Consumer Information
Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to providing students and their families with financial data and information on student outcomes to help them make informed decisions about their education options.
The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) requires that postsecondary institutions participating in federal student aid programs disclose information from various administrative areas to students. The information disclosed on the subpages of the Consumer Information section of this website is intended to support VCU's compliance with federal law. The federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires that institutions of higher education disclose certain consumer information to current, prospective students, current employees and/or prospective employees. Visit the HEOA website for more information. Paper copies of all of the information listed on the Consumer Information website are available upon request.
Virginia state law also requires certain student information to be available on public universities' websites. The information listed below is provided in accordance with section 23.1-409 of the Code of Virginia.
| Academic Year | In-State | % Change | Out-of-State | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 12,850 | 3.0% | 34,744 | 3.0% |
| 2022-23 | 12,472 | 3.1% | 33,728 | 3.0% |
| 2021-22 | 12,094 | 0.0% | 32,742 | 0.0% |
| 2020-21 | 12,094 | 0.0% | 32,742 | 0.0% |
| 2019-20 | 12,094 | 0.0% | 32,742 | 0.0% |
| 2018-19 | 12,094 | 6.6% | 32,742 | 6.6% |
| 2017-18 | 11,340 | 4.6% | 30,712 | 4.5% |
| 2016-17 | 10,846 | 2.5% | 29,378 | 2.5% |
| 2015-16 | 10,586 | 3.6% | 28,652 | 3.5% |
| 2014-15 | 10,223 | 3.5% | 27,672 | 3.5% |
| 2013-14* | 8,174/9,877 | 4.0%/25.7% | 22,126/26,736 | 4.0%/25.7% |
| 2012-13 | 7,860 | 4.4% | 21,275 | 4.4% |
| 2011-12 | 7,532 | 9.4% | 20,388 | 4.0% |
| 2010-11 | 6,885 | 32.8% | 19,604 | 6.5% |
| 2009-10 | 5,185 | 5.3% | 18,409 | 4.0% |
| 2008-09 | 4,924 | 9.9% | 17,701 | 5.0% |
| 2007-08 | 4,482 | 6.0% | 16,858 | 6.0% |
| 2006-07 | 4,227 | 6.5% | 15,904 | 0.0% |
| 2005-06 | 3,969 | 15,904 |
*The 25.7% tuition increase represents VCU's switch to a new, credit hour-based tuition model for new undergraduate students. The increase for continuing students was 4%. All students will be on the credit hour model as of the 2019-20 academic year. Percent increase for 2014-15 and 2015-16 is the same for students on both models, the tuition rates for those years represent the new credit hour model at 15 credits a semester.
| Academic Year | In-State | % Change | Out-of-State | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 3,383 | 6.7% | 4,073 | 5.8% |
| 2022-23 | 3,170 | 8.0% | 3,850 | 6.2% |
| 2021-22 | 2,934 | 12.2% | 3,624 | 9.6% |
| 2020-21 | 2,616 | 4.6% | 3,306 | 4.6% |
| 2019-20 | 2,502 | 4.4% | 3,162 | 8.8% |
| 2018-19 | 2,396 | 4.9% | 3,056 | 3.8% |
| 2017-18 | 2,284 | 0.0% | 2,944 | 1.2% |
| 2016-17 | 2,284 | 4.5% | 2,909 | 3.5% |
| 2015-16 | 2,186 | 0.5% | 2,811 | 0.9% |
| 2014-15 | 2,175 | 2.4% | 2,787 | 1.8% |
| 2013-14* | 2,125 | 4.9% | 2,737 | 3.8% |
| 2012-13 | 2,025 | 2.0% | 2,637 | 3.0% |
| 2011-12 | 1,985 | 2.7% | 2,561 | 9.2% |
| 2010-11 | 1,932 | 0.0% | 2,345 | 0.2% |
| 2009-10 | 1,932 | 4.2% | 2,340 | 15.7% |
| 2008-09 | 1,855 | 8.2% | 2,023 | 7.5% |
| 2007-08 | 1,714 | 7.7% | 1,882 | 9.9% |
| 2006-07 | 1,592 | 12.4% | 1,712 | 11.5% |
| 2005-06 | 1,416 | 1,536 |
Total fees include the university fee, technology fee, student health fee, student activity fee, capital outlay fee (non-residents only), and the library fee (started in academic year 2014-15). 2021-22 fees increase due to combining technology and online fees into one student fee.
| Entering class | Original count | Graduated in 6 years or less |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2016 | 4,117 | 65.3% |
| Fall 2015 | 3,984 | 67.4% |
| Fall 2014 | 3,522 | 66.1% |
| Fall 2013 | 3,513 | 67.2% |
| Fall 2012 | 3,535 | 67.1% |
| Fall 2011 | 3,714 | 62.6% |
| Fall 2010 | 3,530 | 61.9% |
| Fall 2009 | 3,590 | 62.1% |
| Fall 2008 | 3,645 | 59.2% |
| Fall 2007 | 3,807 | 56.8% |
| Fall 2006 | 3,497 | 57.0% |
| Fall 2005 | 3,477 | 53.9% |
| Fall 2004 | 3,314 | 51.1% |
Note: Graduation Rates are based on IPEDS reporting and do not include "VCU Qatar" - a non-U.S. territory.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics.
