Southern Virginia University
BY STUDY & BY FAITH
Something Special is Happening Here.
At Southern Virginia University, faith and learning unite in a vibrant community built on the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. When you’re here, friends share your values and professors invest personally in you. Every opportunity is designed to help you flourish. Strengthen your faith, discover your potential, and prepare to lead with purpose. Come be a Knight.
Gather. Lift. Launch.®
Our mission is simple, yet powerful: gather, lift, launch. At Southern Virginia University, we gather faithful Latter-day Saints and friends who share your values, lift you intellectually, socially, and spiritually, and launch you prepared to serve, lead, and succeed.
This inspired vision for your growth and success shapes everything we do at SVU.
CENTERED ON JESUS CHRIST
A Sanctuary of Faith.
SVU is built on the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Nine in ten students are Latter-day Saints, all supported by a thriving YSA stake, student wards, and the largest Institute of Religion on the East Coast.
With our code of conduct—Faithful. Honest. Kind.®— we strive together to cultivate a safe, Christ-centered community where you truly belong.
Check out our website to learn more about scholarships for missionaries, seminary, and humanitarian service.
Small Classes. Big Results. ACADEMICS
Where will you learn best—in a lecture hall with hundreds of students, or in a classroom where your professor knows your name? SVU is a teaching university, where professors are teachers first. They’ll challenge you, mentor you, and push you to think deeply. Here, learning is personal, powerful, and designed to launch you into the future with confidence.
At SVU, our faculty don’t just prepare you for exams— they prepare you for life.
Foundational. Flexible. Future-Proof.
Your future will change in ways no one can predict— but the best preparation never goes out of style.
At SVU, you’ll build a strong foundation in the Lord’s model of education: “Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118).
This inspired pattern unites knowledge and discipleship, preparing you to pursue any path with confidence to thrive in a changing world.
CAMPUS LIFE
Knight Mode: Engaged.
At SVU, campus life isn’t a spectator sport. You’ll be engaged inside and outside the classroom— because that’s how you grow. Our students participate in athletics, arts, leadership, and service at more than 10x the national average. It’s not an anomaly; it’s who we are.
This level of involvement fulfills our mission by stretching you intellectually, socially, physically, and spiritually. At SVU, engagement isn’t extra—it’s the experience. And it’s what makes you a Knight.
Raise the Banner.
SVU offers the largest athletics program for Latter-day Saints, with more than 25 NCAA Division III teams. And the results speak for themselves.
Here’s just a handful of recent highlights:
• 2025 National Championship
• 30 Conference Championships
• 19 Coaches of the Year
• 14 All-American Awards
• 300+ All-Conference Awards
Prepare to compete with excellence—in sports, in school, and in life.
Performance Scholarships for Any Major.
Why give up what you love? At SVU, you won’t have to. Performance scholarships are available in music, theatre, art, and more—no matter your major, recognizing the work you’ve already invested in your craft.
Performance in the arts is central to the Knight experience, developing creativity, discipline, and confidence as part of the whole person.
Lead with Purpose.
At SVU, leadership isn’t a title—it’s the way you live. The Knight experience is a training ground for leaders, where students co-create campus life with vision and action. And we follow Christ’s example, leading by serving others. Here, you don’t wait for a position to lead—you lead by design.
The LaunchPad Initiative.
At SVU, we level the technology playing field. Every student and professor learn and teach together on the same digital ecosystem—equipped with an iPad, Apple Pencil, and Smart Keyboard that are yours to keep upon graduation. This shared platform drives creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
It’s no wonder why Apple has twice recognized SVU as an Apple Distinguished School.
OUTCOMES
Prepare to Launch.
The proof of an education is what happens next. SVU graduates launch into careers, service, and graduate programs at exceptional rates. In fact, more than 90% of students who apply to medical, business, law, or other professional programs are accepted. Employers and universities recognize Knights as confident, capable leaders who are both faithful and prepared.
Your SVU experience doesn’t end here—it launches you into a lifetime of impact.
OUR LOCATION
Go East.
Our location is not coincidental—it’s providential.
Perched on a hill in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, our campus offers peace and serenity conducive to learning and discipleship, away from the bustle of daily life. From here, you’re within reach of Washington, D.C., major U.S. destinations, and historic Church sites.
This setting activates every part of the SVU experience, turning education into transformation.
The best way to discover our one-of-a-kind mission is to experience it yourself. You’ll feel the spirit of Southern Virginia University the moment you set foot on campus. That’s why we offer up to $400 in travel reimbursement for individual visits or open houses. Check out svu.edu/visit to schedule your campus visit. Come see why you belong here.
