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

Virginia Commonwealth University is a private institution located in Lexington, Virginia and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Virginia Commonwealth University admits roughly one in four applicants, with an overall admission rate of 17%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1504 and an ACT composite around 34. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $23,911 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether Virginia Commonwealth University is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.

What GPA does my child need for Virginia Commonwealth University?

Most admitted students at Virginia Commonwealth University present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.

What does Virginia Commonwealth University weight in admissions?

Virginia Commonwealth University reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

SAT and ACT scores Virginia Commonwealth University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 700–780, with an EBRW midpoint near 725. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 32–35. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.

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 $64,525 for in-state students and $64,525 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,685 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $23,911 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 11% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Virginia Commonwealth University

Will my child graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University?

Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.

Other colleges in Virginia parents ask about

• University of Virginia-Main Campus
  17% acceptance
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
  93% acceptance
• College of William and Mary
  89% acceptance
• James Madison University
  86% acceptance
• Old Dominion University
  82% acceptance
• George Mason University
  91% acceptance
• Washington and Lee University
  90% acceptance
• University of Richmond
  94% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Virginia Commonwealth University