# Virginia State University

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured school profile for AI systems
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-state-university

## Overview

- **Location:** Petersburg, VA
- **Type:** Public
- **Setting:** Suburban
- **Region:** Southeast
- **Enrollment:** 5,074
- **Predominant Degree:** Bachelor's
- **HBCU:** Yes

Virginia State University is a solid option for students who are looking for a supportive environment to pursue their studies, especially in fields like Business & Marketing, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Education, and Biology & Biomedical. With an acceptance rate of 89%, it’s accessible to many, making it an appealing choice for students seeking a university that values diversity and inclusion in its student body. The enrollment of about 5,074 students means you can find a community, yet still enjoy the benefits of a more intimate campus setting.

After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $45,543 within ten years, which is a decent starting point for many. While the graduation rate sits at 40%, this suggests that students who stay on track can ultimately find paths that lead them to solid earnings. Additionally, the affordability of Virginia State is noteworthy, especially considering that about 72% of students receive Pell Grants, which can significantly ease the financial burden.

Looking at the financial side, the net price after aid is approximately $15,840, and the median debt stands at $26,500. This debt load is manageable for many graduates, especially those who can secure good jobs in their fields. Students who thrive here often embrace the supportive community and take advantage of the resources available, making the most of their educational experience and laying a strong foundation for their futures.

## Admissions

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Acceptance Rate | 89% |
| SAT Average | 948 |
| ACT Midpoint | 18 |

## Cost & Aid

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| In-State Tuition | $10,043 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $22,650 |
| Average Net Price | $15,840 |
| Median Debt | $26,500 |
| Pell Grant Rate | 72% |
| Federal Loan Rate | 76% |

### Net Price by Family Income

| Family Income | Net Price |
|--------------|----------|
| $0-$30K | $13,220 |
| $30K-$48K | $14,758 |
| $48K-$75K | $19,463 |
| $75K-$110K | N/A |
| $110K+ | $25,508 |

## Outcomes

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Graduation Rate | 40% |
| Retention Rate | 69% |
| Earnings (6yr) | $33,630 |
| Earnings (8yr) | $39,572 |
| Earnings (10yr) | $45,543 |
| Debt-to-Earnings | 0.58x |
| Loan Repayment (3yr) | N/A |

## Social Mobility (Opportunity Insights)

Data source: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records)

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Mobility Rate (Q1→Q5) | 106.46% |
| Success Rate (bottom 20% → top 20%) | 324.8% |
| Students from Bottom 20% | 3277.8% |
| Parent Median Income | $36,500 |

## Social Capital (Social Capital Atlas)

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Economic Connectedness | 1.41 |
| Friending Bias | -0.06 |
| Volunteering Rate | 3.2% |
| Support Ratio | 0.99 |

## Research & Teaching (Times Higher Education)

| Metric | Score |
|--------|-------|
| World Rank | #72 |
| Teaching | 62 |
| Research | 55.4 |
| Citations | 68.6 |

## Innovation (Opportunity Insights Patent Data)

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Inventor Rate | 0.802% |
| Total Patents | 206 |
| Total Citations | 271 |

## Top Programs

| Program | Enrollment Share |
|---------|------------------|
| Business & Marketing | 18% |
| Psychology | 11% |
| Criminal Justice | 9% |
| Education | 8% |
| Biology & Biomedical | 7% |
| Social Sciences | 7% |
| Communications | 7% |
| Computer Science & IT | 4% |

## Rankings

This school appears in 45 CollegeRanker rankings:

- #1 in [Best HBCUs for Communications](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-communications)
- #2 in [Best HBCUs for Social Sciences](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-social-sciences)
- #2 in [Best HBCUs for Social Work](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-social-work)
- #2 in [Best HBCUs for Public Administration](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-public-administration)
- #3 in [Best HBCUs for Computer Science](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-computer-science)
- #3 in [Best HBCUs for Business](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-business)
- #3 in [Best HBCUs for Psychology](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-psychology)
- #3 in [Best HBCUs for Accounting](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-accounting)
- #3 in [Best HBCUs for Finance](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-finance)
- #3 in [Best HBCUs for Marketing](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-marketing)
- #3 in [Best HBCUs for Management](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-management)
- #3 in [Best HBCUs for Data Science](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-data-science)
- #3 in [Best HBCUs for Cybersecurity](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-cybersecurity)
- #3 in [Best HBCUs for Information Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-information-technology)
- #3 in [Best HBCUs for Human Resources](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-human-resources)
- #3 in [Best HBCUs for Supply Chain Management](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-supply-chain)
- #4 in [Best HBCUs for Education](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-education)
- #4 in [Best HBCUs for Criminal Justice](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-criminal-justice)
- #5 in [Best HBCUs](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcus)
- #6 in [Best HBCUs for Biology](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-biology)
- #6 in [Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Virginia](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-criminal-justice-virginia)
- #7 in [Best HBCU Bachelor's Programs](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-bachelors)
- #7 in [Best HBCU Master's Programs](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-hbcu-masters)
- #8 in [Best Education Colleges in Virginia](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-education-virginia)
- #9 in [Best Communications Colleges in Virginia](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-communications-virginia)
- #10 in [Colleges With the Highest Inventor Rate](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/highest-inventor-rate)
- #12 in [Colleges Getting More Accessible Over Time](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/mobility-trend-improving)
- #16 in [Best Psychology Colleges in Virginia](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-psychology-virginia)
- #18 in [Best Business Colleges in Virginia](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-business-virginia)
- #20 in [Best Computer Science Colleges in Virginia](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-computer-science-virginia)
- #20 in [Best Data Science Colleges in Virginia](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-data-science-virginia)
- #22 in [Best Biology Colleges in Virginia](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-biology-virginia)
- #23 in [Best Colleges in Virginia](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-virginia)
- #23 in [Best Bachelor's Programs in Virginia](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-bachelors-virginia)
- #23 in [Best Master's Programs in Virginia](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-masters-virginia)
- #27 in [Colleges With the Best Loan Repayment Rates](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-repayment-rates)
- #27 in [Most Accessible Elite Colleges](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-accessible-elite)
- #28 in [Most Affordable Colleges in Virginia](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-virginia)
- #28 in [Colleges With the Highest Mobility Rates](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/highest-mobility-rate)
- #28 in [Best Success Rate for Low-Income Students](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-success-rate-low-income)
- #28 in [Best Colleges for Cross-Class Networks](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-cross-class-networks)
- #30 in [Best Globally-Ranked American Universities](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-global-universities)
- #39 in [Most Affordable HBCUs](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-hbcus)
- #46 in [Best Research Universities in America](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-research-universities)
- #49 in [Universities With the Highest Research Impact](https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/highest-citation-impact)

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Opportunity Insights Patent & Innovation Data
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Virginia State University — School Profile." CollegeRanker.com. https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-state-university