Back to Colleges

Basic Information

Type Private, Liberal Arts
Geographical Reach Regional
Location Virginia Beach, VA
Population 1,300,000
Website https://www.vwu.edu/
Map of the United States

Weather

Comfortable Days 100 (24%)
Sunshine Hours 2,715 (68%)
Days Without Precipitation 253 (61%)

Honors College

Name Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Honors / Batten Honors College
Students 160 (13%)

Demographics

Total Undergraduates 1,229
Men / Women 43% / 57%
From State 71%
From Region 8%
Athletes 43.0%

Racial/Ethnic

White 38%
Black 20%
Hispanic 8%
Mixed 5%
International 4%
Native American 2%
Asian 2%

Men in the Entering Class

Men
0% 15% 30% 45% 60% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Men: 35.8% 35.8% 2012 Men: 38.4% 38.4% 2013 Men: 40.4% 40.4% 2014 Men: 34.5% 34.5% 2015 Men: 37.5% 37.5% 2016 Men: 45.1% 45.1% 2017 Men: 46.3% 46.3% 2018 Men: 49.7% 49.7% 2019 Men: 40.1% 40.1% 2020 Men: 43.6% 43.6% 2021 Men: 43.1% 43.1% 2022 Men: 47.3% 47.3% 2023 Men: 47.2% 47.2% 2024 Men: 41.2% 41.2%

Entering Class by Race & Ethnicity

Native Asian Black Hispanic White International
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Native: 0.3% 0.3% 2012 Native: 0.3% 0.3% 2013 Native: 0.0% 0.0% 2014 Native: 0.6% 0.6% 2015 Native: 0.0% 0.0% 2016 Native: 0.0% 0.0% 2017 Native: 0.7% 0.7% 2018 Native: 0.9% 0.9% 2019 Native: 1.1% 1.1% 2020 Native: 0.5% 0.5% 2021 Native: 0.3% 0.3% 2022 Native: 0.8% 0.8% 2023 Native: 0.9% 0.9% 2024 Native: 0.3% 0.3% 2011 Asian: 1.3% 1.3% 2012 Asian: 1.6% 1.6% 2013 Asian: 2.2% 2.2% 2014 Asian: 1.8% 1.8% 2015 Asian: 1.3% 1.3% 2016 Asian: 1.4% 1.4% 2017 Asian: 1.4% 1.4% 2018 Asian: 1.9% 1.9% 2019 Asian: 2.7% 2.7% 2020 Asian: 1.7% 1.7% 2021 Asian: 1.2% 1.2% 2022 Asian: 0.8% 0.8% 2023 Asian: 1.7% 1.7% 2024 Asian: 1.4% 1.4% 2011 Black: 13.5% 13.5% 2012 Black: 19.1% 19.1% 2013 Black: 23.5% 23.5% 2014 Black: 21.3% 21.3% 2015 Black: 24.3% 24.3% 2016 Black: 23.7% 23.7% 2017 Black: 26.0% 26.0% 2018 Black: 26.2% 26.2% 2019 Black: 26.1% 26.1% 2020 Black: 27.1% 27.1% 2021 Black: 29.8% 29.8% 2022 Black: 30.6% 30.6% 2023 Black: 28.2% 28.2% 2024 Black: 24.6% 24.6% 2011 Hispanic: 3.4% 3.4% 2012 Hispanic: 6.5% 6.5% 2013 Hispanic: 5.0% 5.0% 2014 Hispanic: 3.3% 3.3% 2015 Hispanic: 4.7% 4.7% 2016 Hispanic: 7.8% 7.8% 2017 Hispanic: 6.2% 6.2% 2018 Hispanic: 7.0% 7.0% 2019 Hispanic: 6.6% 6.6% 2020 Hispanic: 8.6% 8.6% 2021 Hispanic: 6.9% 6.9% 2022 Hispanic: 9.6% 9.6% 2023 Hispanic: 11.4% 11.4% 2024 Hispanic: 6.5% 6.5% 2011 White: 81.2% 81.2% 2012 White: 72.2% 72.2% 2013 White: 67.3% 67.3% 2014 White: 70.5% 70.5% 2015 White: 66.6% 66.6% 2016 White: 60.7% 60.7% 2017 White: 54.1% 54.1% 2018 White: 52.0% 52.0% 2019 White: 50.0% 50.0% 2020 White: 51.0% 51.0% 2021 White: 46.2% 46.2% 2022 White: 45.4% 45.4% 2023 White: 46.2% 46.2% 2024 White: 57.2% 57.2% 2011 International: 0.3% 0.3% 2012 International: 0.3% 0.3% 2013 International: 0.0% 0.0% 2014 International: 0.3% 0.3% 2015 International: 0.3% 0.3% 2016 International: 0.0% 0.0% 2017 International: 0.5% 0.5% 2018 International: 0.7% 0.7% 2019 International: 0.4% 0.4% 2020 International: 1.0% 1.0% 2021 International: 1.2% 1.2% 2022 International: 1.1% 1.1% 2023 International: 1.4% 1.4% 2024 International: 0.3% 0.3%