| Entering class | Original count | Retained 1 year |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2021 | 4,041 | 84.8% |
| Fall 2020 | 3,707 | 83.8% |
| Fall 2019 | 4,372 | 83.1% |
| Fall 2018 | 4,517 | 83.0% |
| Fall 2017 | 4,117 | 84.5% |
| Fall 2016 | 4,139 | 82.8% |
| Fall 2015 | 3,983 | 86.3% |
| Fall 2014 | 3,522 | 85.7% |
| Fall 2013 | 3,513 | 86.3% |
| Fall 2012 | 3,535 | 86.6% |
| Fall 2011 | 3,714 | 85.2% |
| Fall 2010 | 3,530 | 85.7% |
| Fall 2009 | 3,590 | 85.3% |
| Fall 2008 | 3,645 | 83.4% |
Note: Retention Rates are based on IPEDS reporting and do not include "VCU Qatar" - a non-U.S. territory.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics.
- Use of Student Fees
- Institutional budget summary:
The University Controller's Office publishes annual University financial statements, which are audited by the Auditor of Public Accounts for the Commonwealth of Virginia. - Postsecondary education and employment data:
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia reports post-completion data for each public and private nonprofit higher education institution eligible to participate in the Tuition Assistance Grant Program.
Updates to this section will be posted January, 2025.
1. The middle 50 percent test score range of first-time undergraduate students whose ACT or SAT scores were in the 25th to 75th percentile of the scores of enrolled students:
| Statistic | VCU | GMU | ODU | UVA | VT | W&M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading/Writing | 540-640 | 560-650 | 490-600 | 660-740 | 590-680 | 660-740 |
| SAT Math | 520-610 | 540-650 | 470-570 | 660-770 | 580-690 | 640-750 |
| ACT Composite | 21-28 | 24-30 | 18-25 | 30-34 | 25-31 | 30-34 |
| ACT English | 21-30 | 23-32 | 16-24 | 32-35 | 24-32 | 31-35 |
| ACT Math | 19-26 | 23-26 | 17-24 | 28-34 | 24-30 | 27-35 |
| Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), SAT and ACT Test Scores | ||||||
2. The percentage of the students who applied for and were offered first-time undergraduate admission
| Statistic | VCU | GMU | ODU | UVA | VT | W&M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage Offered Admission | 91% | 89% | 95% | 23% | 66% | 42% |
| Number of Applications | 17,253 | 21,198 | 13,651 | 40,879 | 30,771 | 14,201 |
| Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Number of applications, admissions, and enrollees | ||||||
3. The average and net annual total tuition and fees and room and board for a full-time undergraduate student living on campus
| Statistic | VCU | GMU | ODU | UVA | VT | W&M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-state | $34,108 | $30,669 | $28,088 | $36,314 | $28,634 | $40,624 |
| Out-of-state | $55,446 | $54,129 | $40,248 | $70,696 | $48,317 | $63,850 |
| Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Tuition and Fees: 2006-07 to current year | ||||||
4. Average undergraduate student educational debt
| Statistic | VCU | GMU | ODU | UVA | VT | W&M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 Graduate Debt | $31,262 | $28,463 | $30,613 | $25,579 | $30,995 | $25,355 |
| Source: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) EOM 01: Debt Profile: Student Loans 5 Years, 2016-17 to 2020-21, Four-Year Bachelor's Degree | ||||||
5. The first year to second year retention rates for full-time undergraduate students
| Statistic | VCU | GMU | ODU | UVA | VT | W&M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2019 Cohort Retention (returning Fall 2020) |
83% | 86% | 76% | 97% | 93% | 93% |
| Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Retention Rates | ||||||
6. The four-year, five-year, and six-year undergraduate graduation rates
| Statistic for Fall 2015 Cohort | VCU | GMU | ODU | UVA | VT | W&M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four-year (Graduate by Spring 2019) | 48.0% | 47.8% | 24.5% | 87.1% | 67.0% | 86.4% |
| Five-year (Graduate by Spring 2020) | 62.9% | 64.0% | 42.4% | 91.1% | 83.3% | 90.4% |
| Six-year (Graduate by Spring 2021) | 67.0% | 68.7% | 46.4% | 92.1% | 85.8% | 90.8% |
| Source: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), GRS10: Graduation Rates of Virginia Traditional Four-Year Institutions, Fall 2015 Cohort | ||||||
7. The percentage of students who received a Federal Pell Grant
| Statistic | VCU | GMU | ODU | UVA | VT | W&M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent Received PELL | 32.4% | 33.7% | 38.4% | 14.9% | 17.9% | 16.8% |
| Source: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), FA09: Pell Grant Report, 2020-2021 | ||||||
8-9. The median wages of undergraduate alumni by years since graduation
| Statistic | VCU | GMU | ODU | UVA | VT | W&M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years ('14-'15 graduates) | $51,716 | $63,800 | $50,353 | $67,466 | $67,395 | $58,070 |
| 20 years ('99-'00 graduates) | $67,733 | $99,605 | $72.747 | $105,341 | $98,114 | $95,453 |
| Source: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), Program Wage and Outcomes by Institution, 2020 Calendar Year | ||||||
For assistance accessing information related to our programs, please contact the Office of Institutional Research and Decision Support at irds@vcu.edu