Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia · Public · 20,753 undergraduates · vcu.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
93%
of applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1010 to 1260
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$44,200Est.Estimate
$69,260 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at Virginia Commonwealth University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
93% of applicants admitted
Target
Your SAT is inside the range where the middle half of enrolled freshmen scored, and your GPA is in the middle half of freshmen's.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$69,260
a year in 2027-28, from a $69,260 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1140
Send your score
Your SAT is at or above the median of freshmen who sent scores (1140).
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
Source: First-year requirements - Admissions - Virginia Commonwealth University · Checked October 17, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Priority deadline · November 1, 2026Apply by this date for the best chance at admission and scholarships.
- Jan15Regular Decision · January 15, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
93%
of applicants are admitted.
Wait list
28 students were offered a spot; 17 were later admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2024)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 34% of them sent SAT scores and 3% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1010 to 1260
Reading and Writing 520 to 650
Math 490 to 620
ACT composite 22 to 30
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 16007.8%
- 1200 to 139930%
- 1000 to 119941%
- 800 to 99918%
- 600 to 7993.1%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2024-25
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.63
- 4.026%
- 3.75 to 3.9917%
- 3.50 to 3.7417%
- 3.25 to 3.4915%
- 3.00 to 3.2413%
- 2.50 to 2.9911%
- Below 2.500.3%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$44,200
a year, in state
$69,260
a year, out of state (tuition $39,790)
- Tuition (in state)$14,730
- Fees$4,050
- Food and housing$16,480
- Books and supplies$1,410
- Transportation and other$7,530
Virginia Commonwealth University published $40,563 in state for 2024-25. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-25
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$18,927
- $30,001 to $48,000$18,347
- $48,001 to $75,000$20,373
- $75,001 to $110,000$27,067
- Over $110,000$38,273
Financial aid
29%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$17,205
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
20%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $5,637 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 2/1
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2024-25
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
National Merit Virginia Commonwealth University Scholarship (NMSC college-sponsored)
National Merit
Deadline: Name this college your first choice with NMSC.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
40 of 40
Earn credit with a score of 3
37 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,470Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 1 | ARTF 139 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 1 | ARTF 139 |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 | AFAM 111 |
| Art History | 3 | 6 | ARTH 103, ARTH 104 |
| Biology | 3 | 4 | BIOL 101, BIOZ 101 |
| Biology | 4 | 4 | BIOL 152, BIOZ 152 |
| Biology | 5 | 8 | BIOL 151, BIOZ 151, BIOL 152, BIOZ 152 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 4 | MATH 200 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 4 | MATH 200 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MATH 200, MATH 201 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 4 | CHEM 101, CHEZ 101 |
| Chemistry | 5 | 8 | CHEM 101, CHEZ 101, CHEM 102, CHEZ 102 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FRLG 101 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | CHIN 201, CHIN 202 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLI 109 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 4 | CMSC 254 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 | CMSC 255 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CMSC 1XX |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 4 | CMSC 254 |
| Drawing | 4 | 1 | ARTF 139 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | UNIV 111 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | UNIV 111 or ENGL 215 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 | BIOL 103 |
| European History | 3 | 6 | HIST 101, HIST 102 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FREN 202 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | FREN 300 |
| French Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | FREN 300, FREN 301 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | GRMN 202 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | GRMN 300 |
| German Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | GRMN 300, GRMN 301 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | URSP 102 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | ITAL 102 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | ITAL 201, ITAL 202 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | ITAL 202, ITAL 3XX |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | FRLG 101 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 6 | FRLG 201, FRLG 202 |
| Latin | 3 | 3 | LATN 201 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 211 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECON 210 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 3 | MHIS 115 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 201 |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 4 | PHYS 202 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 5 | PHYS 208 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 5 | PHYS 207 |
| Pre-Calculus | 3 | 4 | MATH 151 |
| Psychology | 3 | 4 | PSYC 101 |
| Research | 3 | 3 | UNIV 200 |
| Seminar | 3 | 3 | UNIV 111 |
| Seminar | 4 | 3 | Waive UNIV 111 and award credit for UNIV 112 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPAN 202 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 3 | SPAN 300 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 5 | 6 | SPAN 300, SPAN 301 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPAN 202 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 3 | SPAN 330 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 5 | 6 | SPAN 330, SPAN 331 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | STAT 210 |
| Statistics | 4 | 3 | STAT 210 or STAT 212 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | POLI 103 |
| United States History | 3 | 6 | HIST 103, HIST 104 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 6 | HIST 1XX (History elective) |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
65%
Come back for a second year
85%
Typical earnings
$64,442
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Virginia Commonwealth University$55,603
- All colleges$54,104
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 47 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Virginia Commonwealth University. The Virginia Commonwealth University logo is a trademark of the college.