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Economic score
Southern Virginia University is a private liberal arts college located in Buena Vista, Virginia. Southern Virginia University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Southern Virginia University is in the bottom 5% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $36,607 10 years after enrolling, 41st in Virginia, and in the bottom 25% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Southern Virginia University bachelor students earn 33% less than the national average.
Southern Virginia University’s median net annual cost of $20,834 and average years to graduate of 4.7 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 1 programs at Southern Virginia University sorted by number of graduates - Business and Commerce - are shown below.
Annual net cost
$20,834
Average years to graduate
4.7
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.7 years. 34% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Southern Virginia University is 29% lower than the state average, and 35% below the average for all liberal arts colleges in the country.
At Southern Virginia University, Pell Grant recipients represent 44% of the measured graduating class, 9% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Southern Virginia University graduates within 4.5 years.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Southern Virginia University’s economic mobility score of 8.58 is calculated by adjusting the 7.35 economic score of lower-income students by the 44% pell grant recipients within the student body. Southern Virginia University’s EMS of 8.58 ranks in the bottom 25% nationally. Please note that the economic mobility score considers only students that have graduated.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 25%
The average Title IV recipient at Southern Virginia University pays $20,834 a year, $10,636 less than the $31,470 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $20,834
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Southern Virginia University, 97% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $20,834 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 54% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,006. This is equal to the national average.
Federal grants
$5,357
Pell grants
$5,292
State grants
$3,533
Institutional grants
$5,502
Southern Virginia University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 100% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 1,232 applicants, of which 1,226 were admitted and 342 enrolled. Southern Virginia University doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
96%
83%
Female
51%
59%
First time
63%
59%
In-state
19%
68%
1st generation
17%
35%
White
76%
52%
Black
4%
14%
Hispanic
4%
15%
Asian
1%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
4%
0.3%
Other
10%
12%