Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Richmond, Virginia. It enrolls 20,753 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes70
Value41
Affordability40
Selectivity33
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 92.6%, Virginia Commonwealth University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
92.6%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1010 – 1270
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 30
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Virginia Commonwealth University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
5.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Virginia Commonwealth University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $23,433 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$23,433
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
31%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
39%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$16,945
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$40,109
Room & Board (on-campus)
$18,254
Room & Board (off-campus)
$18,254
Books & Supplies
$1,250
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,344
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,486
Total Cost of Attendance
$38,954
Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$17,512
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,777
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,925
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,691
Over $110,000
$32,739
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,50010%percentile
$7,75025%percentile
$21,500Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$33,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,000
↓ $2,500
No Pell $14,796
↓ $6,704
Dependent students $16,000
↓ $5,500
Independent students $21,640
↑ $140
Female students $17,615
↓ $3,885
Male students $15,750
↓ $5,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($21,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
66% of full-time students who enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University graduate within six years, and 85% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
66%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
85%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $58,128 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$58,128
Earning > $25K
82%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$46,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$54,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$51,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$48,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,600, about 14% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 75% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Virginia Commonwealth University is home to 20,753 students, a sprawling student community.
Total Enrolled
20,753
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
28%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 38.8%8,056
Black 23.2%4,811
Asian 13.9%2,876
Hispanic 12.1%2,513
Other 8.7%1,795
International 1.8%380
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Virginia Commonwealth University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityRichmond, Virginia
Housing
Partly residential5,973 beds available
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Virginia Commonwealth University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
185 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia Commonwealth University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$20,458
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$2.6B
Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability
Avg Faculty Salary
$106,232
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
2,149 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
485
23%
$153,454
Associate Professors
730
34%
$109,800
Assistant Professors
834
39%
$82,527
Instructors
100
5%
$69,699
Pros & Cons of Virginia Commonwealth University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Virginia Commonwealth University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Class sizes are on the higher side
Best for:
Based on the data, Virginia Commonwealth University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Virginia Commonwealth University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Virginia Commonwealth University.
Is Virginia Commonwealth University hard to get into?
Virginia Commonwealth University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 92.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Virginia Commonwealth University?
Virginia Commonwealth University has an acceptance rate of 92.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Virginia Commonwealth University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Virginia Commonwealth University scored between 1010 and 1270 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Virginia Commonwealth University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Virginia Commonwealth University scored between 22 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Virginia Commonwealth University cost?
The average net price after aid at Virginia Commonwealth University is $23,433 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Virginia Commonwealth University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,128 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,433 per year. That's roughly 2.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Virginia Commonwealth University known for?
Virginia Commonwealth University is best known for its programs in Psychology, Teaching Specific Subjects, Biology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Virginia Commonwealth University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Virginia Commonwealth University are $58,128, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Virginia Commonwealth University accredited?
Yes. Virginia Commonwealth University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Virginia Commonwealth University?
Virginia Commonwealth University enrolls 20,753 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Virginia Commonwealth University?
Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 66% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Virginia Commonwealth University a public or private college?
Virginia Commonwealth University is a Public institution.
Where is Virginia Commonwealth University located?
Virginia Commonwealth University is located in Richmond, Virginia.
What programs does Virginia Commonwealth University offer?
Virginia Commonwealth University offers 185 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Teaching Specific Subjects, Biology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia Commonwealth University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia Commonwealth University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Virginia
Other colleges in Virginia share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Business Administration
Law
Business Administration
Related Guides
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Build Your College List Pillar
The full process of narrowing from 3,839 US colleges to a shortlist of ~10. Cost, location, size, selectivity, and fit factors that actually predict whether you'll thrive.
What actually makes a college work for first-generation students, the support and aid signals that predict success, and how to find the schools that deliver them using federal data.
How to find the colleges that deliver the strongest return on a STEM degree by weighing earnings outcomes against net cost, rather than chasing the most selective name.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
For-Profit Colleges Charge the Most and Pay the Least
For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
For-profit colleges
Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
