Southern Virginia University is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Buena Vista, Virginia. It enrolls 936 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
55/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes33
Value31
Affordability59
Selectivity19
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 96.4%, Southern Virginia University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
96.4%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Southern Virginia University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Southern Virginia University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $22,213 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$22,213
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
45%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
57%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$21,280
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,894
Room & Board (off-campus)
$5,850
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$34,431
Application fee: $35 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$18,957
$30,001 – $48,000
$19,501
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,630
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,407
Over $110,000
$27,108
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$4,75025%percentile
$24,224Medianpercentile
$18,75075%percentile
$31,69590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,500
↓ $4,724
No Pell $8,250
↓ $15,974
Dependent students $12,607
↓ $11,617
Independent students $22,000
↓ $2,224
Female students $15,125
↓ $9,099
Male students $13,203
↓ $11,021
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,000, less than completers ($24,224), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
28% of full-time students who enrolled at Southern Virginia University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
28%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Southern Virginia University earn a median of $50,002 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$50,002
Earning > $25K
72%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$23,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$52,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$42,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$38,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$36,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $29,100, about 55% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
18.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 83% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Southern Virginia University is home to 936 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
936
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
17%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 72.8%681
Other 11.1%104
Hispanic 6.9%65
Black 6.8%64
International 1.4%13
Asian 1.0%9
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Southern Virginia University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantBuena Vista, Virginia
Housing
Mostly residential623 beds on campus
Adult Learners
6%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Southern Virginia University offers
a varied set of programs:
16 distinct programs across
13 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Virginia University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$23M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$58,667
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
53 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
17
32%
$64,339
Associate Professors
12
23%
$59,666
Assistant Professors
19
36%
$56,842
Instructors
5
9%
$43,920
Pros & Cons of Southern Virginia University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Southern Virginia University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Above-average net price
Class sizes are on the higher side
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Southern Virginia University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Southern Virginia University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Southern Virginia University.
Is Southern Virginia University hard to get into?
Southern Virginia University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 96.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at Southern Virginia University?
Southern Virginia University has an acceptance rate of 96.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Southern Virginia University cost?
The average net price after aid at Southern Virginia University is $22,213 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Southern Virginia University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $50,002 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $22,213 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Southern Virginia University known for?
Southern Virginia University is best known for its programs in Business, Psychology, Biochemistry & Biophysics. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Southern Virginia University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Southern Virginia University are $50,002, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Southern Virginia University accredited?
Yes. Southern Virginia University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Southern Virginia University?
Southern Virginia University enrolls 936 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Southern Virginia University?
Southern Virginia University graduates 28% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Southern Virginia University a public or private college?
Southern Virginia University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Southern Virginia University located?
Southern Virginia University is located in Buena Vista, Virginia.
What programs does Southern Virginia University offer?
Southern Virginia University offers 16 distinct programs. The most popular include Business, Psychology, Biochemistry & Biophysics.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Virginia University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Southern Virginia University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Virginia
Other colleges in Virginia share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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