Location Winchester, VA Morgantown, WV
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 4,343 24,200
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #523 #534
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website su.edu wvu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 SU WVU
Tuition (In State) $34,614 $9,648
Tuition (Out of State) $34,614 $27,360
Room & Board $11,800 $13,876
Avg Net Price $26,400 $13,691
Avg Grant Aid $24,100 $11,893
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

 SU WVU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,763 19,857
Admitted 2,929 17,129
Acceptance Rate 77.8% 86.3%
Enrolled % 16.6% 25.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.45
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26 20/26
SAT Range 1010/1230 1010/1240
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, 2026

Academics

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

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 SU WVU
% Men 9% 10%
% Women 31% 13%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 81%
% Black 11% 5%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 4% 6%
% Unknown Race 13% 0%

Students

 SU WVU
% In-State 58% 43%
% Out-of-State 42% 56%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • West Virginia University is larger than than SU based on total student enrollment (24,200 students vs. 4,343 students)

SU vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SU or WVU?

  • Shenandoah University is 258.8% more expensive to attend than WVU for in-state tuition ($34,614.00 vs. $9,648.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 26.5% higher at SU than West Virginia University ($34,614.00 vs. $27,360.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Virginia University than SU ($13,691 vs. $26,400)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 17.6% lower than costs at West Virginia University ($11,800 vs. $13,876)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shenandoah University than West Virginia University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shenandoah University students is 102.6% larger than aid received West Virginia University ($24,100 vs. $11,893)

SU vs. WVU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SU or WVU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WVU or SU .

  • The average SAT score at West Virginia University (1078) is 73 points higher than at SU (1005)
  • Incoming WVU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at SU (22)
  • Accepted 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 (86.3%) than SU (77.8%)

SU vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SU or WVU? 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 WVU and SU.

  • The graduation rate at WVU is higher than Shenandoah University (57% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from West Virginia University earn on average $2,300 more per year than SU graduates after ten years. ($50,600 vs. $48,300)
  • West Virginia University students graduate with a $999 lower median federal student loan debt than SU graduates. ($24,001 vs. $25,000)
  • WVU graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans 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/