SVU vs. VCU

Should I go to Southern Virginia University or Virginia Commonwealth University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SVU or VCU 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

JMU Mason Virginia Tech Mary Washington College Old Dominion CNU William & Mary UVA WVU UMBC Howard University of Richmond
Southern Virginia University vs. Virginia Commonwealth University comparison
Southern Virginia University Virginia Commonwealth University College 3 College 4
Southern Virginia University Virginia Commonwealth University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

SVU VCU
Location Buena Vista, VA Richmond, VA
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,053 28,082
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #984 #442
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website svu.edu vcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

SVU VCU
Tuition (In State) $18,858 $12,458
Tuition (Out of State) $18,858 $33,726
Room & Board $9,150 $12,279
Avg Net Price $23,274 $21,294
Avg Grant Aid $8,188 $12,583
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 83%

Admission

SVU VCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,090 18,242
Admitted 1,084 16,600
Acceptance Rate 99.4% 91%
Enrolled % 35.1% 25.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.19 3.75
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24 22/30
SAT Range 900/1250 1030/1290
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 18, 2024

Academics

SVU VCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • English and Literature (13%)
  • Work and Family Studies (12%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

Outcomes

SVU VCU
Graduation Rate 25% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,600 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,654 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $244 $240

Diversity

SVU VCU
% Men 53% 36%
% Women 47% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 80% 50%
% Black 4% 18%
% Hispanic 4% 8%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 6%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

SVU VCU
% In-State 12% 92%
% Out-of-State 73% 6%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than SVU based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 1,053 students)

SVU vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SVU or VCU?

  • Southern Virginia University is 51.4% more expensive to attend than VCU for in-state tuition ($18,858.00 vs. $12,458.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 78.8% higher at VCU than Southern Virginia University ($33,726.00 vs. $18,858.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Commonwealth University than SVU ($21,294 vs. $23,274)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Virginia University are 34.2% lower than costs at Virginia Commonwealth University ($9,150 vs. $12,279)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Virginia University than Virginia Commonwealth University (99% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 53.7% larger than aid received Southern Virginia University ($12,583 vs. $8,188)

SVU vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Virginia Commonwealth University (1097) is 56 points higher than at SVU (1041)
  • Incoming VCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at SVU (23)
  • Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at SVU (3.19)
  • SVU has a higher acceptance rate (99.4%) than VCU (91%)

SVU vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SVU or VCU? 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 VCU and SVU.

  • The graduation rate at VCU is higher than Southern Virginia University (53% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University earn on average $6,900 more per year than SVU graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $40,600)
  • Virginia Commonwealth University students graduate with a $404 lower median federal student loan debt than SVU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $23,654)
  • VCU graduates are paying $4 less per month on federal student loans than SVU graduates. ($240 vs. $244)
  • More VCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SVU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/