Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
Public four-year university in Richmond, VA that costs an average of $25,037 a year after financial aid, admits 93% of applicants and graduates 65% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$25,037
Acceptance rate
93%
Graduation rate
65%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$64,442
PublicMidsize city20,753 undergraduates
Cost of VCU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $43,180 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $17,490 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $40,654 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $19,862 |
| Books and supplies | $1,290 |
| Average net price after aid | $25,037 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $18,927 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $18,347 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $20,373 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $27,067 |
| $110,001+ | $38,273 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with VCU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 93% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,137 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 520–650 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 490–620 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 22–30 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 65% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 85% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $51,760 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $64,442 |
| Rank in Virginia (earnings) | 19th of 51 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $19,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $222 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 36% |
| Students with federal loans | 41% |
Majors and programs at VCU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (55)
Certificate programs (8)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 45 | $57,422 | $24,250 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 48 | $39,005 | $17,000 |
| Business/Commerce | 35 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 19 | — | — |
| International Business | — | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 10 | — | — |
| Outdoor Education | 9 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 1 | — | — |
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (6)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Graphic Communications | — | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | — | — | — |
| Natural Sciences | — | — | — |
| Statistics | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (63)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences | 34 | $263,057 | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 163 | $107,670 | $41,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 242 | $104,617 | $41,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 100 | $97,961 | $60,949 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | — | $90,379 | — |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies | 23 | $87,293 | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 42 | $79,462 | — |
| Public Administration | 60 | $77,376 | $41,000 |
| Business/Commerce | 216 | $74,134 | $41,000 |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other | 55 | $74,026 | $37,906 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 39 | $63,588 | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 30 | $59,473 | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 30 | $58,422 | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 73 | $57,208 | $48,471 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 95 | $57,037 | $20,500 |
| Social Work | 696 | $56,844 | $41,000 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 75 | $54,989 | $41,000 |
| Education | 118 | $54,426 | $30,750 |
| Security Science and Technology | 47 | $52,627 | $41,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 21 | $46,725 | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 53 | $30,740 | $36,580 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 16 | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | — | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 8 | — | — |
| Biology | 13 | — | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 29 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 30 | — | — |
| Business/Managerial Economics | — | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 5 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 9 | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 15 | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 29 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 30 | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | — | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 20 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 10 | — | — |
| Data Analytics | 92 | — | $32,475 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 12 | — | — |
| Economics | 14 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 22 | — | — |
| Engineering | 18 | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | 52 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 17 | — | — |
| Genetics | 6 | — | — |
| History | 9 | — | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 17 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 42 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 16 | — | — |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 10 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 6 | — | — |
| Music | — | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 14 | — | — |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | — | — | — |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 8 | — | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 5 | — | — |
| Physics | 6 | — | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 5 | — | — |
| Psychology | 31 | — | — |
| Public Health | 37 | — | $41,000 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 13 | — | — |
| Sociology | 16 | — | — |
| Taxation | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 12 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (37)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 150 | $222,972 | $84,212 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 95 | $91,899 | $35,319 |
| Education | 45 | $87,726 | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 33 | $83,716 | $41,000 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 208 | $76,599 | $81,459 |
| Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences | 3 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 4 | — | — |
| Biology | 10 | — | — |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology | 7 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 15 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | 9 | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | — | — | — |
| Chemical Engineering | 7 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 35 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 7 | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 3 | — | — |
| Engineering | 14 | — | — |
| Engineering, Other | 15 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 3 | — | — |
| Genetics | 4 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 1 | — | — |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 9 | — | — |
| Mathematics and Statistics, Other | 12 | — | — |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 7 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 8 | — | — |
| Nanotechnology | 9 | — | — |
| Natural Sciences | 19 | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 7 | — | — |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 14 | — | — |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 25 | — | — |
| Physics | 5 | — | — |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | 9 | — | — |
| Psychology | 11 | — | — |
| Public Administration | 7 | — | — |
| Public Health | 11 | — | — |
| Social Work | 10 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 7 | — | — |
Professional degree programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dentistry | 205 | $135,700 | $374,248 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | 193 | $89,332 | $134,778 |
| Medicine | 364 | $64,402 | $188,232 |
Graduate certificate programs (46)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 44 | $76,918 | $33,473 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 48 | $58,444 | — |
| Social Sciences, Other | 15 | $54,651 | — |
| Biology | 52 | $21,932 | $35,888 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 17 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 16 | — | — |
| Business/Commerce | — | — | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | 10 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 8 | — | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | — | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | — | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 2 | — | — |
| Data Science | 1 | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Educational/Instructional Media Design | — | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Genetics | 7 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 33 | — | — |
| Gerontology | 11 | — | — |
| Graphic Communications | 1 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 18 | — | — |
| Historic Preservation and Conservation | — | — | — |
| History | 4 | — | — |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other | 3 | — | — |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | — | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | 2 | — | — |
| International Business | — | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 2 | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 17 | — | — |
| Natural Sciences | 16 | — | — |
| Physics | 3 | — | — |
| Public Administration | 16 | — | — |
| Public Health | 1 | — | — |
| Real Estate | 11 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 15 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 8 | — | — |
| Sociology | 1 | — | — |
| Statistics | 2 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | — | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 26 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 8 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | — | — | — |
| Transportation and Materials Moving, Other | — | — | — |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | 2 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Virginia
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Madison University | Harrisonburg | $23,550 | 72% | $75,482 |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | Charlottesville | $18,056 | 17% | $96,468 |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk | $12,913 | 90% | $60,482 |
| George Mason University | Fairfax | $14,697 | 87% | $79,923 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksburg | $25,808 | 55% | $88,716 |
| William & Mary | Williamsburg | $18,880 | 34% | $83,488 |
| Radford University | Radford | $13,701 | 90% | $59,134 |
| Norfolk State University | Norfolk | $12,180 | 88% | $49,237 |
About VCU
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Richmond, VA |
| Setting | Midsize city |
| Undergraduates | 20,753 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 17 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Website | vcu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is VCU's acceptance rate?
Virginia Commonwealth University admits 93% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,137 on the SAT.
How much does VCU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $43,180 a year (tuition and fees: $17,490 in-state, $40,654 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $25,037 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $18,927.
How much do VCU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $64,442 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 19th of 51 similar colleges in Virginia. The best-paid bachelor's program is electrical, electronics, and communications engineering ($83,487 a year after graduation).
What is VCU's graduation rate?
65% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 85% of first-year students return for a second year.