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Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · City · 20,753 students
WebsiteCommon AppForbes rankingScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$23,433
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
64%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$58,128
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
93%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
About

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a vibrant urban public research institution in Richmond, renowned for seamlessly blending top-tier medical research with one of the nation’s highest-ranked public fine arts programs. Academically, VCU shines through its elite School of the Arts—world-famous for sculpture and graphic design—alongside prestigious health sciences programs in nursing, medicine, pharmacy, and social work. Student life is creative, diverse, and deeply integrated into the city’s historic neighborhoods and thriving arts scene, with Richmond itself serving as an extended campus. VCU stands apart for its unique dual-campus layout—split between the bustling Monroe Park Campus and the medical-focused MCV Campus—offering students a rare synergy between cutting-edge clinical innovation and bold artistic expression.

Wikipedia: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 2025, more than 29,280 students were enrolled in more than 200 academic programs, and 23 VCU programs were ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s top 50 best college programs.

Location
Richmond, VA, 23284-2512 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
RIC · Richmond
8 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$16,945$40,109
Housing & food (on campus)$18,254$18,254
Books & supplies$1,250$1,250
Cost of attendance$38,954$57,016
Average net price$23,433Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$40,109
In-state: $16,945
Housing & food (on campus)$18,254
Books & supplies$1,250
Cost of attendance$57,016
In-state: $38,954
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $23,433
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: admissions.vcu.edu
How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27
Virginia Commonwealth University’s own figures for 2026-27, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$41,127
Housing$9,259
Food$6,630
Total published by the school$57,016
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$17,512
$30–48k
$17,777
$48–75k
$20,925
$75–110k
$24,691
$110k+
$32,739
Merit aid · 2024-25
Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.
Average award$5,637
First-years who got one930
Source: Virginia Commonwealth University's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
64%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
46%
Back for yr 2
85%
Transferred
21%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
67% graduated · 21% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 11% left or unknown
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$47,161
10 yrs after entry$58,128
Debt
Median at graduation$21,500
Monthly payment$228
Middle 50% owe$7.8k–$27k
90th percentile$33,000
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
93%
Test policy
Test optional
Per College Scorecard
SAT average
1137
R 520–650 · M 490–620
ACT midpoint
25
Comp 22–30 · E 21–31 · M 18–27
SAT middle 50%: 1010–1270
40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If Virginia Commonwealth University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 37%Women 63%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
17 : 1
Pell grant
31%
First-gen
28%
Family income
$51,128
Independent
15%
Veterans
0%
Age at entry
21.0
Part-time
10%
Race & ethnicity
White
39%
Hispanic
12%
Black
23%
Asian
14%
Two or more
8%
Non-resident
2%
Unknown
2%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division I without football · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Field Hockey
    Women's
  • Golf
    Men's
  • Lacrosse
    Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$47,161
After 10 yrs
$58,128
Psychology, General490
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas342
Biology, General339
Design and Applied Arts322
Criminal Justice and Corrections236
Business/Commerce, General218
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing210
Communication and Media Studies191
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other186
Information Science/Studies167
Political Science and Government159
Marketing135
Computer and Information Sciences, General122
English Language and Literature, General101
Social Work98
Mechanical Engineering96
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$2.9B
Full-time faculty
61%
Faculty salary
$12,401/mo
Teaching spend
$16,705
per student
Federal loans
39%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R1 — very high research
$524M research spending · 438 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions

Wondering if Virginia Commonwealth University is the right fit for you?

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