Share of the full-time first-time degree-seeking cohort. Groups IPEDS reports separately — two or more races, and race unknown — are left out, so the lines don't sum to 100%.

Enrolled Undergraduates by Race & Ethnicity

Native Asian Black Hispanic White International
0% 15% 30% 45% 60% 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2020 Native: 1.0% 1.0% 2021 Native: 1.0% 1.0% 2022 Native: 0.9% 0.9% 2023 Native: 1.2% 1.2% 2024 Native: 2.0% 2.0% 2025 Native: 2.1% 2.1% 2020 Asian: 1.9% 1.9% 2021 Asian: 1.3% 1.3% 2022 Asian: 1.7% 1.7% 2023 Asian: 2.0% 2.0% 2024 Asian: 2.1% 2.1% 2025 Asian: 2.4% 2.4% 2020 Black: 25.4% 25.4% 2021 Black: 24.2% 24.2% 2022 Black: 26.3% 26.3% 2023 Black: 25.4% 25.4% 2024 Black: 23.0% 23.0% 2025 Black: 19.6% 19.6% 2020 Hispanic: 8.3% 8.3% 2021 Hispanic: 9.8% 9.8% 2022 Hispanic: 9.3% 9.3% 2023 Hispanic: 10.4% 10.4% 2024 Hispanic: 10.6% 10.6% 2025 Hispanic: 8.5% 8.5% 2020 White: 53.3% 53.3% 2021 White: 53.7% 53.7% 2022 White: 51.5% 51.5% 2023 White: 49.6% 49.6% 2024 White: 48.9% 48.9% 2025 White: 38.4% 38.4% 2020 International: 0.9% 0.9% 2021 International: 1.5% 1.5% 2022 International: 1.8% 1.8% 2023 International: 2.8% 2.8% 2024 International: 3.8% 3.8% 2025 International: 4.2% 4.2%

Share of all full-time degree-seeking undergraduates, not just the entering class. Same excluded groups as above.

IPEDS Admissions (2011–2024), Graduation Rates (2011–2024) and 12-month Enrollment (2020–2025) surveys. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Schools & Majors

