Virginia Commonwealth University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution located in Richmond, Virginia. For the most recent reporting cycle, Virginia Commonwealth University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 84%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1140 and an ACT composite around 25. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $23,433 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Virginia Commonwealth University?

60% of enrolled students at Virginia Commonwealth University had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.63, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

What does Virginia Commonwealth University weight in admissions?

Virginia Commonwealth University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

SAT and ACT scores Virginia Commonwealth University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 490–620, with an EBRW midpoint near 605. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 22–30. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Virginia Commonwealth University actually cost?

Published tuition is $16,945 for in-state students and $40,109 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,254 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $23,433 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 31% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Virginia Commonwealth University

Will my child graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University?

These predict outcomes at Virginia Commonwealth University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Virginia Commonwealth University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Virginia Commonwealth University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Biology, General and Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. Across all programs, Virginia Commonwealth University confers roughly 2,525 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $54,210 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Virginia Commonwealth University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Virginia Commonwealth University disclosed 123 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 5.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 34 violent offenses and 40 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Virginia Commonwealth University?

About 27% of undergraduates at Virginia Commonwealth University live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 2% of men join a fraternity and 3% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Virginia parents ask about

• Washington and Lee University
  14% acceptance
• University of Richmond
  22% acceptance
• Liberty University
  99% acceptance
• Longwood University
  90% acceptance
• Radford University
  90% acceptance
• Christopher Newport University
  86% acceptance
• University of Virginia-Main Campus
  17% acceptance
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
  55% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Virginia Commonwealth University