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Virginia Beach , VA
Virginia Wesleyan University is a small private liberal arts institution located in Norfolk, Virginia. Founded in 1961, the university provides a vibrant and supportive learning environment for its students. With a total enrollment of approximately 1,500 undergraduate students, Virginia Wesleyan offers a personalized education with small class sizes and accessible faculty.
The university offers over 30 undergraduate majors and minors, including fields such as business, environmental studies, biology, psychology, and education. Virginia Wesleyan University is known for its strong programs in the arts, with majors in theatre, music, and studio art. Students benefit from opportunities for hands-on learning, internships, and research, and the university has developed partnerships with local organizations and businesses to provide valuable real-world experiences.
Virginia Wesleyan University takes pride in its diverse and inclusive community, welcoming students from all backgrounds and fostering an inclusive campus environment. Beyond academics, the university offers a range of extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations, providing students with opportunities for leadership, community service, and personal growth. With its commitment to scholarship, community engagement, and global perspective, Virginia Wesleyan University prepares students for success in their chosen careers and to make a positive impact on the world.
Located in Virginia Beach, VA, Virginia Wesleyan University is a private four-year college. This academic institution uses a continuous calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 72%. The freshman retention rate at Virginia Wesleyan University is 74% and the six-year graduation rate is 42%.
To find out more about what Virginia Wesleyan University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
1,749
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
25:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
42%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the school in order to increase your chances of being accepted. Check out some essential info about admission policy and requirements at Virginia Wesleyan University.
In 2025, the school accepted 2,775 new students.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.32. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. Why is that metric important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Virginia Wesleyan University was 74% in 2025, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 42%.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the right place for you is not a simple task. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Virginia Wesleyan University in 2025 was 1,853.
The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 1,749, 39 of which were foreign students. The school admitted a total of 56 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 542 male and 725 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the importance this institution places on gender equality.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. An inclusive student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 34 Asian students and 250 Afro-American students in 2025. 104 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 65 identified with more than one race. There were also 250 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based aid students could get at Virginia Wesleyan University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 225 freshmen. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $31,606.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
413 students were designated some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Virginia Wesleyan University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 869. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $2,183,008, and state $38,500.
$21,159
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
832 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this school in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 223 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $2,183,008 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $3,772. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $22,781,202. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $367,629 USD.
Majors
Faculty
25:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Virginia Wesleyan University was 25:1: that means 25 students per one teacher. This school has recently reported to have 120 faculty members. This number included 64 men and 56 women.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some info about social life at Virginia Wesleyan University.
Its campus is 300 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
This number includes sororities and fraternities. In case you're interested in acting, there is a drama club you can consider joining. Interested in media and communication? Virginia Wesleyan University publishes its own newspaper.
Student Services
At Virginia Wesleyan University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Virginia Wesleyan University.
All in all, campus life at Virginia Wesleyan University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
FAQ
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Virginia Wesleyan University is located in Virginia Beach, VA.
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Virginia Wesleyan University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Virginia Wesleyan University is 72%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Virginia Wesleyan University is 74%.
Contact Information
Virginia Wesleyan University
5817 Wesleyan Drive
Virginia Beach , VA
23455
757 455-3200
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.