Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a public research university in Richmond, Virginia, United States. VCU was founded in 1838 as the medical department of Hampden–Sydney College, becoming the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) in 1854. In 1968, the Virginia General Assembly merged MCV with the Richmond Professional Institute, founded in 1917, to create Virginia Commonwealth University. In 2022, more than 28,000 students pursued 217 degree and certificate programs through VCU's 11 schools and three colleges. The VCU Health System supports health care education, research, and patient care.
At a glance
- Acceptance rate: 93%
- Average net price: $26,836
- Undergraduate enrollment: 22,932
- Graduation rate (150%): 63%
- Graduation rate (200%): 70%
- 8-year Outcome Measures award rate: 69%
- Student to faculty ratio: 17:1
- Median earnings (10 years): $58,128
- Median earnings (8 years): $54,212
- Median earnings (6 years): $47,161
- Control: Public
- Locale: City, midsize
- Calendar: Semester
- City: Richmond, VA
Majors and programs
The most common programs at Virginia Commonwealth University include Psychology, Biology, Health Teacher Education.
- Psychology (518 bachelor's) · median earnings $51,440 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,167
- Biology (341 bachelor's) · median earnings $58,420 4 years after graduation · median debt $20,500
- Health Teacher Education (278 bachelor's) · median earnings $59,442 4 years after graduation · median debt $25,000
- Business (227 bachelor's) · median earnings $68,387 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,298
- Nursing (203 bachelor's) · median earnings $86,661 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,591
- Mass Communication (178 bachelor's) · median earnings $59,968 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,500
- Marketing (153 bachelor's) · median earnings $68,622 4 years after graduation · median debt $20,500
- Multi- (147 bachelor's) · median earnings $55,855 4 years after graduation · median debt $22,500
- Criminal Justice (139 bachelor's) · median earnings $58,792 4 years after graduation · median debt $21,250
- Illustration (139 bachelor's) · median earnings $53,575 4 years after graduation · median debt $24,250
Degree mix: Business 22%, Engineering 7%, Computer Science 9%, Health 31%, Biological Sciences 12%, Psychology 14%, Communication 5%.
Award levels offered: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral.
Cost
Virginia Commonwealth University students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $17,512 a year after aid.
- Net price, $0 to $30,000: $17,512
- Net price, $30,001 to $48,000: $17,777
- Net price, $48,001 to $75,000: $20,925
- Net price, $75,001 to $110,000: $24,691
- Net price, $110,001 and above: $32,739
- In-state tuition and fees: $16,945
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $40,109
- Books and supplies: $1,250
- On-campus room and board: $18,254
- Off-campus room and board: $18,254
- Off-campus with family: $8,486
- Typical cost of attendance: $38,954
- Sticker vs net gap: 31%
- Students receiving any aid: 100%
- Pell Grant recipients: 31%
- Federal loan recipients: 39%
- Average institutional grant: $8,038
- Average federal loan: $6,556
- Median debt at graduation: $21,500
Admissions
Virginia Commonwealth University admits 93% of applicants. Of students admitted, 22% enrolled.
- Applications: 20,954
- Admitted: 19,408
- Enrolled: 4,190
- Yield (first-choice signal): 22%
Who actually goes here
- Undergraduates: 22,932
- Women: 65%
- Commuter share (estimated): 74%
- Part-time undergraduates: 10%
- Age 25 and older: 9%
- Graduate students: 4,870
- Graduation rate: 63%
- Come back after freshman year: 85%
- First-generation: 28%
Faculty and campus
- Full-time faculty: 33%
- Student to faculty: 17:1
- Professor salary: $157,535
- Associate professor salary: $112,863
- Assistant professor salary: $86,300
- On-campus housing capacity: 5,956
- Average SAT: 1,130
- Average ACT: 25
- Study abroad: Available
- Online programs: Available
Common questions
What is the Virginia Commonwealth University acceptance rate? Virginia Commonwealth University admits 93% of applicants, based on the latest IPEDS admissions file.
How much does Virginia Commonwealth University cost? Students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $17,512 a year after aid. Average net price is $26,836.
What majors does Virginia Commonwealth University offer? Popular programs include Psychology, Biology, Health Teacher Education, Business, Nursing.
What is the average salary after Virginia Commonwealth University? Median earnings 10 years after entry are $58,128 for Title IV aid recipients in College Scorecard.
What is the Virginia Commonwealth University graduation rate? In the IPEDS Outcome Measures cohort, 69% earned an award within eight years. The first-time, full-time 150% graduation rate is 63%.
Scorecard earnings and debt cover Title IV aid recipients, not cash-pay or private-loan students. Virginia Commonwealth University official site: https://vcu.edu.