Virginia Wesleyan University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It enrolls 1,256 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 Calendar4-1-4 Plan
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.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes25
Value44
Affordability43
Selectivity70
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 72.9%, Virginia Wesleyan University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
72.9%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Virginia Wesleyan University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
5.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Virginia Wesleyan 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 $19,676 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$19,676
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
45%
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
$37,500
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,930
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,930
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,100
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,100
Total Cost of Attendance
$51,255
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
$14,080
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,108
$48,001 – $75,000
$15,967
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,603
Over $110,000
$24,782
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.
$3,75010%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$37,00090%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 $15,750
↓ $11,250
No Pell $12,000
↓ $15,000
Dependent students $13,625
↓ $13,375
Independent students $15,479
↓ $11,521
Female students $14,522
↓ $12,478
Male students $13,000
↓ $14,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
45% of full-time students who enrolled at Virginia Wesleyan University graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
45%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Virginia Wesleyan University earn a median of $50,074 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$50,074
Earning > $25K
78%
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
$40,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$38,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$43,100
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$46,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,500, about 21% 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 ↑
19.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 84% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Virginia Wesleyan University is home to 1,256 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,256
Part-Time
6%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 39.3%494
Black 19.9%250
Hispanic 8.3%104
Other 6.8%85
International 3.1%39
Asian 2.7%34
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Virginia Wesleyan University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityVirginia Beach, Virginia
Housing
Mostly residential856 beds on campus
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Virginia Wesleyan University offers
a varied set of programs:
34 distinct programs across
22 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 Virginia Wesleyan University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$191M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$75,883
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
87 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
40
46%
$84,308
Associate Professors
24
28%
$73,976
Assistant Professors
15
17%
$66,377
Lecturers
8
9%
$57,302
Pros & Cons of Virginia Wesleyan University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Virginia Wesleyan University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Virginia Wesleyan University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Virginia Wesleyan University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Virginia Wesleyan University.
Is Virginia Wesleyan University hard to get into?
Admissions at Virginia Wesleyan University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 72.9%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Virginia Wesleyan University?
Virginia Wesleyan University has an acceptance rate of 72.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Virginia Wesleyan University cost?
The average net price after aid at Virginia Wesleyan University is $19,676 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Virginia Wesleyan University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $50,074 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,676 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Virginia Wesleyan University known for?
Virginia Wesleyan University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Biology, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Virginia Wesleyan University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Virginia Wesleyan University are $50,074, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Virginia Wesleyan University accredited?
Yes. Virginia Wesleyan University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Virginia Wesleyan University?
Virginia Wesleyan University enrolls 1,256 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Virginia Wesleyan University?
Virginia Wesleyan University graduates 45% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Virginia Wesleyan University a public or private college?
Virginia Wesleyan University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Virginia Wesleyan University located?
Virginia Wesleyan University is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
What programs does Virginia Wesleyan University offer?
Virginia Wesleyan University offers 34 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Biology, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia Wesleyan University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia Wesleyan University is 13:1, 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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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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