Virginia Commonwealth University
#4 Best Education Colleges in Virginia- Graduation Rate
- 64% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $58,128 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $23,433 D+
- 37% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 93% D
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.2 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Education Colleges in Virginia.
Every $1 spent returns $16.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,420,539.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 43% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.3%
- Top 62%
- Patents
- 60
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 27
- Downstream influence
Why Virginia Commonwealth University Matters
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public research university in Richmond, VA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 20,753
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Psychology, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Virginia Commonwealth University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 93% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1010–1270. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $23,433 a year after grants and scholarships — 37% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $58,128 ten years after enrolling — 43% above the typical college, against $21,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 31% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.64 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 20,000 students, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a vibrant choice for those interested in fields like Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Psychology, and Education. This expansive campus in Richmond, VA, attracts a diverse student body, making it a fitting environment for individuals who thrive in a collaborative setting. The high acceptance rate of 93% indicates that VCU is open to a wide range of applicants, which may appeal to students looking for a welcoming community.
Looking at what happens after graduation, VCU graduates earn an average of $58,128 within ten years of completing their degrees. This figure reflects not just the value of a VCU education, but also the potential for upward mobility in various careers. By pursuing degrees in practical fields, students can find pathways to well-paying jobs, enhancing their chances of financial stability. The affordability of the university is also a plus, with a net price of $23,433 after financial aid, allowing many students to access education without overwhelming debt.
On that note, the median debt for VCU graduates is $21,500, which is manageable for many, especially considering the earning potential. Students who tend to thrive here often have a passion for their chosen field, whether that’s in the arts or sciences, and appreciate the supportive campus culture. With 31% of students receiving Pell Grants, VCU remains committed to making higher education accessible to those from lower-income backgrounds, which can be a significant factor in a student’s success and overall experience.
Rankings
- #4 Best Education Colleges in Virginia
- #5 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Virginia
- #7 Best Engineering Colleges in Virginia
- #7 Best Communications Colleges in Virginia
- #9 Best Online Colleges in Virginia
- #9 Best MBA Programs in Virginia
- #11 Best Colleges in Virginia
- #12 Best Bachelor's Programs in Virginia
Can I Get In?
How selective Virginia Commonwealth University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Virginia Commonwealth University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Richmond, Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,137. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 93%
- Retention Rate
- 85%
- SAT Average
- 1137
- ACT Midpoint
- 25
- SAT Range
- 1010–1270
- ACT Range
- 22–30
- Full-Time Faculty
- 61%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,401
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.76
- First-Gen Students
- 28%
- Applicants
- 18,242
- Admitted
- 16,600
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Virginia Commonwealth University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds.
- Submitted SAT
- 34%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 34% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Virginia Commonwealth University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Virginia Commonwealth University is $40,109, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,433. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,512 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $16,945
- Out-of-State
- $40,109
- Avg Net Price
- $23,433
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 31%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 39%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $17,512
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $17,777
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $20,925
- Family Income $110K+
- $32,739
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Virginia Commonwealth University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Virginia Commonwealth University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $58,128, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $47,161
- 8 Years
- $54,212
- 10 Years
- $58,128
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.37x
- Earning > $25K
- 66%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,549)
- 44%
- 100% (1,549)
- 44%
- 100% (1,549)
- 44%
- 100% (1,549)
- 44%
How Virginia Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Virginia Commonwealth University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Virginia Commonwealth University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,433/year ($93,732 total). Graduates earn $58,128 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,514,271 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,420,539 (16.2× your investment). The median debt is $21,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 64% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $93,732
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,514,271
- Net Return
- $1,420,539
- ROI Multiple
- 16.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $23,433
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 64%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Virginia Commonwealth University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Virginia Commonwealth University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.92%, well above the typical college. About 7.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 27.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $90,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.92%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 27.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $123,230
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Virginia Commonwealth University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 60 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.33%
- Top 62% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 60
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 27
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.20%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Virginia Commonwealth University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 14% $35,516 early-career
- Business & Marketing 13% $68,105 early-career
- Psychology 10% $36,746 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 8% $85,234 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 8% $44,210 early-career
- Health Professions 8% $73,584 early-career
- Education 6% $36,475 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5% $49,387 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Virginia Commonwealth University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Virginia Commonwealth University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Richmond, Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 93%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,137. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Virginia Commonwealth University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Virginia Commonwealth University is $40,109, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,433. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,512 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.
Is Virginia Commonwealth University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $58,128, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Virginia Commonwealth University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Virginia Commonwealth University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.92%, well above the typical college. About 7.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 27.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $90,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Virginia Commonwealth University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Virginia Commonwealth University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.64, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Virginia Commonwealth University offer Early Decision?
No. Virginia Commonwealth University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is Virginia Commonwealth University really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 34% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Virginia Commonwealth University (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Virginia Commonwealth University.
- Colorado State University-Fort CollinsFort Collins, CO · Close peer67% grad $60,543 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE · Close peer66% grad $56,887 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of OregonEugene, OR · Close peer72% grad $61,324 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Ohio University-Main CampusAthens, OH · Close peer66% grad $52,581 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of KentuckyLexington, KY · Close peer71% grad $59,025 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ · Close peer59% grad $54,384 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Virginia Commonwealth University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Virginia Commonwealth University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.64, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note