⇅ Trends Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn
Virginia Wesleyan University 262 35% 56% 2% 24% 7% 3% $52,755 36 94% 9.4%
Computer Science 5 — 80% 40% 0% 40% 20% 0% $77,832 84 — —
Mathematics and Computer Science 10 +1 80% 50% 0% 30% 10% 0% $75,739 82 — —
Chemistry 3 +1 33% 33% 33% 33% 0% 0% $59,172 54 — —
Mathematics 3 +2 33% 67% 0% 33% 0% 0% $63,874 65 — —
Biochemistry 2 — 100% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $55,112 43 — —
Biological and Physical Sciences 11 — 36% 64% 0% 27% 9% 0% $55,567 44 — —
Biology 26 — 27% 62% 4% 15% 0% 0% $56,329 47 91% —
Environmental Studies 5 — 40% 80% 0% 0% 20% 0% $48,953 25 — —
Health Sciences 10 — 10% 60% 0% 20% 10% 0% $54,679 42 — —
Nursing 4 — 0% 50% 0% 0% 25% 0% $82,045 87 — —
Recreational Therapy 10 — 40% 70% 10% 20% 0% 0% $54,642 42 — —
Business Administration 37 — 54% 49% 3% 22% 3% 14% $59,054 54 93% 8.3%
Sport Management 14 +1 71% 79% 0% 7% 7% 0% $49,361 26 — —
English 6 +1 50% 67% 0% 33% 0% 0% $43,608 13 — —
German — — — — — — — — $48,842 24 — —
History 3 — 33% 33% 0% 33% 0% 0% — — — —
History 6 — 50% 67% 0% 17% 0% 17% $46,728 19 — —
Interdisciplinary Studies — — — — — — — — $49,797 27 97% —
Latin — — — — — — — — $48,776 24 — —
Liberal Studies 4 — 75% 50% 0% 50% 0% 0% $47,816 22 — —
Philosophy 1 +1 100% 0% 0% 100% 0% 0% — — — —
Spanish 1 — 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $48,519 24 — —
Women's Studies 1 +1 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% — — — —
Communication Studies 5 — 0% 20% 0% 20% 0% 20% $48,108 22 95% —
International Studies 2 +1 0% 50% 0% 0% 0% 50% $53,790 39 — —
Political Science 4 +1 0% 50% 0% 50% 0% 0% $51,639 32 94% —
Psychology 35 +1 9% 51% 3% 37% 6% 0% $42,544 11 95% 11.0%
Social Sciences 5 — 40% 40% 0% 60% 0% 0% $46,753 19 — —
Social Work 6 — 0% 50% 0% 33% 17% 0% $47,418 21 — —
Sociology 2 — 50% 50% 0% 0% 50% 0% $47,300 20 — —
Sustainability Studies 1 +1 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $53,868 39 — —
Education — — — — — — — — $49,134 25 — —
Elementary Education 2 — 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $50,642 29 — —
Special Education 1 — 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $51,117 31 — —
Art 7 +1 0% 29% 0% 29% 29% 14% $37,796 6 — —
Drama and Theatre Arts 2 +2 100% 50% 0% 50% 0% 0% $37,554 6 — —
Music 7 — 14% 86% 0% 0% 14% 0% $38,636 7 — —
Criminal Justice 21 +2 38% 43% 0% 24% 19% 0% $50,447 29 97% 8.7%

Financial

Tuition & Fees $42,015
ROI Percentile 36th

Retention & Graduation

Full-Time Retention 74%
4-Year Graduation Rate 36%
6-Year Graduation Rate 42%
Transfer-Out Rate 44%

Six-Year Graduation Rate

Graduated
0% 15% 30% 45% 60% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Graduated: 48.3% 48.3% 2012 Graduated: 48.0% 48.0% 2013 Graduated: 44.0% 44.0% 2014 Graduated: 48.0% 48.0% 2015 Graduated: 47.3% 47.3% 2016 Graduated: 43.7% 43.7% 2017 Graduated: 52.1% 52.1% 2018 Graduated: 51.7% 51.7% 2019 Graduated: 47.8% 47.8% 2020 Graduated: 49.8% 49.8% 2021 Graduated: 46.8% 46.8% 2022 Graduated: 44.0% 44.0% 2023 Graduated: 49.1% 49.1% 2024 Graduated: 41.6% 41.6%

Students finishing within 150% of normal time. Each year labels the cohort that entered six years earlier — 2024 tracks the class that started in 2018.

