Virginia State University
Petersburg, VA · Public · Large suburb · VSU
Public institution in Petersburg, VA · 4,787 undergraduates · 89% acceptance rate · $45,543 median earnings 10 years after entry.
- Top 6%Pell Grant share
- Top 23%Undergraduates
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
- $14,553643rd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- In-state tuition & fees
- $9,755568th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $22,006970th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
- Cost of attendance
- $24,173635th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
- Median graduate debt
- $26,5001,544th lowest of 1,880 reporting
Outcomes
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry
- $45,5431,326th highest of 1,969 reporting
- Median earnings, 6 years after entry
- $33,6301,613th highest of 1,964 reporting
- Graduation rate (4-year)
- 40.7%1,504th highest of 2,031 reporting
- Full-time retention
- 71.2%1,183rd highest of 1,853 reporting
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 89.1%1,208th most selective of 1,608 reporting
- Average SAT
- 9171,003rd highest of 1,024 reporting
- Median ACT
- 18914th highest of 954 reporting
Campus
- Undergraduates
- 4,787507th largest of 2,162 reporting
- Student-faculty ratio
- 13.0:1993rd smallest of 2,159 reporting
- Pell Grant share
- 71.0%118th highest of 2,140 reporting
Nearest large-hub airport: 114 mi (DCA)
On 1 of our 111 lists
Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.
Applying
- Common App member
- Yes
- Application fee
- Free
- 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 32 reported programs.
| Field | Level | 1 yr | 2 yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science | bachelors | $55,964 | — |
| Manufacturing EngineeringEngineering | bachelors | $55,964 | — |
| Computer Engineering Technologies/TechniciansEngineering Technology | bachelors | $54,713 | $39,927 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansEngineering Technology | bachelors | $52,107 | — |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/TechniciansEngineering Technology | bachelors | $47,260 | $31,781 |
| Management Information Systems and ServicesBusiness | bachelors | $46,087 | $42,682 |
| Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness | bachelors | $44,942 | $28,019 |
| MathematicsMathematics & Statistics | bachelors | $42,309 | $41,193 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesLiberal Arts | bachelors | $40,784 | $37,424 |
| Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansEngineering Technology | bachelors | $38,289 | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, OtherMultidisciplinary Studies | bachelors | $38,289 | — |
| Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness | bachelors | $36,959 | $32,382 |
Campus facts
- A Historically Black College or University (HBCU)source
- Founded in 1882source
- Athletic nickname: "Trojans"source
- Competes in NCAA Division IIsource
- School colors: Orange and Bluesource
- Motto: ""Greater Happens Here""source
- Formerly known as "Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute" (1882–1902)source
- Formerly known as "Virginia State College for Negroes" (1902–1946)source
- Formerly known as "Virginia State College" (1946–1979)source
- Athletic conference: CIAAsource
- Football rivalry: Boston College–Virginia Tech (since 1993)source
- Football rivalry: Miami–Virginia Tech (since 1953)source
- Football rivalry: Techmo Bowl (since 1990)source
- Plays for the "Black Diamond Trophy" (since 1912)source
- Plays for the "Commonwealth Cup" (since 1895)source
- Football rivalry: VMI–Virginia Tech (since 1894)source
- Fight song: ""[[Tech Triumph]]""source
- Notable alum: James Averysource
- Notable alum: 2 Chainzsource
- Notable alum: Gladys Westsource
- Notable alum: Walesource
Athletics — 11 sports
NCAA Division II with football · NCAA Division II
Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $2,098,153 (M $1,280,072 · W $818,081)
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Football
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
- Volleyball
Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.
Key links
- Official websitevsu.edu
- College ScorecardFederal source for every figure above (UNITID 234155)
- Compare colleges in VARe-score with your weights
- The Most Selective Colleges in VirginiaEvery eligible four-year in this state, ranked by published admission rate
- Showdown: Virginia State University vs Christopher Newport UniversityHigher-or-lower on real Scorecard metrics — round 1 is these two
- Sports directoryAll 11 EADA programs at this school
- Build an admissions plan8th–12th grade actions for this college — sports, activities, timeline
- MethodologyWhat these figures do and do not capture
- How to read a school page end to endStats, standings, lists, athletics, news — one profile, many jobs. Know which panel answers which question.
- Sticker price is a trapPublished tuition is a starting rumor. Net price is closer to what families actually pay.
- What acceptance rate actually measuresSelectivity is a competition statistic — not a quality score, and not your personal odds.
- A plan from eighth grade — without fake certaintySchool-anchored milestones, sports scarcity honesty, and EC playbooks — not invented admit odds.