Public · City: Midsize
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
Detailed ICP profile · Partial Common Data Set research. Each figure has its own reporting year. This is a research snapshot, not a live update.
At a glance
- Admission rate
- 92.6%
- Fall 2024 · federal IPEDS · past applicant pool, not your chances
- Details about admission rate ↓
- 2026–27 published cost
- $44,673
- In-state (Virginia) · On campus · before aid · estimate
- Details about 2026–27 published cost ↓
- Avg. cost after grants
- $25,037
- 2024–25 · federal-aid recipients, in-state
- Details about avg. cost after grants ↓
Admissions
Historical admissions describe the reported applicant pool, not your chances. Early-plan applicants form different pools.
Applicants admitted · federal
92.6%
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 first-time applicant pool reported to IPEDS; not your admission chances.
About this number: Applicants admitted · federal
Admission offers divided by applications, both as reported to the U.S. Department of Education. It is a separate source and year from any institution Common Data Set rate and does not predict an individual decision.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate applicants (includes early decision and early action)
First-year applications · federal
20,954
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 first-time, degree/certificate-seeking applicants reported to IPEDS.
About this number: First-year applications · federal
An application count, including early plans; not the size of the entering class.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate applicants (includes early decision and early action)
More admissions statistics (2)
First-year admission offers · federal
19,408
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 offers reported to IPEDS, not enrolled students.
About this number: First-year admission offers · federal
Admitted and enrolled populations differ.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate applicants (includes early decision and early action)
New first-year students · federal
4,190
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 admitted first-time students who enrolled, full or part time.
About this number: New first-year students · federal
This is neither all undergraduates nor all admitted students.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Admitted first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who enrolled (full or part time)
Academic profile of entering students
Scores and GPA describe past students, not current requirements. Reporting methods and populations differ.
SAT 25th percentile
Unavailable
No verified figure available. Missing does not mean zero.
ACT middle 50%
22–30
Fall 2024
Enrolled students who submitted ACT scores. Not a required range or personal admission prediction.
About the 25th percentile: ACT 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
About the 75th percentile: ACT 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Average reported high-school GPA
3.63
Fall 2024
Among GPA reporters. Weighting and scale may vary; not a required or verified unweighted GPA.
About this number: Average reported high-school GPA
Schools report GPA differently. This mean cannot be compared as a universal scale or used as an admission cutoff.
Virginia Commonwealth University Common Data Set · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: first year enrollees reporting high school gpa
More academics statistics (7)
Federal SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
520
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT reading/writing · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
650
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT reading/writing · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT math · 25th percentile
490
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT math · 25th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT math · 75th percentile
620
Fall 2024
Enrolled score submitters, not all students or a required score.
About this number: Federal SAT math · 75th percentile
The 25th and 75th percentiles bound the middle 50% of the reported score-submitting group. They are not minimum requirements or averages; no composite is inferred by adding component percentiles.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students who submitted scores
Federal SAT submitter share
34.0%
Fall 2024
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: Federal SAT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students
Federal ACT submitter share
3.0%
Fall 2024
Share of the source-defined enrolled group submitting this test.
About this number: Federal ACT submitter share
Submission rates depend on the reported population and policy at that time, not today’s testing requirement.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Enrolled first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students
Share reporting GPA
97.9%
Fall 2024
Share of the entering group with reported GPA.
About this number: Share reporting GPA
The average reported GPA may describe only this subset; weighting and scale are source-specific.
Virginia Commonwealth University Common Data Set · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: First-time, first-year degree-seeking students
Costs & financial aid
Compare the year and population before comparing prices. Published budgets, group averages and your actual aid offer are different.
