TCNJ vs. VWC

Deciding between The College of New Jersey 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.

The College of New Jersey
Virginia Wesleyan University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • TCNJ Ewing, NJ
  • VWC Virginia Beach, VA
  • Setting
  • TCNJ Large Suburban
  • VWC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • TCNJ 8,141
  • VWC 1,853
  • Type
  • TCNJ Public 4 Year
  • VWC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • TCNJ #177
  • VWC #684
  • Religious Affiliation
  • TCNJ -
  • VWC United Methodist
  • Status
  • TCNJ Non-profit
  • VWC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • TCNJ
  • VWC
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • TCNJ $19,632
  • VWC $37,500
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • TCNJ $25,752
  • VWC $37,500
  • Room & Board
  • TCNJ $14,976
  • VWC $11,930
  • Average Net Price
  • TCNJ $25,580
  • VWC $21,267
  • Average Grant Aid
  • TCNJ $13,360
  • VWC $29,923
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • TCNJ 59%
  • VWC 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • TCNJ 12,766
  • VWC 3,808
  • Admitted
  • TCNJ 7,952
  • VWC 2,775
  • Acceptance Rate
  • TCNJ 62.3%
  • VWC 72.9%
  • Enrolled
  • TCNJ 19.7%
  • VWC 11.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • TCNJ 1240
  • VWC 1250
  • Typical ACT score
  • TCNJ 28
  • VWC 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • TCNJ 3.29
  • VWC 3.39
  • Typical High School Grades
  • TCNJ B+
  • VWC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • TCNJ Difficult
  • VWC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • TCNJ Low
  • VWC Low
  • ACT Range
  • TCNJ 26/31
  • VWC 28/29
  • SAT Range
  • TCNJ 1140/1340
  • VWC 1140/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • TCNJ Test optional
  • VWC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • TCNJ Feb 1, 2027
  • VWC
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • TCNJ 14:1
  • VWC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • TCNJ
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • VWC
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • TCNJ 87%
  • VWC 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • TCNJ $62,100
  • VWC $41,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • TCNJ 85%
  • VWC 57%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • TCNJ $23,250
  • VWC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • TCNJ $240
  • VWC $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • TCNJ 43%
  • VWC 47%
  • % Women
  • TCNJ 57%
  • VWC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • TCNJ Medium
  • VWC High
  • HBCU
  • TCNJ No
  • VWC No
  • % White
  • TCNJ 66%
  • VWC 54%
  • % Asian
  • TCNJ 10%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Black
  • TCNJ 6%
  • VWC 24%
  • % Hispanic
  • TCNJ 12%
  • VWC 8%
  • % Native American
  • TCNJ 0%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • TCNJ 0%
  • VWC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • TCNJ 0%
  • VWC 5%
  • % International
  • TCNJ 0%
  • VWC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • TCNJ 5%
  • VWC 6%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • TCNJ 95%
  • VWC 72%
  • % Out-of-State
  • TCNJ 5%
  • VWC 25%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ with Virginia Wesleyan University in Virginia Beach, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The College of New Jersey is larger than VWC based on total student enrollment (8,141 students vs. 1,853 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The College of New Jersey is located in Ewing, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Wesleyan University is in Virginia Beach, VA (Large City setting).
  • The College of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The College of New Jersey 14:1; Virginia Wesleyan University 15:1.

TCNJ vs. VWC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TCNJ 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 TCNJ ($21,267 vs. $25,580).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Wesleyan University are 20.3% lower than at The College of New Jersey ($11,930 vs. $14,976).
  • Virginia Wesleyan University is 91% more expensive for in-state tuition than TCNJ (about $17,868 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $19,632.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45.6% higher at VWC than at The College of New Jersey (about $11,748 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $25,752.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Wesleyan University than at The College of New Jersey (100% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Wesleyan University students is 124% larger than aid received by The College of New Jersey students ($29,923 vs. $13,360).

TCNJ vs. VWC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TCNJ 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 TCNJ.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Wesleyan University (1250) is 10 points higher than at TCNJ (1240).
  • Incoming TCNJ students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at VWC (28).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of New Jersey 1140/1340; Virginia Wesleyan University 1140/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of New Jersey 26/31; Virginia Wesleyan University 28/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TCNJ - Test optional; VWC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: TCNJ Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman VWC students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at TCNJ (3.29).
  • VWC has a higher acceptance rate (72.9%) than TCNJ (62.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at TCNJ vs. 11.9% at VWC.

TCNJ vs. VWC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TCNJ 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).

  • The College of New Jersey's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Virginia Wesleyan University's (48%).
  • Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn a median of about $20,400 more per year than VWC graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The College of New Jersey graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than VWC graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, TCNJ graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VWC graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VWC students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.