Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
School Background
2022 Undergraduate Enrollment: 20,918
Graduate Enrollment: 7,200
Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Highest degree awarded:
Graduate
Asian American/Native American/Pacific Islander institution
Religious Affiliation:
None
Campus Details
Medium City (100k-250k)
Four-year, large, primarily residential
//
full-time, selective, higher transfer-in
Applicant and Admittance Traits
2022 Admission Rate: 92.77%
Male/Female: 38% / 62% (2017)
First generation college students: 27.6% (2017)
Percentage of students who are married when enrolled: 2.8% (2017)
Percentage of students who are veterans: 0.2% (2017)
Test scores for admission: Considered but not required
Appliants applying to 2+ schools: 71.9% (2017)
Appliants applying to 3+ schools: 52.0% (2017)
Appliants applying to 4+ schools: 38.3% (2017)
Appliants applying to 5+ schools: 26.5% (2017)
Ethnicity Information
White: 41.2%
Black: 20.5%
Hispanic: 11.0%
Asian: 14.7%
American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.2%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.1%
2+ races: 8.1%
Non-resident alien: 2.1%
Unknown race: 2.1%
Black: 20.5%
Hispanic: 11.0%
Asian: 14.7%
American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.2%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.1%
2+ races: 8.1%
Non-resident alien: 2.1%
Unknown race: 2.1%
Costs & Fees
2022 Average Tuition & Fees (Room/Board/Books): $31,917
In-State tuition: $15,319Out-of-State tuition: $36,657
Estimated books and supplies: $1,240 (2022)
Estimated on-campus room & board: $12,279 (2022)
Estimated on-campus other fees: $5,270 (2022)
Estimated off-campus room & board: $12,730 (2022)
Estimated off-campus other fees: $5,270 (2022)
Average Family Income: $78,701 (2017)
Median Family Income: $51,128 (2017)
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Percentage of students receiving Pell Grant: 29.7%Percentage of students with Federal Loans: 44.5%
Median federal loan debt at graduation: $21,500 (2021)
Median federal loan payment: $228 (2021)
| Household Income | Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0-$30k | $13,601 |
| $30k-48k | $14,349 |
| $48k-75k | $16,689 |
| $75k-110k | $21,818 |
| $110k+ | $26,416 |
Graduate Outcomes & Job Placements
4-year graduation rate: 48%6-year graduation rate: 68%
1 year post-graduation workforce participation: 95.7% (2020)
Loans
Median federal debt for graduates: $21,500 (2021)Median federal debt for non-graduates: $9,500 (2021)
Median federal debt for first-generation graduates: $17,750 (2021)
Median federal debt for Pell grant recipient graduates: $19,000 (2021)
Ability to Repay Loans
| Graduates, % of Loans in Repayment (Non-delinquent/default) |
Percentage |
|---|---|
| @1 Year | 59.9% (2015) |
| @3 year | 64.7% (2017) |
| @5 year | 69.6% (2017) |
1-year Graduate % of Loans being Repaid (Non-delinquent/default) - Pell Grant Recipients: 43.2% (2015)
1-year Graduate % of Loans being Repaid - 1st Generation Attendees: 47.5% (2015)
Earnings Power
Median earnings, 1 year post graduation: $38,339 (2020)Median earnings, 4 years post graduation: $52,266 (2020)
Popular Majors
| Type of Degree | Major | 2022 Graduates | Median Federal Debt | Median Monthly Payment | 1yr Median Earnings (monthly gross) | 4yr Median Earnings (monthly gross) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master's Degree | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | 19 | $46,490 ($3,874) | $50,702 ($4,225) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | 58 | $23,500 | $228 | $28,450 ($2,371) | $46,047 ($3,837) |
| Master's Degree | Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | 5 | $53,961 ($4,497) | $53,503 ($4,459) | ||
| Doctoral Degree | Educational Administration and Supervision. | 23 | $317 | $83,315 ($6,943) | $97,235 ($8,103) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Area Studies. | 63 | $23,500 | $240 | $32,280 ($2,690) | $41,752 ($3,479) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | 20 | $26,000 | $276 | $26,574 ($2,215) | $40,073 ($3,339) |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Communication and Media Studies. | 295 | $24,000 | $228 | $34,476 ($2,873) | $47,603 ($3,967) |
| Master's Degree | Communication and Media Studies. | 7 | $52,244 ($4,354) | |||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Graphic Communications. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 82 | $19,050 | $211 | $77,887 ($6,491) | $96,632 ($8,053) |
| Master's Degree | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 9 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 9 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Information Science/Studies. | 166 | $24,364 | $228 | $58,437 ($4,870) | $73,990 ($6,166) |
| Master's Degree | Information Science/Studies. | 9 | $111,599 ($9,300) | |||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Information Science/Studies. | 4 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. | 7 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Education, General. | 124 | $289 | $47,660 ($3,972) | $49,444 ($4,120) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Education, General. | 25 | $72,753 ($6,063) | |||
| Master's Degree | Curriculum and Instruction. | 6 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Educational Administration and Supervision. | 12 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Educational Administration and Supervision. | 8 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Special Education and Teaching. | 29 | $212 | $48,541 ($4,045) | $50,545 ($4,212) | |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Special Education and Teaching. | 11 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Student Counseling and Personnel Services. | 34 | $466 | $50,056 ($4,171) | $51,618 ($4,302) | |
| Master's Degree | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | 4 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | 8 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | 380 | $26,901 | $265 | $30,670 ($2,556) | $42,156 ($3,513) |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | 10 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Engineering, General. | 12 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Engineering, General. | 16 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | 45 | $24,000 | $236 | $43,920 ($3,660) | $68,352 ($5,696) |
