Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia · Public · 92.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 55/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Virginia Commonwealth University scores 55 (Below Average Value). VCU's STEM and health programs (CS, nursing, engineering) produce strong outcomes; its arts school is nationally recognized but generates modest wages for most graduates. The 63.2% completion rate is unremarkable. The repayment rate sub-score is 26/100.
Virginia Commonwealth University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,945/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,109/yr |
| Average net price | $23,433/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $93,732 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,128 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 20,753 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $16,945/year ($40,109/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $23,433/year, or roughly $93,732 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $17,512/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $32,739/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,500, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,500) and comes to 0.57, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $17,512 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,777 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,925 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,691 |
| $110,001+ | $32,739 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Pell-eligible families in the 0-$30,000 bracket pay $17,512 per year. Low-income students who choose high-earning programs face a workable financial equation; those choosing arts or social sciences face significant strain against this net price.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $20,925 and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket rises to $24,691 per year. With a 10.1-year payback period at the institutional median, middle-income families need their student to outperform the median earnings - which means program choice is critical.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $32,739 per year - $130,956 over four years. Against a $37,500 average six-year earnings, the full-price ROI case at VCU is weak for arts and social science students. Engineering, nursing, and CS graduates at VCU can justify this cost; most other majors cannot.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Virginia Commonwealth University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $51,440 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $59,442 | D |
| Biology | $58,420 | C |
| Design and Applied Arts | $53,575 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,792 | C |
| Business Administration and Management | $68,387 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $86,661 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $59,968 | C |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $55,855 | C+ |
| Information Science | $87,219 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
CS is VCU's strongest program by earnings: 122 graduates earn $84,338 at year one and $118,521 at year four, with an A-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.226. Median debt of $19,050 is meaningfully below the institutional average, making this one of the best financial outcomes on the entire campus. Richmond's growing tech sector and proximity to the DC-NoVa corridor both support strong placement for VCU CS graduates.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (210 graduates) earns $71,847 at year one and $86,661 at year four with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.365. This is the highest-volume health program at VCU, supported by the VCU Health System that provides clinical placement. Median debt of $26,250 is high but manageable against RN wages in the Richmond market. Nursing remains a clear value anchor for the institution.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice is a high-volume program at 236 graduates with mediocre outcomes: $38,495 year one, $58,792 year four, and a C-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.604. This is one of VCU's most popular majors and one of its weaker-returning ones. Students entering this track at a $23,433 net price face a payback period considerably above the institutional average - likely 12-15 years given the earnings trajectory.
Design and Applied Arts
Design (322 graduates) is VCU's largest single program and its worst financial outcome: $25,872 year one, $53,575 year four, with an F-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.003. Graduates borrow a median of $25,937 and earn less in their first year than they owe in debt. Prestige in art school does not translate to earnings, and these numbers reflect that reality plainly.
Psychology
Psychology (490 graduates) is VCU's highest-volume program and earns $29,462 at year one and $51,440 at year four with a D-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.787. This is a liberal arts outcome that is adequate for students planning graduate school but financially strained for those entering the workforce directly. Nearly half of all VCU psychology graduates will face debt service that exceeds comfortable repayment ratios in their early careers.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (96 graduates) earns $73,355 year one and $88,410 year four with a B+-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.303. This is one of VCU's smaller but financially strongest programs. Median debt of $22,235 is below the institutional average. Engineering graduates at VCU have access to Richmond's manufacturing base and the broader mid-Atlantic technical job market.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 59.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 64.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 61.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 65.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Virginia Commonwealth University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 92.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 490-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 520-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-30 |
| Enrollment | 20,753 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,401 |
VCU admits 92.6% of applicants with SAT Math 490-620 and Reading 520-650, ACT composite 22-30. This is a broad-access institution despite being a research university. The arts programs (VCUarts) have more competitive internal admissions. For most programs, academic preparation is not an obstacle to admission - the question is program fit and whether students will stay enrolled through to graduation.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
VCU's score is 55.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Commonwealth University (this school) | 55 | $23,433 | $58,128 |
| William & Mary | 91 | $19,096 | $73,490 |
| Christopher Newport University | 64 | $23,015 | $60,509 |
| Appalachian State University | 58 | $16,836 | $51,836 |
| Sam Houston State University | 58 | $16,404 | $54,211 |
| Georgia Southern University | 52 | $15,267 | $53,236 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Virginia Commonwealth University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
VCU is a reasonable choice for Virginia residents entering CS, nursing, engineering, or business who prioritize a Richmond location and in-state pricing. Students drawn to arts, design, theatre, dance, or film should be honest with themselves about earnings expectations: VCU's arts programs are program-quality standouts with weaker financial returns. The 92.6% acceptance rate makes this effectively open-access for Virginia residents. With 20,753 undergraduates, VCU is an urban research university with genuine research infrastructure and health system connections that create clinical opportunities unavailable at smaller schools.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Virginia Commonwealth University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $23,433 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $58,128 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 64.7% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $21,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Virginia Commonwealth University: Common Questions
Is Virginia Commonwealth University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Virginia Commonwealth University scores 55/100 on our ROI scale. At $23,433 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $58,128 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Virginia Commonwealth University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $23,433 a year, or roughly $93,732 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Virginia Commonwealth University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,128 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,328 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Virginia Commonwealth University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.1 years for Virginia Commonwealth University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Virginia Commonwealth University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,500, against average earnings of $37,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Virginia Commonwealth University?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.2%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.