Six-Year Graduation Rate by Gender

Men Women
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Men: 34.0% 34.0% 2012 Men: 38.9% 38.9% 2013 Men: 36.5% 36.5% 2014 Men: 42.6% 42.6% 2015 Men: 41.5% 41.5% 2016 Men: 35.4% 35.4% 2017 Men: 49.0% 49.0% 2018 Men: 48.5% 48.5% 2019 Men: 44.8% 44.8% 2020 Men: 38.6% 38.6% 2021 Men: 40.8% 40.8% 2022 Men: 44.8% 44.8% 2023 Men: 46.7% 46.7% 2024 Men: 34.3% 34.3% 2011 Women: 62.5% 62.5% 2012 Women: 55.0% 55.0% 2013 Women: 49.3% 49.3% 2014 Women: 52.5% 52.5% 2015 Women: 51.6% 51.6% 2016 Women: 50.3% 50.3% 2017 Women: 53.7% 53.7% 2018 Women: 53.7% 53.7% 2019 Women: 49.8% 49.8% 2020 Women: 55.6% 55.6% 2021 Women: 50.5% 50.5% 2022 Women: 43.3% 43.3% 2023 Women: 51.1% 51.1% 2024 Women: 48.9% 48.9%

IPEDS reports the cohort as men and women only.

Six-Year Graduation Rate by Race & Ethnicity

Black Hispanic White
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Black: 41.9% 41.9% 2012 Black: 49.3% 49.3% 2013 Black: 40.0% 40.0% 2014 Black: 47.1% 47.1% 2015 Black: 39.0% 39.0% 2016 Black: 38.6% 38.6% 2017 Black: 47.4% 47.4% 2018 Black: 43.4% 43.4% 2019 Black: 43.2% 43.2% 2020 Black: 40.9% 40.9% 2021 Black: 41.7% 41.7% 2022 Black: 34.8% 34.8% 2023 Black: 39.5% 39.5% 2024 Black: 25.3% 25.3% 2011 Hispanic: 72.7% 72.7% 2012 Hispanic: 37.5% 37.5% 2013 Hispanic: 33.3% 33.3% 2014 Hispanic: 36.4% 36.4% 2015 Hispanic: 40.0% 40.0% 2016 Hispanic: 34.8% 34.8% 2017 Hispanic: 63.0% 63.0% 2018 Hispanic: 43.3% 43.3% 2019 Hispanic: 46.7% 46.7% 2020 Hispanic: 60.0% 60.0% 2021 Hispanic: 33.3% 33.3% 2022 Hispanic: 40.0% 40.0% 2023 Hispanic: 39.6% 39.6% 2024 Hispanic: 30.4% 30.4% 2011 White: 49.0% 49.0% 2012 White: 48.9% 48.9% 2013 White: 47.3% 47.3% 2014 White: 49.6% 49.6% 2015 White: 53.6% 53.6% 2016 White: 48.0% 48.0% 2017 White: 51.9% 51.9% 2018 White: 57.6% 57.6% 2019 White: 49.6% 49.6% 2020 White: 53.6% 53.6% 2021 White: 50.6% 50.6% 2022 White: 54.2% 54.2% 2023 White: 60.0% 60.0% 2024 White: 49.5% 49.5%

Each group's completers over its own share of the entering cohort. Groups making up less than 2% of everyone this college graduated over the period are left off — their rates swing on a handful of students and read as noise.

IPEDS Graduation Rates survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Earnings by Major Category

Each major category's degree-weighted estimated median 5-year earnings at this college, expressed as a z-score against the national degree-weighted distribution for that category. 0 is the national average. The shaded band between +1.28 and −1.28 marks the central 80% of the national distribution (10th–90th percentile).