| Master's Degree | Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | 5 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | 2 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Chemical Engineering. | 41 | $27,000 | $286 | $74,361 ($6,197) | $83,657 ($6,971) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Computer Engineering. | 20 | $23,813 | $250 | $79,904 ($6,659) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | 27 | $24,000 | $239 | $73,316 ($6,110) | $90,430 ($7,536) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Mechanical Engineering. | 109 | $22,235 | $236 | $67,146 ($5,596) | $76,554 ($6,380) |
| Master's Degree | Engineering, Other. | 20 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Engineering, Other. | 8 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Nanotechnology. | 2 | ||||
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. | 6 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. | 24 | $26,000 | $229 | $41,671 ($3,473) | |
| Master's Degree | Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | 6 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | 9 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | English Language and Literature, General. | 128 | $22,750 | $211 | $24,689 ($2,057) | $39,808 ($3,317) |
| Master's Degree | English Language and Literature, General. | 6 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. | 10 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Biological and Physical Sciences. | 80 | $26,975 | $254 | $31,076 ($2,590) | $45,072 ($3,756) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Biology, General. | 350 | $21,712 | $217 | $26,314 ($2,193) | $43,873 ($3,656) |
| Master's Degree | Biology, General. | 10 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Biology, General. | 3 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Biology, General. | 78 | $440 | $20,006 ($1,667) | ||
| Master's Degree | Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | 2 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | 4 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences. | 6 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. | 5 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. | 5 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Genetics. | 4 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Genetics. | 2 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences. | 14 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences. | 5 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Pharmacology and Toxicology. | 2 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Pharmacology and Toxicology. | 7 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology. | 28 | $18,500 | $202 | ||
| Master's Degree | Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology. | 10 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology. | 7 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. | 1 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Neurobiology and Neurosciences. | 6 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Physics. | 10 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Physics. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Mathematics. | 54 | $27,000 | $273 | $46,455 ($3,871) | $69,910 ($5,826) |
| Master's Degree | Mathematics. | 16 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Statistics. | 1 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Mathematics and Statistics, Other. | 4 | ||||
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. | 30 | $22,250 | $246 | $47,665 ($3,972) | $64,737 ($5,395) |
| Master's Degree | Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. | 15 | $498 | |||
| Doctoral Degree | Natural Sciences. | 3 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Natural Sciences. | 7 | ||||
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Sustainability Studies. | 3 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | 181 | $25,125 | $239 | $47,118 ($3,927) | $46,725 ($3,894) |
| Master's Degree | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | 9 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | 6 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | 35 | $233 | $37,831 ($3,153) | $56,825 ($4,735) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Philosophy. | 17 | $21,500 | $217 | $21,640 ($1,803) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Religion/Religious Studies. | 13 | $12,514 ($1,043) | $35,974 ($2,998) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Chemistry. | 131 | $21,872 | $217 | $34,667 ($2,889) | $45,628 ($3,802) |
| Master's Degree | Chemistry. | 2 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Chemistry. | 17 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Physics. | 24 | $25,250 | $234 | $50,409 ($4,201) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Psychology, General. | 531 | $23,199 | $224 | $28,117 ($2,343) | $44,078 ($3,673) |
| Master's Degree | Psychology, General. | 22 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Psychology, General. | 3 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | 10 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Criminal Justice and Corrections. | 291 | $23,250 | $225 | $36,553 ($3,046) | $50,745 ($4,229) |
| Master's Degree | Criminal Justice and Corrections. | 26 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Criminal Justice and Corrections. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other. | 103 | $21,500 | $212 | $42,873 ($3,573) | $57,905 ($4,825) |
| Master's Degree | Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other. | 18 | $70,663 ($5,889) | $83,925 ($6,994) | ||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other. | 3 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Public Administration. | 36 | $303 | $52,813 ($4,401) | $66,870 ($5,573) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Public Administration. | 11 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Public Administration. | 13 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Social Work. | 97 | $25,000 | $233 | $31,354 ($2,613) | $45,039 ($3,753) |
