VSU vs. WVSU

Deciding between Virginia State University and West 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.

Virginia State University
West Virginia State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • VSU Petersburg, VA
  • WVSU Institute, WV
  • Setting
  • VSU Large Suburban
  • WVSU Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • VSU 5,605
  • WVSU 3,246
  • Type
  • VSU Public 4 Year
  • WVSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • VSU #950
  • WVSU #1010
  • Religious Affiliation
  • VSU -
  • WVSU -
  • Status
  • VSU Non-profit
  • WVSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • VSU
  • WVSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • VSU $10,043
  • WVSU $9,570
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • VSU $22,650
  • WVSU $14,990
  • Room & Board
  • VSU $13,355
  • WVSU $13,522
  • Average Net Price
  • VSU $17,840
  • WVSU $11,055
  • Average Grant Aid
  • VSU $12,447
  • WVSU $8,993
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • VSU 92%
  • WVSU 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • VSU 11,775
  • WVSU 6,163
  • Admitted
  • VSU 10,436
  • WVSU 5,914
  • Acceptance Rate
  • VSU 88.6%
  • WVSU 96%
  • Enrolled
  • VSU 14.3%
  • WVSU 5.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • VSU 960
  • WVSU 900
  • Typical ACT score
  • VSU 17
  • WVSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • VSU 2.85
  • WVSU 3.24
  • Typical High School Grades
  • VSU B
  • WVSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • VSU Extremely Easy
  • WVSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • VSU
  • WVSU
  • ACT Range
  • VSU 14/20
  • WVSU 15/20
  • SAT Range
  • VSU 840/1070
  • WVSU 760/1040
  • Submit Test Scores
  • VSU Test optional
  • WVSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • VSU May 1, 2027
  • WVSU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • VSU 13:1
  • WVSU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • VSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • WVSU
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (23%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • VSU 40%
  • WVSU 25%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • VSU $36,700
  • WVSU $32,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • VSU 28%
  • WVSU 35%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • VSU $29,500
  • WVSU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • VSU $305
  • WVSU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • VSU 40%
  • WVSU 42%
  • % Women
  • VSU 60%
  • WVSU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • VSU Extremely Low
  • WVSU Medium
  • HBCU
  • VSU Yes
  • WVSU Yes
  • % White
  • VSU 3%
  • WVSU 65%
  • % Asian
  • VSU 1%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Black
  • VSU 87%
  • WVSU 14%
  • % Hispanic
  • VSU 2%
  • WVSU 1%
  • % Native American
  • VSU 0%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • VSU 0%
  • WVSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • VSU 0%
  • WVSU 10%
  • % International
  • VSU 0%
  • WVSU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • VSU 7%
  • WVSU 9%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • VSU 68%
  • WVSU 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • VSU 31%
  • WVSU 32%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA with West Virginia State University in Institute, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia State University is larger than WVSU based on total student enrollment (5,605 students vs. 3,246 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Virginia State University is located in Petersburg, VA (Large Suburban setting); West Virginia State University is in Institute, WV (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Virginia State University 13:1; West Virginia State University 13:1.

VSU vs. WVSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VSU or WVSU? 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 State University than VSU ($11,055 vs. $17,840).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia State University are 1.2% lower than at West Virginia State University ($13,355 vs. $13,522).
  • Virginia State University is 4.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVSU (about $473 more per year; $10,043.00 vs. $9,570.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 51.1% higher at VSU than at West Virginia State University (about $7,660 more per year; $22,650.00 vs. $14,990.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia State University than at West Virginia State University (92% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia State University students is 38.4% larger than aid received by West Virginia State University students ($12,447 vs. $8,993).

VSU vs. WVSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VSU or WVSU? 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 WVSU and VSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia State University (960) is 60 points higher than at WVSU (900).
  • Incoming VSU students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 17) as students at WVSU (17).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Virginia State University 840/1070; West Virginia State University 760/1040.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Virginia State University 14/20; West Virginia State University 15/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: VSU - Test optional; WVSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VSU May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WVSU students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at VSU (2.85).
  • WVSU has a higher acceptance rate (96%) than VSU (88.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.3% at VSU vs. 5.5% at WVSU.

VSU vs. WVSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for VSU and WVSU? 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 State University's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than West Virginia State University's (25%).
  • Graduates from Virginia State University earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than WVSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $32,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, West Virginia State University graduates have a $6,250 lower median loan debt than VSU graduates ($23,250 vs. $29,500).
  • Among borrowers, WVSU graduates have an estimated $65 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VSU graduates ($240 vs. $305).
  • More WVSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (35% 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.