Academics

⇅ % Degrees Male White Asian Black Hispanic Intl Earnings ROI Employment Debt-to-Earn
Social Sciences 22.9% 60 10% 48% 2% 35% 7% 3% $45,174 16 95% 11.0%
Business & Economics 19.5% 51 59% 57% 2% 18% 4% 10% $56,393 47 93% 8.3%
Life & Natural Sciences 14.9% 39 33% 64% 3% 18% 3% 0% $56,052 46 91% —
Health Sciences 9.2% 24 21% 62% 4% 17% 8% 0% $59,225 55 — —
Humanities 8.4% 22 50% 59% 0% 32% 0% 5% $45,988 17 — —
Professional 8.0% 21 38% 43% 0% 24% 19% 0% $50,447 29 97% 8.7%
Arts 6.1% 16 19% 56% 0% 19% 19% 6% $38,133 6 — —
Computer Science 5.7% 15 80% 47% 0% 33% 13% 0% $76,437 83 — —
Physical Sciences & Math 2.3% 6 33% 50% 17% 33% 0% 0% $61,523 60 — —
Agriculture & Food Science 1.9% 5 40% 80% 0% 0% 20% 0% $48,953 25 — —
Education 1.1% 3 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% $50,800 30 — —

Admissions

Uses Common App Yes
Acceptance Rate 86%
Yield (non-ED) 12%
Regular Decision Jan 1

Acceptance Rates

In-State Out-of-State International
Regular Decision 86% 86% 86%

Acceptance & Yield

Acceptance Yield
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Acceptance: 86.0% 86.0% 2012 Acceptance: 85.8% 85.8% 2013 Acceptance: 93.1% 93.1% 2014 Acceptance: 89.0% 89.0% 2015 Acceptance: 92.5% 92.5% 2016 Acceptance: 90.0% 90.0% 2017 Acceptance: 69.9% 69.9% 2018 Acceptance: 70.4% 70.4% 2019 Acceptance: 76.8% 76.8% 2020 Acceptance: 74.0% 74.0% 2021 Acceptance: 86.4% 86.4% 2022 Acceptance: 81.4% 81.4% 2023 Acceptance: 71.3% 71.3% 2024 Acceptance: 72.9% 72.9% 2011 Yield: 16.1% 16.1% 2012 Yield: 13.1% 13.1% 2013 Yield: 12.8% 12.8% 2014 Yield: 22.0% 22.0% 2015 Yield: 20.4% 20.4% 2016 Yield: 24.7% 24.7% 2017 Yield: 27.1% 27.1% 2018 Yield: 18.9% 18.9% 2019 Yield: 19.3% 19.3% 2020 Yield: 20.1% 20.1% 2021 Yield: 19.0% 19.0% 2022 Yield: 20.1% 20.1% 2023 Yield: 19.7% 19.7% 2024 Yield: 11.9% 11.9%

Applicants, Admitted & Enrolled

Applicants Admitted Enrolled
0 1,250 2,500 3,750 5,000 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Applicants: 3,174 3,174 2012 Applicants: 3,879 3,879 2013 Applicants: 3,788 3,788 2014 Applicants: 2,072 2,072 2015 Applicants: 1,850 1,850 2016 Applicants: 1,654 1,654 2017 Applicants: 2,231 2,231 2018 Applicants: 2,656 2,656 2019 Applicants: 2,323 2,323 2020 Applicants: 2,195 2,195 2021 Applicants: 2,076 2,076 2022 Applicants: 1,718 1,718 2023 Applicants: 2,651 2,651 2024 Applicants: 3,808 3,808 2011 Admitted: 2,730 2,730 2012 Admitted: 3,329 3,329 2013 Admitted: 3,527 3,527 2014 Admitted: 1,845 1,845 2015 Admitted: 1,712 1,712 2016 Admitted: 1,488 1,488 2017 Admitted: 1,559 1,559 2018 Admitted: 1,870 1,870 2019 Admitted: 1,785 1,785 2020 Admitted: 1,624 1,624 2021 Admitted: 1,793 1,793 2022 Admitted: 1,399 1,399 2023 Admitted: 1,890 1,890 2024 Admitted: 2,775 2,775 2011 Enrolled: 439 439 2012 Enrolled: 435 435 2013 Enrolled: 453 453 2014 Enrolled: 406 406 2015 Enrolled: 349 349 2016 Enrolled: 368 368 2017 Enrolled: 423 423 2018 Enrolled: 354 354 2019 Enrolled: 344 344 2020 Enrolled: 326 326 2021 Enrolled: 341 341 2022 Enrolled: 281 281 2023 Enrolled: 373 373 2024 Enrolled: 330 330

IPEDS Admissions survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line.

