Virginia Commonwealth University

https://www.vcu.edu

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    2024 Undergraduate Tuition
    $13,200
    2.72% growth from 2023
    2024 Average Net Price
    $26,836
    After Financial Aid
    2024 Acceptance Rate
    92.6%
    20,954 Applicants
    2024 Enrolled Students
    28,464
    83% Full-Time
    2024 Graduation Rate
    63.2%
    2,852 Graduates

    About

    Virginia Commonwealth University is a higher education institution located in Richmond City, VA. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Virginia Commonwealth University were General Psychology (561 degrees awarded), General Biological Sciences (343 degrees), and Health Teacher Education (278 degrees).

    In 2024, 7,419 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Virginia Commonwealth University. 67.1% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 32.9% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,422 degrees), 2.8 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (1,224 degrees).

    The median undergraduate tuition at Virginia Commonwealth University is $13,200, which is $−18,720 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

    Photo by Tom Woodward
    Doctoral Universities: Highest Research ActivityDoctoral Universities

    Costs

    In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Virginia Commonwealth University is $13,200, which is $18,720 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

    After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $26,836.

    In 2024, 70% of undergraduate students attending Virginia Commonwealth University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 39% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

    Tuition Costs

    $13,200
    2024 Undergraduate Tuition

    In 2024, the cost of tuition at Virginia Commonwealth University was $13,200. The cost of tuition at Virginia Commonwealth University is $−18,720 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

    This chart compares the tuition costs of Virginia Commonwealth University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

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    Average Net Price

    $26,836
    2024 Value
    17.4%
    1 Year Growth

    In 2024 Virginia Commonwealth University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $26,836. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Virginia Commonwealth University grew by 17.4%.

    This chart compares the average net price of Virginia Commonwealth University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

    Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

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    Other Student Expenses

    $15,087
    Room and Board
    $1,240
    Books and Supplies

    The average yearly cost of room and board at Virginia Commonwealth University was of $15,087 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 20.6% between 2023 and 2024.

    During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,240. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

    This chart compares the average student costs at Virginia Commonwealth University (in red) with that of similar universities.

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    Financial Aid by Income Level

    70%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
    39%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

    70% of undergraduate students at Virginia Commonwealth University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a decline of 28.6% with respect to 2023, when 98% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

    This chart compares the average award discount at Virginia Commonwealth University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

    The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

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    Admissions

    Virginia Commonwealth University received 20,954 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 9.98% annual growth. Out of those 20,954 applicants, 19,408 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 92.6% acceptance rate.

    There were 28,464 students enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024. 34% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

    Virginia Commonwealth University has an overall enrollment yield of 21.6%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

    Acceptance Rate

    92.6%
    Acceptance Rate in 2024
    19,408
    Accepted Out of 20,954

    In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Virginia Commonwealth University was 92.6% (19,408 admissions from 20,954 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 93.1%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 9.98%, while admissions grew by 9.47%.

    This chart compares the acceptance rate of Virginia Commonwealth University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

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    SAT Scores

    34%
    Submission Percentage (2024)
    1,442
    Scores Submitted (2024)

    34% of enrolled first-time students at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

    The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

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    Enrollment

    Virginia Commonwealth University had a total enrollment of 28,464 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Virginia Commonwealth University is 23,639 students and the part-time enrollment is 4,825. This means that 83% of students enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University are enrolled full-time.

    The enrolled student population at Virginia Commonwealth University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 40.3% White, 20.7% Black or African American, 12.8% Asian, 10.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.14% Two or More Races, 0.214% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.141% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

    Students enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (24.1%), followed by White Male (14.9%) and Black or African American Female (14.8%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (28.3%), followed by White Male (14.1%) and Black or African American Female (9.01%).

    Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

    83%
    Full-Time Enrollment

    The total enrollment at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 28,464 students. The full-time enrollment at Virginia Commonwealth University is 23,639 and the part-time enrollment is 4,825. This means that 83% of students enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

    This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Virginia Commonwealth University (in red) compares to similar universities.

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    Retention Rate over Time

    85%
    2024 Retention Rate

    Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Virginia Commonwealth University was 85%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), Virginia Commonwealth University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

    This chart shows the retention rate over time at Virginia Commonwealth University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

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    Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

    Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. White
      11,475 enrolled students
    2. Black or African American
      5,906 enrolled students
    3. Asian
      3,642 enrolled students

    The enrolled student population at Virginia Commonwealth University is 40.3% White, 20.7% Black or African American, 12.8% Asian, 10.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.14% Two or More Races, 0.214% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.141% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

    Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,103 students (3.88%) did not report their race.

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    Graduates

    In 2024, 2,539 more women than men received degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Virginia Commonwealth University is white (3,422 degrees awarded). There were 2.8 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (1,224 degrees).

    The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Virginia Commonwealth University is General Psychology (561 degrees awarded), followed by General Biological Sciences (343 degrees) and Health Teacher Education (278 degrees).

    In 2024,  the most specialized majors across all degree types at Virginia Commonwealth University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Public Administration and Social Service (490 degrees awarded), Cultural & Gender Studies (74 degrees), and Visual & Performing Arts (715 degrees).

