Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public · Midsize city · Carnegie R1/R2 · VCU

Public institution in Richmond, VA · 20,797 undergraduates · 93% acceptance rate · $58,128 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Top 5%Undergraduates
Top 22%Full-time retention

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $19,4521,029th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $16,4581,016th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $39,0421,585th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $34,3461,083rd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $21,500813th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $58,128637th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $47,161712th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 65.4%579th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 85.6%404th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 93.1%1,343rd most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 1168488th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: 25346th highest of 954 reporting

Campus

Undergraduates: 20,797109th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 17.0:11,598th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 29.7%1,221st highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 93 mi (DCA)

On 1 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Most Selective Colleges in Virginia#30

Applying

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: $75
Personal essay: Optional / not required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 57 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$72,510	$69,338
Computer EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$66,077	$76,460
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science	bachelors	$64,659	$71,734
Chemical EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$63,997	$55,964
Dental Support Services and Allied ProfessionsHealth Professions	bachelors	$62,409	$66,073
Mechanical EngineeringEngineering	bachelors	$62,409	$63,631
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsHealth Professions	bachelors	$61,380	$59,534
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions	bachelors	$61,172	$61,929
Information Science/StudiesComputer Science	bachelors	$56,528	$53,671
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied ProfessionsHealth Professions	bachelors	$55,211	$54,996
Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness	bachelors	$52,482	$47,260
PhysicsPhysical Sciences	bachelors	$47,260	—

Campus facts

Founded in 1968source
Athletic nickname: "Rams"source
Competes in Atlantic 10 Conferencesource
Mascot: Rodney the Ramsource
Motto: "(Latin)"source
Athletic conference: A-10source
A [[National Sea Grant College Program institutionsource
A Sea-grant]]}} institutionsource
1 Nobel laureate affiliatedsource
Notable alum: Tom Robbinssource
Notable alum: David Baldaccisource
Notable alum: Chad Colemansource
Notable alum: Boris Kodjoesource
Notable alum: Stephen Furstsource

Athletics — 9 sports

NCAA Division I without football · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $8,438,150 (M $3,333,826 · W $5,104,324)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.