Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU)

Virginia Beach, USA

Recommended

Type of institution:

University

Age range:

Type of training:

Full-time
Part-time
Hybrid
Online

Language of instruction:

english

Year of foundation:1961

About the Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU)

Virginia Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit liberal arts university affiliated with the United Methodist Church (the education is secular). It was founded in 1961. The campus covers about 300 acres in a suburban part of Virginia Beach, about 10 miles from downtown and close to the Atlantic coast and the Chesapeake Bay. Total enrollment is about 1,250–1,850 (about 1,750 undergraduates and about 100 graduate students), and the student-faculty ratio is 12:1. Structure: the Birdsong School of Social Science, the D. Henry Watts School of Professional Studies, a school for the arts and humanities, the Batten Honors College (recognized for sustainability education) and VWU Global. The university runs a three-week Winter Session in January, offers study-away programs (including Tokyo, Alaska and Amsterdam), undergraduate research, and a 3-2 agreement with Washington University in St. Louis in occupational therapy. Teams compete in NCAA Division III (Old Dominion Athletic Conference), with about 436 students in 19 varsity sports. Accreditation is regional, and nursing is separately accredited.

Admission conditions in Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU)

• Apply through the university's website or the Common App. The application fee is $0. Admission is rolling (the usual fall deadline is August 1). • Testing policy: SAT/ACT are not required (only about 10% of admitted students submit the SAT and about 4% the ACT); a high school GPA is required. • Documents: high school transcript and application; international applicants must show English proficiency and financial resources; • Study format is on-campus; seven programs can be completed online (including criminal justice, psychology and business administration), and an online master's in business is available. • The Batten Honors College is available for strong applicants, along with accelerated degree options.

Minimum rating for admission to Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU)

There is no single minimum score. • Average high school GPA of admitted students is about 3.32. • The ACT range for admitted students who submit scores is 27–29 (another source gives an average SAT of about 1281); most students are admitted without tests. • Acceptance rate is about 71–81% (2024: 3,808 applications and 2,775 admitted, 72.9%), so admission is only lightly selective.

Prospects after completing studies in Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU)

• First-year retention is about 66%, and the six-year graduation rate is 42–49%. • Graduate earnings 10 years after enrollment are about $44,100; median debt is about $27,000–34,200. • The most in-demand profiles are business, criminal justice, psychology, biology, sport and recreation, communication, nursing (RN) and earth and environmental science. • Typical starting salaries (aggregator data): business administration about $39,700, criminal justice about $35,900. • The Hampton Roads location gives access to a region with many military, port and health care employers; • For continued study, VWU itself offers master's programs in business (MBA) and education, plus the 3-2 occupational therapy agreement with Washington University in St. Louis. • The degree is American-style; regional accreditation ensures recognition in the US, and international recognition is via standard credential evaluation.