Virginia Commonwealth University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want a large campus community. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 20,753 students.
About This School
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution located in Richmond, Virginia with approximately 20,753 undergraduate students enrolled. Virginia Commonwealth University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 93%. The average net price after financial aid is $23,433 per year. The graduation rate is 63%, and the typical graduate earns $49,700 within 10 years of enrollment.
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a public research university in Richmond, Virginia, United States. VCU was founded in 1838 as the medical department of Hampden–Sydney College, becoming the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) in 1854. In 1968, the Virginia General Assembly merged MCV with the Richmond Professional Institute, founded in 1917, to create Virginia Commonwealth University. In 2022, more than 28,000 students pursued 217 degree and certificate programs through VCU's 11 schools and three colleges. The VCU Health System supports health care education, research, and patient care.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: with a 93% acceptance rate and an affordable average net price of $19,452, VCU is accessible and relatively easy on the wallet, and its health sciences, arts, and research programs in Richmond give it genuine strengths worth noting. However, the 65% graduation rate is a real concern — more than 1 in 3 students don't finish — so this school works best for students who are self-motivated and clear on their goals. Worth considering if you're drawn to a specific strong program (like nursing, pharmacy, or the arts), but come in with a plan and a support system in place.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
What This School Looks For
From the school's most recent Common Data Set (2024-25). What the admissions office actually weighs:
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 10% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (20,753 undergraduates).
In the Classroom & On Campus
Class size distribution
Source: Virginia Commonwealth University Common Data Set (2024-25).
Contact & Location
Address
Virginia Commonwealth University
910 W Franklin St
Richmond, VA 23284-2512
Official Links
Other Schools in Virginia
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit
Northern Virginia Community College
Annandale, VA · Public
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · Public
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · Public
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · Public
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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