2026–27 cost of attendance
Published by Virginia Commonwealth University$44,673
Published cost of attendance · per year, before financial aid
- 2026–27
- School estimate
This budget assumes
- In-state (Virginia)
- On campus
- All undergraduates
What the school includes
- Tuition and mandatory fees
- $17,963
- Food and housing
- $19,724
- Books and supplies
- $1,290
- Personal and miscellaneous
- $4,322
- Transportation
- $1,304
- Loan fees(only if it applies)
- $70
- Published total
- $44,673
This is the school’s budget before financial aid. It is not a bill, the federal average net price, or your own aid offer.
About this budget
- The school calls these 2026–27 figures estimates. They can change when the school finalizes them.
- Source: Understanding cost of attendance 2026-27 (VCU Student Financial Services) (Virginia Commonwealth University). Researched October 21, 2026; independently audited October 22, 2026.
Understand the five kinds of college costs
- Tuition & fees
- Instruction and required college fees; living costs are additional unless explicitly included.
- Attendance budget
- College charges plus estimated living, books, travel and other included expenses, before aid.
- Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
- A historical average after federal, state/local and college grant aid for a specified federal-aid population. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted; loans and work-study are not discounts.
- Your net cost
- Your entered attendance cost minus selected grants and scholarships. Loans and work-study remain funding sources.
- Borrowing
- Debt to repay, not a discount. Work-study is earned over time, not an upfront bill reduction.
Average annual cost after grants & scholarships · in-state
$25,037
2024–25
Includes applicable federal, state/local and college grants and scholarships. First-time, full-time in-state students receiving federal financial aid form the reporting population. The attendance budget includes estimated living expenses. Your actual cost may differ.
About this number: Average annual cost after grants & scholarships · in-state
Federal average net price subtracts qualifying federal, state/local and institutional grants and scholarships from the source-defined attendance budget. Federal aid defines the reporting population, not the only aid deducted; some included students receive federal loans or work-study but no grants. This is a historical average, not a personalized award. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted. The public-college population pays in-state tuition. It is not a personal offer; loans and work-study are not discounts.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time in-state students receiving federal financial aid at public institutions
More costs statistics (4)
Tuition & fees · in-state
$17,490
2025–26
Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.
About this number: Tuition & fees · in-state
Tuition and required fees are combined here. Do not add the institution’s separate fees again or confuse this with total attendance cost.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: In-state tuition and fees
Tuition & fees · out-of-state
$40,654
2025–26
Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.
About this number: Tuition & fees · out-of-state
This combines tuition and fees for the reported residency. It is separate from a differently dated institutional tuition figure.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Out-of-state tuition and fees
Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants
35.8%
2024–25
Source-defined undergraduate recipients; not an eligibility prediction.
About this number: Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants
This describes reported recipients, not whether your family qualifies.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: Percentage of undergraduates who receive a Pell Grant
Undergraduates receiving federal loans
41.4%
2024–25
Borrowing participation; loans are debt, not grants.
About this number: Undergraduates receiving federal loans
A loan must generally be repaid and does not reduce net price. This is not a measure of the amount each student borrows.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: Percent of all undergraduate students receiving a federal student loan
Campus & student outcomes
Enrollment, return rates and completion rates describe different source populations. They are not a measure of every student’s experience.
Undergraduate students
21,210
Fall 2024
Source-defined undergraduate headcount, not just first-year students.
About this number: Undergraduate students
Institutional reporting scope can include multiple schools or campuses. Federal and institutional counts can use different populations or dates.
Virginia Commonwealth University Common Data Set · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: All undergraduates in the report
Students per faculty member · federal
17
Fall 2024
A reporting ratio, not average class size.
About this number: Students per faculty member · federal
This federal measure uses its own student and instructional-staff definitions. It is separate from class size.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Student-to-faculty ratio
Returned after the first year · federal
85.3%
Fall 2023 bachelor’s-seeking cohort, reported in IPEDS DCY2024–25
First-time, full-time bachelor’s-seeking students in the reported cohort.