| Master's Degree | Social Work. | 177 | $466 | $48,204 ($4,017) | $53,575 ($4,465) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Social Work. | 1 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Anthropology. | 25 | $13,996 | $148 | $27,197 ($2,266) | $31,916 ($2,660) |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Geography and Cartography. | 14 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Political Science and Government. | 191 | $21,376 | $212 | $32,691 ($2,724) | $50,476 ($4,206) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Sociology. | 98 | $26,285 | $249 | $29,811 ($2,484) | $41,591 ($3,466) |
| Master's Degree | Sociology. | 3 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Urban Studies/Affairs. | 38 | $26,416 | $236 | $33,032 ($2,753) | $52,812 ($4,401) |
| Master's Degree | Urban Studies/Affairs. | 17 | $57,041 ($4,753) | $62,159 ($5,180) | ||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Social Sciences, Other. | 10 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry. | 35 | $19,500 | $217 | $26,637 ($2,220) | $29,063 ($2,422) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Dance. | 22 | $27,000 | $286 | $17,807 ($1,484) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Design and Applied Arts. | 272 | $25,937 | $257 | $26,575 ($2,215) | $39,889 ($3,324) |
| Master's Degree | Design and Applied Arts. | 13 | $45,396 ($3,783) | |||
| Bachelor's Degree | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | 60 | $21,875 | $217 | $18,507 ($1,542) | $34,671 ($2,889) |
| Master's Degree | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | 11 | $33,353 ($2,779) | $43,831 ($3,653) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Film/Video and Photographic Arts. | 75 | $26,000 | $256 | $21,112 ($1,759) | $38,301 ($3,192) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Fine and Studio Arts. | 89 | $23,374 | $228 | $23,293 ($1,941) | $27,538 ($2,295) |
| Master's Degree | Fine and Studio Arts. | 29 | $354 | $26,679 ($2,223) | $37,788 ($3,149) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Music. | 51 | $27,000 | $286 | $33,538 ($2,795) | |
| Master's Degree | Music. | 6 | ||||
| First Professional Degree | Dentistry. | 101 | $3,110 | $97,991 ($8,166) | $148,925 ($12,410) | |
| Master's Degree | Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences. | 15 | $247,627 ($20,636) | $239,318 ($19,943) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | 16 | $25,924 | $237 | $66,908 ($5,576) | $69,479 ($5,790) |
| Master's Degree | Health and Medical Administrative Services. | 35 | $583 | $77,446 ($6,454) | $102,793 ($8,566) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | 29 | $26,992 | $233 | $58,688 ($4,891) | $65,940 ($5,495) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. | 46 | $24,589 | $210 | $59,595 ($4,966) | $61,522 ($5,127) |
| Master's Degree | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. | 8 | ||||
| First Professional Degree | Medicine. | 210 | $2,303 | $60,473 ($5,039) | $92,896 ($7,741) | |
| Master's Degree | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. | 30 | $466 | $66,681 ($5,557) | ||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. | 17 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | 3 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | 11 | ||||
| First Professional Degree | Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | 124 | $1,604 | $86,280 ($7,190) | $131,003 ($10,917) | |
| Master's Degree | Public Health. | 12 | $52,275 ($4,356) | |||
| Doctoral Degree | Public Health. | 6 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Public Health. | 2 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | 19 | $411 | $62,838 ($5,237) | $66,180 ($5,515) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | 96 | $816 | $69,480 ($5,790) | $69,746 ($5,812) | |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | 6 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | 230 | $26,250 | $229 | $64,974 ($5,415) | $72,428 ($6,036) |
| Master's Degree | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | 153 | $429 | $100,976 ($8,415) | $112,638 ($9,387) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | 53 | $1,163 | $174,220 ($14,518) | $193,728 ($16,144) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other. | 6 | ||||
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | Business/Commerce, General. | 15 | $23,250 | $246 | $30,544 ($2,545) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Business/Commerce, General. | 372 | $23,750 | $226 | $47,672 ($3,973) | $60,623 ($5,052) |
| Master's Degree | Business/Commerce, General. | 137 | $618 | $63,676 ($5,306) | $102,599 ($8,550) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Business/Commerce, General. | 6 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Business Administration, Management and Operations. | 89 | $466 | $92,894 ($7,741) | $110,026 ($9,169) | |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Business Administration, Management and Operations. | 23 | $461 | $42,547 ($3,546) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Accounting and Related Services. | 59 | $24,350 | $249 | $54,062 ($4,505) | $61,171 ($5,098) |
| Master's Degree | Accounting and Related Services. | 13 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Accounting and Related Services. | 23 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Business/Managerial Economics. | 70 | $21,500 | $191 | $41,022 ($3,419) | $69,474 ($5,790) |
| Master's Degree | Business/Managerial Economics. | 2 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Finance and Financial Management Services. | 10 | ||||
| Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma | International Business. | 1 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | 49 | $466 | $98,067 ($8,172) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | Marketing. | 126 | $21,500 | $217 | $42,231 ($3,519) | $52,497 ($4,375) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Real Estate. | 16 | $46,786 ($3,899) | $61,641 ($5,137) | ||
| Bachelor's Degree | History. | 84 | $23,750 | $225 | $29,536 ($2,461) | $40,375 ($3,365) |
| Master's Degree | History. | 5 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | History. | 3 |
Campus Resources
Average faculty salary: $96,768Full time faculty: 64%
Undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio: 18.0
School's endowment start of year: $1,992,337,915 (2022)
School's endowment end of year: $2,729,638,656 (2022)