Standardized Tests

Test Policy optional

SAT Composite

25th 75th
800 1000 1200 1400 1600 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 25th: 870 870 2012 25th: 890 890 2013 25th: 908 908 2014 25th: 870 870 2015 25th: 860 860 2016 25th: 850 850 2017 25th: 953 953 2018 25th: 980 980 2019 25th: 950 950 2020 25th: 960 960 2021 25th: 1150 1150 2022 25th: 1190 1190 2023 25th: 1140 1140 2011 75th: 1080 1080 2012 75th: 1110 1110 2013 75th: 1143 1143 2014 75th: 1100 1100 2015 75th: 1090 1090 2016 75th: 1060 1060 2017 75th: 1160 1160 2018 75th: 1180 1180 2019 75th: 1180 1180 2020 75th: 1190 1190 2021 75th: 1380 1380 2022 75th: 1365 1365 2023 75th: 1350 1350

SAT Math

25th 75th
400 500 600 700 800 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 25th: 430 430 2012 25th: 440 440 2013 25th: 450 450 2014 25th: 430 430 2015 25th: 430 430 2016 25th: 420 420 2017 25th: 463 463 2018 25th: 480 480 2019 25th: 470 470 2020 25th: 470 470 2021 25th: 560 560 2022 25th: 585 585 2023 25th: 580 580 2011 75th: 540 540 2012 75th: 550 550 2013 75th: 570 570 2014 75th: 550 550 2015 75th: 540 540 2016 75th: 530 530 2017 75th: 570 570 2018 75th: 570 570 2019 75th: 580 580 2020 75th: 580 580 2021 75th: 700 700 2022 75th: 670 670 2023 75th: 680 680

SAT Reading & Writing

25th 75th
400 500 600 700 800 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 25th: 440 440 2012 25th: 450 450 2013 25th: 458 458 2014 25th: 440 440 2015 25th: 430 430 2016 25th: 430 430 2017 25th: 490 490 2018 25th: 500 500 2019 25th: 480 480 2020 25th: 490 490 2021 25th: 590 590 2022 25th: 605 605 2023 25th: 560 560 2011 75th: 540 540 2012 75th: 560 560 2013 75th: 573 573 2014 75th: 550 550 2015 75th: 550 550 2016 75th: 530 530 2017 75th: 590 590 2018 75th: 610 610 2019 75th: 600 600 2020 75th: 610 610 2021 75th: 680 680 2022 75th: 695 695 2023 75th: 670 670

Submitting a Test Score

Submitted
0% 25% 50% 75% 100% 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2011 Submitted: 86.0% 86.0% 2012 Submitted: 89.0% 89.0% 2013 Submitted: 71.0% 71.0% 2014 Submitted: 75.0% 75.0% 2015 Submitted: 74.0% 74.0% 2016 Submitted: 100.0% 100.0% 2017 Submitted: 100.0% 100.0% 2018 Submitted: 100.0% 100.0% 2019 Submitted: 98.0% 98.0% 2020 Submitted: 97.0% 97.0% 2021 Submitted: 17.0% 17.0% 2022 Submitted: 14.0% 14.0% 2023 Submitted: 8.0% 8.0% 2024 Submitted: 0.0% 0.0%

IPEDS Admissions survey, 2011–2024. Years a college didn't file leave a gap in the line. Test-score submission adds SAT and ACT submitters, capped at 100% — a student can send both.