Houghton vs Southern Virginia
What each college publishes, side by side. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt come from federal data.
B+Compass Score: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.Houghton UniversityHoughton, NYCompass Score: Very good · Top 26%C+Compass Score: Solid (grade C+): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.Southern Virginia UniversityBuena Vista, VACompass Score: Solid
At a glance
- Houghton has the higher graduation rate: 65% against 33% at Southern Virginia.
- Median earnings ten years after entry are higher at Southern Virginia: $50,002, against $46,721 at Houghton.
- Houghton admits 89% of applicants, and Southern Virginia admits 96%.
Scores
Compass Score
B+Compass Score: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 26%
C+Compass Score: Solid (grade C+): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.
Academic Excellence
A-Academic Excellence: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 19%
B-Academic Excellence: Good (grade B-): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.
Value
B-Value: Good (grade B-): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.
B-Value: Good (grade B-): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.
The college
Category
Liberal arts colleges
Liberal arts colleges
Location
Houghton, NY
Buena Vista, VA
Setting
Rural
Town
Students
1,014
967
Sports
NCAA Division III · Empire Eight
NCAA Division III · USA South Athletic Conference
Admission
Admission rate
89%
96%
Average SAT
1284
Not reported
ACT middle 50%
26–31
Not reported
Outcomes
Graduation rate
65%
33%
First-year retention
84%
74%
Median earnings 10 years after entry
$46,721
$50,002
Median debt
$25,250
$24,224
Cost
Average price after aid
About $21,000
About $22,000
Price after aid, by family income
Up to $30,000
About $19,000
About $19,000
$30,001–$48,000
About $19,000
About $20,000
$48,001–$75,000
About $19,000
About $21,000
$75,001–$110,000
About $20,000
About $23,000
Over $110,000
About $22,000
About $27,000
Top majors by graduate earnings
Bachelor's majors
- Business administration $60,393
- Communication studies $45,134
- Psychology $37,822
- Business (general) $56,726
- Liberal arts $40,419
- Psychology $36,808
- English $33,115
Compare with another college
The Compass Score and grades are College Compass Guide’s own ratings. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt are federal data. This comparison doesn’t rank the two colleges; the figures are shown as published.