Virginia State University (VSU)
Public four-year university in Petersburg, VA that costs an average of $14,893 a year after financial aid, admits 89% of applicants and graduates 37% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$14,893
Acceptance rate
89%
Graduation rate
37%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$49,358
HBCUPublicLarge suburb5,074 undergraduates
Cost of VSU
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $28,338 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $10,418 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $23,404 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $14,164 |
| Books and supplies | $1,300 |
| Average net price after aid | $14,893 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $11,335 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $17,026 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $17,292 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $21,045 |
| $110,001+ | $25,432 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with VSU's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 89% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 948 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 440–550 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 400–520 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 14–20 |
| Test scores | Considered but not required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 37% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 69% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $39,816 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $49,358 |
| Rank in Virginia (earnings) | 38th of 51 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $25,000 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $284 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 75% |
| Students with federal loans | 81% |
Majors and programs at VSU
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (37)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | $56,096 | $25,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 33 | $49,746 | $22,217 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 14 | $46,759 | $29,000 |
| Political Science and Government | 48 | $44,691 | $25,000 |
| Marketing | 39 | $44,050 | $23,044 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 29 | $42,318 | $26,500 |
| Social Work | 40 | $39,232 | $24,869 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 103 | $37,657 | $25,500 |
| Sociology | 36 | $36,540 | $14,000 |
| Biology | 75 | $34,944 | $21,875 |
| Psychology | 147 | $34,012 | $25,138 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 124 | $33,288 | $25,751 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 94 | $32,967 | $25,000 |
| Agriculture | 39 | $32,031 | $22,750 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 88 | $30,950 | $26,000 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 6 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 5 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 19 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | 51 | — | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | — | — | — |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 10 | — | — |
| English Language and Literature | 13 | — | — |
| Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies | 20 | — | — |
| History | 19 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 25 | — | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 28 | — | $24,288 |
| Manufacturing Engineering | 7 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 19 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | — | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | 36 | — | $26,719 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 47 | — | $26,235 |
| Music | 10 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 7 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 3 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 2 | — | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 16 | — | — |
Certificate programs (5)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | — | — | — |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | 1 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | — | — | — |
| International Agriculture | — | — | — |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (19)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 30 | $62,660 | $65,375 |
| Biology | 3 | — | — |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 10 | — | — |
| Computer and Information Sciences | — | — | — |
| Computer Science | 20 | — | — |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 8 | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 9 | — | — |
| Data Analytics | — | — | — |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | — | — | — |
| Education | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 40 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | 7 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 5 | — | — |
| Psychology | 6 | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 7 | — | — |
| Social Work | 3 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 24 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 9 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 37 | — | $52,359 |
Graduate certificate programs (3)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | 6 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 17 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Virginia
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk State University | Norfolk | $12,180 | 88% | $49,237 |
| Christopher Newport University | Newport News | $22,310 | 86% | $65,183 |
| Radford University | Radford | $13,701 | 90% | $59,134 |
| William & Mary | Williamsburg | $18,880 | 34% | $83,488 |
| University of Mary Washington | Fredericksburg | $23,821 | 80% | $66,028 |
| Longwood University | Farmville | $20,773 | 90% | $55,653 |
| Virginia Military Institute | Lexington | $15,585 | 71% | $85,178 |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk | $12,913 | 90% | $60,482 |
About VSU
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Petersburg, VA |
| Setting | Large suburb |
| Undergraduates | 5,074 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 13 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Website | vsu.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is VSU's acceptance rate?
Virginia State University admits 89% of applicants. Admitted students average 948 on the SAT.
How much does VSU cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $28,338 a year (tuition and fees: $10,418 in-state, $23,404 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $14,893 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $11,335.
How much do VSU graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $49,358 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 38th of 51 similar colleges in Virginia. The best-paid bachelor's program is computer and information sciences ($56,096 a year after graduation).
What is VSU's graduation rate?
37% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 69% of first-year students return for a second year.