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Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia · Public · 4-year · City

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At a glance

Average net price
$23,433What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
93%
Graduation rate
64%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
20,753
In-state tuition
$16,945Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$40,109
SAT midpoint
1,185
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$58,128Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$23,433

Better than 4% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

64%

Better than 75% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$58,128

Better than 62% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$21,500

Better than 40% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$38,954

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$23,433

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

What would this cost me?
Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for Virginia Commonwealth University
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time64%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return85%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$21,500
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$58,128

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at Virginia Commonwealth University by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Computer and Information Sciences, General$84,338122
Computer Engineering$82,96420
Chemical Engineering$79,72146
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$77,93828
Mechanical Engineering$73,35596
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions$72,80813
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$71,847210
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions$67,07244
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$66,75045
Information Science/Studies$62,116167
Accounting and Related Services$56,87679
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$54,13340
Business/Commerce, General$51,669218
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$49,111186
Real Estate$47,68114
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other$45,69691
Business/Managerial Economics$45,37030
Mathematics$43,78423
Marketing$41,767135
Physics$39,80416
Chemistry$38,57195
Criminal Justice and Corrections$38,495236
Security Science and Technology$37,50150
Biological and Physical Sciences$36,70974
Communication and Media Studies$35,808191
Area Studies$35,55727
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$34,677342
Social Work$34,08898
Political Science and Government$34,080159
Urban Studies/Affairs$33,62623
Sociology$32,78146
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$32,03862
Biology, General$31,149339
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services$30,6355
History$29,79475
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$29,60727
Psychology, General$29,462490
Music$28,98943
English Language and Literature, General$27,005101
Philosophy$26,19216
Design and Applied Arts$25,872322
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$23,10991
Anthropology$22,73217
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$22,44747
Fine and Studio Arts$21,91658
Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry$21,23727
Dance$20,39711
Finance and Financial Management ServicesNot reported90
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational BiologyNot reported38
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsNot reported29
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesNot reported13
Special Education and TeachingNot reported6
Religion/Religious StudiesNot reported4
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure StudiesNot reportedNot reported
Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Engineering, GeneralNot reportedNot reported
Business Administration, Management and OperationsNot reportedNot reported
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNot reportedNot reported

All 58 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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