Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA vcu.edu 20,797 students

Virginia Commonwealth University's campus is spread across the city of Richmond, with a mix of modern facilities and historic landmarks integrated into the urban environment. The student body is diverse, with a strong emphasis on arts, health sciences, and research. VCU is known for its prominent medical campus and integration with the VCU Health System. The university's athletic teams, the VCU Rams, compete in Division I sports as part of the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Programs

Analyzed in dataset

Earnings

$42,988

Average graduate, 1 yr after

Outlook

45/100

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

Tuition

$16,458

In-state sticker price

Out-of-state: $39,042/yr

Financial Aid

The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. Virginia Commonwealth University's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 30% of students receive Pell Grants; 42% take federal loans.

Net Price by Family Income

Academic Year 2025

Income Bracket	Avg Net Price	4-Year Net Cost
$0 – $30K	$12,830	$51,320
$30K – $48K	$13,612	$54,448
$48K – $75K	$16,455	$65,820
$75K – $110K	$20,633	$82,532
$110K+	$28,474	$113,896
Sticker price (no aid)	$16,458	$65,832

Net price = tuition + fees + room & board minus grants and scholarships, by reported family-income bracket. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey via College Scorecard.

Programs at Virginia Commonwealth University

45 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.

Degree Program	DW Score	1-yr Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
Information Sciences Computer and Information Sciences, General Compare across schools →	87	$84,338/yr	Very High	16.8x
Nursing Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Compare across schools →	81	$71,847/yr	High	12.1x
Information Science Information Science/Studies Compare across schools →	75	$62,116/yr	Very High	12.2x
Accounting Accounting and Related Services Compare across schools →	73	$56,876/yr	Very High	9.9x
Electrical Engineering Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering Compare across schools →	71	$77,938/yr	Very High	14.1x
Chemical Engineering Compare across schools →	70	$79,721/yr	High	13.0x
Mechanical Engineering Compare across schools →	69	$73,355/yr	Very High	12.3x
Business Business/Commerce, General Compare across schools →	69	$51,669/yr	High	9.8x
Computer Engineering Compare across schools →	68	$82,964/yr	Very High	11.6x
Allied Health Professions Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Compare across schools →	66	$66,750/yr	Moderate	9.7x
Dental Services Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Compare across schools →	64	$72,808/yr	Moderate	10.5x
Clinical Laboratory Science Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions Compare across schools →	61	$67,072/yr	Moderate	9.8x
Business Economics Business/Managerial Economics Compare across schools →	60	$45,370/yr	Very High	11.4x
Biomedical Engineering Biomedical/Medical Engineering Compare across schools →	58	$54,133/yr	High	10.6x
Marketing Compare across schools →	54	$41,767/yr	Very High	8.4x
Criminal Justice Criminal Justice and Corrections Compare across schools →	53	$38,495/yr	Moderate	7.7x
Chemistry Compare across schools →	51	$38,571/yr	High	8.6x
Security Science and Technology Compare across schools →	51	$37,501/yr	High	7.8x
Mathematics Compare across schools →	45	$43,784/yr	Very High	5.7x
Subject-Area Teaching Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Compare across schools →	45	$34,677/yr	High	7.0x
Real Estate Compare across schools →	44	$47,681/yr	High	6.2x
Political Science Political Science and Government Compare across schools →	43	$34,080/yr	Very High	7.4x
Biological & Physical Sciences Biological and Physical Sciences Compare across schools →	41	$36,709/yr	Moderate	7.7x
Physics Compare across schools →	39	$39,804/yr	Very High	5.0x
Communication and Media Studies Compare across schools →	39	$35,808/yr	High	7.6x
Biology Biology, General Compare across schools →	39	$31,149/yr	High	8.4x
Urban Studies Urban Studies/Affairs Compare across schools →	37	$33,626/yr	High	6.9x
Social Work Compare across schools →	36	$34,088/yr	Moderate	6.9x
Psychology Psychology, General Compare across schools →	36	$29,462/yr	High	7.2x
Sociology Compare across schools →	34	$32,781/yr	High	6.1x
History Compare across schools →	33	$29,794/yr	High	5.5x
Natural Resources & Conservation Research Natural Resources Conservation and Research Compare across schools →	31	$32,038/yr	High	7.1x
Linguistics Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services Compare across schools →	31	$30,635/yr	Very High	6.4x
Area Studies Compare across schools →	30	$35,557/yr	Very High	6.8x
Music Compare across schools →	29	$28,989/yr	High	5.4x
Design Design and Applied Arts Compare across schools →	28	$25,872/yr	High	6.6x
Ethnic & Cultural Studies Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies Compare across schools →	26	$29,607/yr	Very High	6.8x
English English Language and Literature, General Compare across schools →	25	$27,005/yr	Very High	6.1x
Anthropology Compare across schools →	25	$22,732/yr	High	5.3x
Fine Arts Fine and Studio Arts Compare across schools →	24	$21,916/yr	Moderate	4.8x
Film & Photography Film/Video and Photographic Arts Compare across schools →	20	$23,109/yr	High	5.7x
Philosophy Compare across schools →	19	$26,192/yr	Very High	3.0x
Theater & Drama Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Compare across schools →	19	$22,447/yr	Moderate	3.5x
Dance Compare across schools →	16	$20,397/yr	Low	2.1x
Craft & Folk Art Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry Compare across schools →	14	$21,237/yr	Moderate	4.0x