    Common Jobs by Major

    Other managers
    Most Common Job

    The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Virginia Commonwealth University are Other managers (228,140 people), Social workers, all other (180,021 people), Postsecondary teachers (148,829 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (146,699 people), and Police officers (143,810 people).

    The most specialized majors at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024 are Public Administration and Social Service (490 degrees awarded), Cultural & Gender Studies (74 degrees), Visual & Performing Arts (715 degrees), Physical Sciences (134 degrees), and Protective Services (376 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Highest Paying Jobs by Major

    Surgeons
    Highest Paying Job

    The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Virginia Commonwealth University are Surgeons, Logisticians, Economists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Physicians

    The most specialized majors at Virginia Commonwealth University are Public Administration and Social Service (490 degrees awarded), Cultural & Gender Studies (74 degrees), Visual & Performing Arts (715 degrees), Physical Sciences (134 degrees), and Protective Services (376 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Common Industries by Major

    Elementary & secondary schools
    Most Common Industry

    The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Virginia Commonwealth University are Elementary & secondary schools (407,492 people), Justice, public order, & safety activities (360,260 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (336,821 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (212,680 people), and Computer Systems Design (179,617 people).

    The most specialized majors at Virginia Commonwealth University are Public Administration and Social Service (490 degrees awarded), Cultural & Gender Studies (74 degrees), Visual & Performing Arts (715 degrees), Physical Sciences (134 degrees), and Protective Services (376 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Majors Awarded

    IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Virginia Commonwealth University.
    Most Common (2024)
    1. General Computer & Information Sciences
      27 degrees awarded
    2. General Interdisciplinary Studies
      19 degrees awarded
    3. General Business
      19 degrees awarded

    In 2024, the most common 2 to 4 year postsecondary certificate concentration at Virginia Commonwealth University was General Computer & Information Sciences with 27 degrees awarded.

    This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from 2 to 4 year postsecondary certificate programs at Virginia Commonwealth University according to their major.

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    Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

    2,440
    Degrees Awarded to Men
    in 2024
    4,979
    Degrees Awarded to Women
    in 2024

    In 2024, 2,440 degrees were awarded to men at Virginia Commonwealth University, which is 0.49 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (4,979).

    This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Virginia Commonwealth University by degrees awarded.

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    Most Common Male Majors

    In 2024, 160 degrees were awarded to men at Virginia Commonwealth University in General Business, which is 0.86 times less than the 186 female recipients with that same degree.

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    Most Common Female Majors

    In 2024, 481 degrees were awarded to men at Virginia Commonwealth University in General Psychology, which is 4.86 times more than the 99 male recipients with that same degree.

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    Time to Complete

    44%
    100% Completion Time
    65%
    150% Completion Time

    In 2024, 44% of students graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 65% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 66% within 200%.

    The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

    Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

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    Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

    Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.
    American Indian or Alaska Native Female
    Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

    The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Virginia Commonwealth University is Female and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

    The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

    The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 0.912% of graduates (26 students) did not report their race.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Share

    Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. White
      3,422 degrees awarded
    2. Black or African American
      1,224 degrees awarded
    3. Asian
      994 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity at Virginia Commonwealth University is white (3,422 degrees awarded). There were 2.8 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (1,224 degrees).

    2.88% of degree recipients (214 students) did not report their race.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Sex

    Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)
    1. White Female
      2,752 degrees awarded
    2. White Female
      2,628 degrees awarded
    3. White Female
      2,618 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Virginia Commonwealth University is white female (2,752 degrees awarded). There were 1.05 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (2,628 degrees).

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    Operations

    Virginia Commonwealth University has an endowment valued at nearly $2.89B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 68.3M (2.37%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

    In 2024, Virginia Commonwealth University had a total salary expenditure of 1.38B. Virginia Commonwealth University employs 485 Associate professors, 410 Assistant professors and 270 Professors. Most academics at Virginia Commonwealth University are Female Associate professor (250), Female Assistant professor (240), and Male Associate professor (235).

    The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Virginia Commonwealth University are: Business and Financial Operations, with 776 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 629 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 468 employees.

    Endowment

    $2.89B
    2024 Endowment
    11.7%
    growth from 2023

    Virginia Commonwealth University has an endowment valued at about $2.89B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Virginia Commonwealth University grew 11.7% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $2.63B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

    This line chart shows how the endowment at Virginia Commonwealth University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

    The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

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    Government Grants and Contracts

    Grants & Contracts
    1. $226M - Federal
    2. $18.9M - State
    3. $1.57M - Local

    As of 2024, Virginia Commonwealth University received $226M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $18.9M from state grants and contracts, and $1.57M from local grants and contracts.

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    Salary Expenditure

    $661M
    2024 Salaries
    5.87%
    growth from 2023

    In 2024, Virginia Commonwealth University paid a median of $661M in salaries, which represents 48% of their overall expenditure ($1.38B) and a 5.87% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 8.76% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 6.88% growth between 2021 and 2022.

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    Instructional Salaries

    $154M
    Instructional Salaries
    1,248
    Number of Employees

    In 2024, Virginia Commonwealth University paid a total of $154M to 1,248 employees working as instructors, which represents 23.3% of all salaries paid.

    This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

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    Occupations by Share

    In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Virginia Commonwealth University were Business and Financial Operations with 776 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 629 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 468 employees.

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