WCU vs. SVU

Should I go to West Chester University of Pennsylvania or Southern Virginia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WCU or SVU 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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West Chester University of Pennsylvania vs. Southern Virginia University comparison
West Chester University of Pennsylvania Southern Virginia University College 3 College 4
West Chester University of Pennsylvania Southern Virginia University
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Overview

WCU SVU
Location West Chester, PA Buena Vista, VA
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 17,275 1,053
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #496 #984
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcupa.edu svu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

WCU SVU
Tuition (In State) $7,716 $18,858
Tuition (Out of State) $19,290 $18,858
Room & Board $14,228 $9,150
Avg Net Price $22,973 $23,274
Avg Grant Aid $5,443 $8,188
% Receiving Grant Aid 64% 99%

Admission

WCU SVU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,778 1,090
Admitted 12,982 1,084
Acceptance Rate 87.8% 99.4%
Enrolled % 23.2% 35.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.43 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/30 18/24
SAT Range 1080/1260 900/1250
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

Academics

WCU SVU
Student to Faculty Ratio 20:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • English and Literature (13%)
  • Work and Family Studies (12%)

Outcomes

WCU SVU
Graduation Rate 68% 25%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,000 $40,600
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $23,654
Median Loan Payment $242 $244

Diversity

WCU SVU
% Men 39% 53%
% Women 61% 47%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 78% 80%
% Black 11% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

WCU SVU
% In-State 87% 12%
% Out-of-State 12% 73%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than than SVU based on total student enrollment (17,275 students vs. 1,053 students)

WCU vs. SVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WCU or SVU?

  • Southern Virginia University is 144.4% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($18,858.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.3% higher at WCU than Southern Virginia University ($19,290.00 vs. $18,858.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than SVU ($22,973 vs. $23,274)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Virginia University are 55.5% lower than costs at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($9,150 vs. $14,228)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Virginia University than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (99% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Virginia University students is 50.4% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($8,188 vs. $5,443)

WCU vs. SVU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (1072) is 31 points higher than at SVU (1041)
  • Incoming WCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at SVU (23)
  • Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at SVU (3.19)
  • SVU has a higher acceptance rate (99.4%) than WCU (87.8%)

WCU vs. SVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Southern Virginia University (68% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania earn on average $8,400 more per year than SVU graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $40,600)
  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $154 lower median federal student loan debt than SVU graduates. ($23,500 vs. $23,654)
  • WCU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than SVU graduates. ($242 vs. $244)
  • More WCU 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/