Virginia Wesleyan University offers a traditional small-college experience with close faculty relationships and a tight-knit campus community in Virginia Beach.
While earnings outcomes are modest, the university provides a supportive environment for students seeking personal development and liberal arts education.
Virginia Wesleyan University is a small private nonprofit institution in Virginia Beach that serves about 1,400 students in a close-knit liberal arts setting. While the university doesn't rank among the top performers nationally for earnings outcomes, it offers a distinctive educational experience focused on personal development and community engagement. Graduates earn a median of $50,074 ten years after enrollment, which places the institution in the bottom third nationally for long-term financial returns.
The university serves a moderately diverse student body, with about 26% receiving Pell Grants and 31% being first-generation college students. As an "Opportunity Builders" institution, Virginia Wesleyan provides access to students from various backgrounds, though outcomes for low-income students are more modest compared to larger research universities. The school's strength lies in its small class sizes, personalized attention, and tight-knit campus community rather than in maximizing post-graduation earnings.
For students who prioritize the liberal arts experience, close faculty relationships, and a supportive campus environment over purely financial outcomes, Virginia Wesleyan offers a traditional private college experience in coastal Virginia. The university's focus remains on holistic student development rather than career-focused training, which appeals to families seeking a more traditional collegiate experience.
Virginia Wesleyan University's program portfolio reflects its liberal arts mission, with business administration leading both in enrollment and financial returns. The business program graduates about 43 students annually with early-career earnings around $37,208, making it the university's strongest economic performer. Biology serves as the largest program with 22 graduates, though early earnings of $20,140 reflect the field's emphasis on graduate school preparation and research-focused career paths.
The corrections administration program, also graduating 22 students, produces early earnings around $29,685 and represents the university's connection to public service careers. These three programs capture much of Virginia Wesleyan's academic focus, balancing traditional liberal arts disciplines with more career-oriented fields.
As a small institution, Virginia Wesleyan graduates modest cohorts in each field, which affects alumni network density and employer recruitment compared to larger universities. The program mix emphasizes breadth over specialization, typical of liberal arts colleges that prioritize well-rounded education and personal development alongside career preparation.
Virginia Wesleyan University graduates see modest long-term earnings compared to national averages. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $50,074, placing the institution in the bottom third nationally for post-graduation financial outcomes. The university's earnings performance reflects its liberal arts focus and smaller scale, with graduates typically entering fields that prioritize service and personal fulfillment over maximum compensation.
The strongest financial returns come from the university's business administration program, which graduates about 43 students annually with median earnings around $37,208 early in their careers. Biology, the university's largest program with 22 graduates, shows more modest early earnings at $20,140, typical for students who often continue to graduate school or enter research-focused roles. The corrections administration program, with 22 graduates, produces early earnings around $29,685, reflecting the university's connection to public service careers.
While Virginia Wesleyan's earnings don't compete with larger research universities or technical institutions, the outcomes align with the university's mission as a liberal arts college. Students typically choose Virginia Wesleyan for the educational experience, campus community, and personal development opportunities rather than purely for financial returns, and the earnings reflect career paths that often emphasize meaning and service over maximum compensation.
Virginia Wesleyan University maintains relatively consistent net prices across income levels, with low-income students paying about $18,365 annually and middle-income families seeing similar costs at $18,364. This pricing structure reflects the university's commitment to making private education accessible, though net prices remain higher than most public alternatives. High-income families face somewhat higher costs at $25,187, but the differential is smaller than at many private institutions.
Debt levels are moderate but meaningful for most graduates. Typical students leave with about $27,000 in federal loan debt, while families who use Parent PLUS loans borrow an average of $23,001. These debt levels, combined with the university's modest earnings outcomes, require careful financial planning. The university reports a 0% federal loan default rate, suggesting that while debt burdens are significant, most graduates manage their obligations successfully.
The affordability picture at Virginia Wesleyan requires families to weigh the value of a small, private liberal arts experience against the financial investment. While net prices are reasonable for a private institution, the combination of moderate debt levels and modest post-graduation earnings means families should carefully consider their financial capacity and educational priorities when evaluating the university.
Virginia Wesleyan University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
