Southern Virginia University
Buena Vista, VA · Private · Town (distant) · SVU
Private institution in Buena Vista, VA · 967 undergraduates · 100% acceptance rate · $50,002 median earnings 10 years after entry.
Stats
College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.
Cost
- Average net price
- $24,0141,420th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $20,0401,115th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $20,040856th cheapest of 2,024 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $33,0661,039th cheapest of 1,969 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $24,2241,152nd lowest of 1,865 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $50,0021,061st highest of 1,954 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $36,9881,414th highest of 1,950 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 38.3%1,550th highest of 2,014 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 82.5%551st highest of 1,837 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 99.6%1,536th most selective of 1,596 reporting
- Average SAT
- 1099686th highest of 1,022 reporting
- Median ACT
- 22604th highest of 952 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 9671,378th largest of 2,144 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 17.0:11,581st smallest of 2,141 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 43.3%572nd highest of 2,122 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 133 mi (IAD)
On 2 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 19 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, GeneralBusiness | bachelors | $39,729 | $35,600 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesLiberal Arts | bachelors | $26,643 | $20,530 |
| English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature | bachelors | $17,624 | — |
| Area StudiesArea & Ethnic Studies | bachelors | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyBiological Sciences | bachelors | — | — |
| Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences | bachelors | — | — |
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsForeign Languages | bachelors | — | — |
| Computer Science | bachelors | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science | bachelors | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftVisual & Performing Arts | bachelors | — | — |
| History | bachelors | — | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related ServicesFamily & Consumer Sciences | bachelors | — | — |
Campus facts
- Founded in 1867source
- Athletic nickname: "Knights"source
- Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
- School colors: Crimson and Whitesource
- Motto: "Learn that Life is Service"source
- Campus size: about 155 acressource
- Formerly known as "Bowling Green Female Seminary" (1867–1920)source
- Formerly known as "Southern Seminary" (1920–1992)source
- Formerly known as "Southern Virginia College" (1992–2001)source
- Athletic conference: USA South Athletic Conferencesource
Athletics — 15 sports
NCAA Division III with football · NCAA Division III
Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $69,613 (M $0 · W $6,250 · Coed $63,363)
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Beach Volleyball
- Field Hockey
- Football
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Other Sports
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.
Similar-size colleges
Nearest undergraduate enrollment to Southern Virginia University’s 967 (College Scorecard UGDS, compiled 2026-10-24). Size only — not a judgment of similarity or quality.
In VA
- Hampden-Sydney CollegeHampden-Sydney, VA · 876 undergrads
- Emory & Henry UniversityEmory, VA · 1,107 undergrads
- Eastern Mennonite UniversityHarrisonburg, VA · 800 undergrads
- Virginia Union UniversityRichmond, VA · 1,153 undergrads
- Averett UniversityDanville, VA · 1,162 undergrads
- Mary Baldwin UniversityStaunton, VA · 1,188 undergrads
Key links
- Official websitesvu.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 233611)
- Compare colleges in VARe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in VirginiaEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Compare with Hampden-Sydney CollegeSide by side on every Scorecard measure — closest in-state school by enrollment
- Showdown: Southern Virginia University vs Hampden-Sydney CollegeHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 15 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.