Southern Virginia University

Private · Moderately Selective · VA

Photo: Carol M. Highsmith (Public domain)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationVA · South

SettingRural

Undergrads936

Student:faculty14:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate19%

6-yr grad rate33.5%

Drop-out rate26%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$21k

Out-of-state tuition$21k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity27.2%

Gender diversity46.9%

International1.4%

Identity—

Overview

Southern Virginia University is a private liberal-arts college in Buena Vista, Virginia, in the Shenandoah Valley, operated in harmony with the values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints though not owned by the church. Most students share LDS faith commitments, which shapes a close-knit, values-based campus culture.

Academics

The curriculum is a fairly traditional liberal-arts core, delivered in small classes, with campus life and academics both organized around the university's LDS-aligned honor code and community standards.

Campus & student life

The Shenandoah Valley setting is quiet and rural, and campus social life centers heavily on LDS institutional patterns — dance and social traditions borrowed from LDS culture, an honor code governing conduct, and a student body that skips much of the party culture common at other small colleges.

Worth knowing

Applicants should know the honor code and LDS-aligned community standards apply to the whole student body, not just LDS members, which makes campus culture a significant fit consideration beyond academics alone.

svu.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate96.4%

Enrolled mid-50%1140

Test policynot used

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying