Earlham vs. SVU

Comparable Facts

Compare Earlham College in Richmond, IN with Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southern Virginia University is larger than Earlham based on total student enrollment (936 students vs. 753 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Earlham College is located in Richmond, IN (Distant Town setting); Southern Virginia University is in Buena Vista, VA (Distant Town setting).
• Earlham College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern Virginia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Earlham College 7:1; Southern Virginia University 14:1.

Earlham vs. SVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Earlham or SVU? 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 Southern Virginia University than Earlham ($24,561 vs. $27,107).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Virginia University are 29.3% lower than at Earlham College ($9,894 vs. $13,985).
• Earlham College is 153.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SVU (about $32,650 more per year; $53,930.00 vs. $21,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 153.4% higher at Earlham than at Southern Virginia University (about $32,650 more per year; $53,930.00 vs. $21,280.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Earlham College as at Southern Virginia University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Earlham College students is 304.5% larger than aid received by Southern Virginia University students ($40,618 vs. $10,041).

Earlham vs. SVU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Earlham or SVU? 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 SVU and Earlham.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Earlham College (1200) is 100 points higher than at SVU (1100).
• Incoming Earlham students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 21 at SVU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 1110/1290; Southern Virginia University 943/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Earlham College 24/33; Southern Virginia University 18/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Earlham - Test optional; SVU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Earlham Mar 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Earlham students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at SVU (3.19).
• SVU has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than Earlham (73.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.9% at Earlham vs. 21.4% at SVU.

Earlham vs. SVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Earlham and SVU? 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).

• Earlham College's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Southern Virginia University's (25%).
• Graduates from Southern Virginia University earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than Earlham graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,600 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Virginia University graduates have a $2,346 lower median loan debt than Earlham graduates ($23,654 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, SVU graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Earlham graduates ($244 vs. $268).
• More Earlham graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SVU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 53%)

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.