Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public · offers Graduate degrees

Midsize city

93%Acceptance rate
$23,433Average net price / year
63%Graduation rate
$58,128Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$21,500Median debt at graduation
20,753Undergraduates

Cost

In-state tuition & fees
$16,945
Out-of-state tuition
$40,109
Total cost of attendance
$38,954
Room & board
$18,254
Books & supplies
$1,250
Average net price
$23,433

Net price by family income

$0–30k
$17,512
$30–48k
$17,777
$48–75k
$20,925
$75–110k
$24,691
$110k+
$32,739

Official net price calculator

Admissions

Acceptance rate
92.6%
Average SAT
1137
SAT reading (25–75%)
520–650
SAT math (25–75%)
490–620
ACT composite (25–75%)
22–30

Outcomes

Graduation rate
63%
First-year retention
85%
Median earnings (6 yrs)
$47,161
Median earnings (10 yrs)
$58,128
Median debt (graduates)
$21,500
3-year loan default rate
0.0%
Students with Pell grants
31%
Students with federal loans
39%

Programs: what graduates earn

91 of 221 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).

Undergraduate certificate

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General26$48,446$23,250
Business/Commerce, General16$28,747$23,250

Bachelor's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Computer and Information Sciences, General122$84,338$19,933
Computer Engineering20$82,964$23,605
Chemical Engineering46$79,721$27,000
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering28$77,938$22,550
Mechanical Engineering96$73,355$22,220
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions13$72,808$22,341
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing210$71,847$21,591
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions44$67,072$19,849
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions45$66,750$22,000
Information Science/Studies167$62,116$21,500
Accounting and Related Services79$56,876$23,500
Biomedical/Medical Engineering40$54,133$22,250
Business/Commerce, General218$51,669$21,298
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other186$49,111$22,500
Real Estate14$47,681—
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other91$45,696$20,000
Business/Managerial Economics30$45,370$18,000
Mathematics23$43,784$25,750
Marketing135$41,767$20,500
Physics16$39,804$22,078
Chemistry95$38,571$20,500
Criminal Justice and Corrections236$38,495$21,250
Security Science and Technology50$37,501$24,583
Biological and Physical Sciences74$36,709$24,000
Communication and Media Studies191$35,808$21,500
Area Studies27$35,557$22,625
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas342$34,677$25,000
Social Work98$34,088$22,000
Political Science and Government159$34,080$20,000
Urban Studies/Affairs23$33,626$22,250
Sociology46$32,781$23,500
Natural Resources Conservation and Research62$32,038$21,500
Biology, General339$31,149$20,500
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services5$30,635$21,627
History75$29,794$21,269
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies27$29,607$25,998
Psychology, General490$29,462$21,167
Music43$28,989$27,000
English Language and Literature, General101$27,005$19,949
Philosophy16$26,192$20,500
Design and Applied Arts322$25,872$24,250
Film/Video and Photographic Arts91$23,109$24,125
Anthropology17$22,732$13,996
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft47$22,447$20,500
Fine and Studio Arts58$21,916$21,500
Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry27$21,237$20,500
Dance11$20,397$27,000
Religion/Religious Studies4$46,061—
Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology38—$19,036

Post-baccalaureate certificate

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Accounting and Related Services—$66,397—

Master's degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences18$259,378—
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing96$111,341$37,750
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods0$101,531$41,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations126$100,173$41,000
Engineering, Other41$95,707—
Health and Medical Administrative Services48$88,965$51,250
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General13$83,165$43,799
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions21$77,108$41,000
Business/Commerce, General122$70,104$54,332
Urban Studies/Affairs21$65,514—
Public Health15$58,177—
Public Administration34$53,777$26,604
Student Counseling and Personnel Services36$53,756$41,000
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions40$52,534$36,100
Special Education and Teaching16$52,470$18,650
Education, General67$51,723$25,419
Social Work331$51,707$41,000
Security Science and Technology22$48,668—
Design and Applied Arts9$46,439—
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness48$45,781$20,500
Fine and Studio Arts28$19,952$31,145
Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other23$75,951—
Natural Resources Conservation and Research9$51,851—
Communication and Media Studies14$76,100—
Information Science/Studies13$94,244—
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft7$39,986—
Criminal Justice and Corrections8$53,040—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas10$45,525—

Doctoral degree

First professional degree

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Dentistry100$105,967$273,400
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration91$90,076$141,047
Medicine189$65,351$202,416

Graduate certificate

ProgramGraduatesEarningsMedian debt
Business Administration, Management and Operations8$56,750$40,495
Biology, General29$23,862$38,722
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services0$119,836—

Students

Undergraduates
20,753
Graduate students
8,368
Part-time
10%
Women / men
63% / 37%
White
39%
Hispanic
12%
Black
23%
Asian
14%
International
2%

Faculty & school

Student–faculty ratio
17:1
Avg faculty salary
$111,609 / year
Full-time faculty
61%
Accreditor
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Website
www.vcu.edu
Also known as
VCU

Most popular fields

  • Communication & Journalism – 4% of degrees
  • Computer & Information Sciences – 8% of degrees
  • Education – 6% of degrees
  • Engineering – 5% of degrees
  • Biological Sciences – 8% of degrees
  • Interdisciplinary Studies – 5% of degrees

Frequently asked questions

What is the acceptance rate at Virginia Commonwealth University?

92.6% of applicants were admitted, and admitted students averaged 1137 on the SAT.

How much does Virginia Commonwealth University cost?

The average net price after grants is $23,433 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $16,945 and the full cost of attendance is $38,954.

How much do Virginia Commonwealth University graduates earn?

Students who enrolled earn a median of $58,128 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.

What is the graduation rate?

63% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Other colleges in Richmond

CollegeNet priceAcceptanceGraduationEarnings
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Richmond, VA · Public · 5,586 students
$5,168—32%$39,529
Virginia Union University
Richmond, VA · Private nonprofit · 1,203 students
$13,23598%34%$38,275
Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing
Richmond, VA · Private nonprofit · 591 students
———$77,014
Fortis College-Richmond
Richmond, VA · Private for-profit · 502 students
$24,635—50%$32,754
Galen Health Institutes-Richmond
Richmond, VA · Private for-profit · 454 students
$23,843——$61,480
Lotus Professional College
Richmond, VA · Private for-profit · 171 students
————
Henrico County-Saint Marys Hospital School of Practical Nursing
Richmond, VA · Public · 79 students
—70%—$56,618
Empire Beauty School-Richmond
Richmond, VA · Private for-profit · 77 students
$23,488—39%$23,921
Bon Secours St Mary's Hospital School of Medical Imaging
Richmond, VA · Private nonprofit · 35 students
———$65,432
Virginia Barber School
Richmond, VA · Private for-profit · 7 students
——100%—

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.