About this number: Returned after the first year · federal
Federal retention follows a specific entering group. It is not a measure of all students or eventual graduation.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2023 bachelor’s-seeking cohort, reported in IPEDS DCY2024–25
Who or what this describes: Full-time, first-time bachelor’s-seeking undergraduates (the IPEDS four-year retention cohort) enrolled at the institution in the fall one year after starting
Completed within 150% of program time
64.7%
Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019–20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025–26
Source-defined first-time, full-time entry cohort; not all enrolled students.
About this number: Completed within 150% of program time
For a four-year bachelor program, 150% of normal time is generally six years. Use the precise entry cohort and measurement definition in the research record.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019–20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025–26
Who or what this describes: Full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates (total cohort, not only bachelor’s-seeking) who completed any degree or certificate at the institution within 150% of normal time
More campus and outcome statistics (6)
Undergraduate students · federal
21,210
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 undergraduate headcount, including full-time and part-time students.
About this number: Undergraduate students · federal
This is the source-defined institutional reporting unit, not a count of majors, degrees awarded or all graduate and undergraduate students.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Grand total
Reported academic calendar
Semester
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Reported academic calendar
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Undergraduate research in federal reporting
Yes
2025–26
Historical service reporting; an unmarked option is not proof that research is unavailable.
About this number: Undergraduate research in federal reporting
The source describes a reported co-curricular option, not the full current research opportunities available to students. Verify current offerings directly.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Study abroad reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Study abroad reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Academic & career counseling reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Academic & career counseling reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
AP credit reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: AP credit reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
What could you study?
These examples come from historical bachelor’s degrees awarded, not a verified current-major catalog. Confirm current programs, campus and entry conditions with the college.
- Psychology, General
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- Health Teacher Education
- Business/Commerce, General
- Mass Communication/Media Studies
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
Historical degree records & sources
Reported first-major bachelor’s credentials, not necessarily distinct graduates. Examples with the largest reported counts, including ties; no campus or classification totals are added together.
- Psychology, General
510 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
341 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Health Teacher Education
219 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Business/Commerce, General
205 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Mass Communication/Media Studies
203 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
201 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Computer and Information Sciences, General
193 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General
182 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Information Science/Studies
178 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
159 degrees awarded · 2024-25
Plan your application
Check current official instructions for testing, essays, recommendations and dates. Historical admissions outcomes are not application requirements. Early Decision can be binding; review the institution’s conditions before choosing it.
Virginia Commonwealth University — SAT/ACT policy
Conditional requirements
Corroborated for fall 2027 · not confirmed on the college page
VCU offers test-optional review to all freshman applicants, but the Honors College Guaranteed Admission Programs require SAT or ACT scores.
Fall 2027 · first-year domestic applicant. The college's page does not name the entry year; the Common App 2026-2027 grid lists the same category, so ICP treats this as the current policy. Confirm your program and circumstances.
Corroborated, not directly confirmed. The college’s page states this policy but does not name the entry year. The Common App’s 2026–27 grid lists the same category, so this is very likely current. Confirm with the college before you rely on it.
Common App requirements grid · 2026–27
Listed as: Tests sometimes required for first-year U.S. applicants.
This is the Common App’s own category. “Tests never required” does not say whether a college is test-optional or test-free, and “always required” does not say which tests count. Read the college’s page for details.
Conditions to check
- Guaranteed Admission Programs in the Honors College require official SAT or ACT scores (students unable to test may contact honors@vcu.edu).
- Bulletin says 'some situations exist where submission of test scores is not optional'; other program-specific requirements (e.g., nursing) suggested by search results but not verified.
Official source checked 2026-11-05. Policies can change.
Different applicant situation?
SAT/ACT and English proficiency are different requirements. Program, recruitment and scholarship rules may need separate confirmation.
Sources & research
Institutional Common Data Sets and federal statistics have different reporting periods and populations. Research snapshot: October 16–19, 2026. Missing values can reflect nonreporting, conflict, ambiguity or incomplete review; they are never zero. Four-year earnings for colleges are withheld because of a documented October 15, 2026 correction to the federal source.
How ICP selects and explains data →