Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach, VA · Private · Large city · Marlins · VA Wesleyan · VWU · Wesleyan
Private institution in Virginia Beach, VA · 1,243 undergraduates · 71% acceptance rate · $50,074 median earnings 10 years after entry.
- Top 14%Median ACT
- Top 22%Average SAT
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
- $20,5831,133rd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $36,9601,555th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $36,9601,511th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $51,1921,519th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $27,0001,604th lowest of 1,880 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $50,0741,063rd highest of 1,969 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $39,2001,279th highest of 1,964 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 49.0%1,203rd highest of 2,031 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 66.8%1,393rd highest of 1,853 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 71.3%647th most selective of 1,608 reporting
- Average SAT
- 1281229th highest of 1,024 reporting
- Median ACT
- 29132nd highest of 954 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 1,2431,237th largest of 2,162 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 13.0:1993rd smallest of 2,159 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 26.2%1,414th highest of 2,140 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 145 mi (DCA)
On 1 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Applying
- Common App member
- Yes
- Application fee
- Free
- Personal essay
- Optional / not required
- Writing supplement
- No
Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.
Best-paying fields of study
Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 33 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness | bachelors | $39,009 | $37,208 |
| MathematicsMathematics & Statistics | bachelors | $38,289 | $48,432 |
| Mathematics and Computer ScienceMultidisciplinary Studies | bachelors | $37,779 | — |
| Criminal Justice and CorrectionsHomeland Security & Law Enforcement | bachelors | $35,060 | $29,685 |
| Parks, Recreation and Leisure StudiesParks, Recreation & Fitness | bachelors | $30,771 | $31,851 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherMultidisciplinary Studies | bachelors | $29,685 | $35,330 |
| Psychology, GeneralPsychology | bachelors | $29,685 | $26,643 |
| Communication and Media StudiesCommunications | bachelors | $28,236 | $28,598 |
| Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences | bachelors | $23,649 | $20,140 |
| SociologySocial Sciences | bachelors | $22,999 | $21,508 |
| Social WorkPublic Administration | bachelors | $20,824 | — |
| English Language and Literature, GeneralEnglish Language & Literature | bachelors | $18,771 | $19,227 |
Campus facts
- Religious affiliation: United Methodistsource
- Founded in 1961source
- Athletic nickname: "Marlins"source
- Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
- School colors: Grey and Silversource
- Mascot: Bob Marlinsource
- Motto: "Sapientia Illuminat Viam"source
- Campus size: about 300 acressource
- Formerly known as "Virginia Wesleyan College" (1961–2017)source
- Formerly known as "Virginia Wesleyan University" (2017–2026)source
- Athletic conference: ODACsource
Athletics — 11 sports
NCAA Division III without football · NCAA Division III
Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Field Hockey
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
- Volleyball
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.
Key links
- Official websitevwu.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 234173)
- 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
- Showdown: Virginia Wesleyan University vs University of Virginia's College at WiseHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 11 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.