Virginia Commonwealth University
A large urban public research university in Richmond that pairs a nationally ranked art school with a medical school and hospital.
- Acceptance rate
- 84%
- Fall 2024 entering first-year class (Common Data Set 2024-25)
- Students
- 29,288
- 21,835 undergraduates
- International
- 4%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 17:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $41,127
- 2026-27
About VCU
Virginia Commonwealth University began in 1838 as the medical department of Hampden-Sydney College. In 1968 the state merged the Medical College of Virginia with the Richmond Professional Institute, an arts and professional school founded in 1917, to create VCU. That double heritage still shapes it: the School of the Arts is ranked second in the US News graduate fine arts ranking, and VCU Health, the university's hospital system, is part of the same institution.
About 29,300 students study in more than 200 programs, roughly 21,800 of them undergraduates. VCU is a Carnegie R1 research university with more than $550 million in sponsored research in fiscal 2025. Undergraduates apply to one of its colleges and schools, including Engineering, Humanities and Sciences, the Arts, Business, Health Professions, Nursing and Pharmacy, and there is an Honors College for students who want a smaller cohort.
The admissions picture is accessible. In the fall 2024 Common Data Set, VCU reported 24,804 first-year applicants and 20,769 admits, and the university is test-optional for nearly everyone. About 85 percent of students are Virginia residents and international students are a small group, so overseas applicants will find a mostly domestic student body. It suits students who want a big-city campus, strong art, design and health programs, and lower in-state costs if they qualify as Virginia residents.
Why students choose VCU
The School of the Arts is ranked 2nd for fine arts in US News graduate rankings, and the same university also runs a medical school and a hospital system.
Test scores are optional for all first-year applicants except those applying to the Honors College guaranteed admission programs.
First-year applicants who apply by November 1 are automatically considered for the Provost Scholarship (up to $16,000 a year in tuition and fees) and Deans' Scholarship (up to $8,000 a year).
Out-of-state and international first-years with a 3.0 or higher GPA can receive $10,000 to $15,000 a year, renewable for four years, with no separate application.
Admissions
Fall 2024 entering first-year class (Common Data Set 2024-25)
20,769 admitted from 24,804 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Rate is 20,769 admitted of 24,804 applicants from the residency table in Common Data Set section C1. The gender lines in the same section sum to fewer applicants (about 21,200), so treat the rate as approximate. VCU offers Guaranteed University Admission to most programs for first-year applicants with a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher; the School of the Arts is not eligible.
Deadlines
- Scholarship priority deadline Non-binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Common App and official transcript by this date for consideration for university-level scholarships; scholarship offers are notified by early April.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 15, 2027
Applicants who complete all materials by this date are guaranteed a decision by April 1; reply by May 1.
Dates are from VCU's undergraduate deadlines page for fall 2027 entry. VCU lists no separate early action or early decision plan there.
How to apply
Apply through the Common App (international first-years also use the Common App). Required: $75 application fee, essay, high school transcript, and at least one recommendation preferred. International applicants also submit passport or visa documents, official translated academic records and English proficiency proof, then request an I-20.
What admissions looks for
- Academic performance at an accredited high school, or GED scores, with a college preparatory curriculum highly preferred.
- At least 20 units of high school coursework, including 4 English, 3 mathematics, 3 history or social science and 3 laboratory science.
- Three units of one foreign language, or two units of two languages, are strongly recommended.
- Extracurricular activities and employment experience can strengthen an application.
Tips for applying to VCU
- 1 Apply by November 1 if you want to be considered for the Provost and Deans' scholarships; the regular decision deadline is too late for them.
- 2 If your GPA is 3.5 or higher, check the Guaranteed University Admission route, which does not apply to School of the Arts programs.
- 3 Honors College guaranteed admission programs still require test scores, even though the rest of VCU is test-optional.
- 4 International applicants outside Virginia are considered for the $10,000 to $15,000 a year out-of-state merit scholarship automatically, with no separate form.
What are your chances?
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Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
VCU's admissions pages describe merit awards for international students but publish no need-based aid for them. Merit awards include the four-year Provost Scholarship (tuition and fees up to $16,000 a year) and Deans' Scholarship (up to $8,000 a year), and out-of-state and international first-years with a GPA of 3.0 or higher can receive $10,000 to $15,000 a year. VCU's table totals tuition, room and dining at $33,852 for Virginia residents and $57,016 for non-residents, before books, transport and personal costs.
- About $23,000
- Average aid to full-time undergraduates seeking assistance, 2024-25
- $10,000 (3.0 GPA) to $15,000 (4.0 GPA) per year for four years
- Out-of-state merit scholarship
- 38%
- First-year students who are first-generation
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (15 credit hours a semester is the full-time load used in VCU's fee table)
Fine arts and design (School of the Arts)
US News ranks VCU's graduate fine arts programs 2nd in the nation.
Nursing (BS)
Ranked 27th among undergraduate nursing programs by US News, with a School of Nursing tied to a major hospital system.
Engineering
The College of Engineering includes mechanical and nuclear engineering; US News ranks its nuclear engineering graduate programs 19th.
Health professions
Dentistry, Medicine, Pharmacy and Health Professions share the MCV Campus with VCU Health.
Communication and advertising (Robertson School)
The Robertson School of Communication is one of VCU's named schools, and VCU highlights its advertising programs as world-renowned.
Honors College
1,176 Honors students in a smaller cohort with guaranteed admission programs for some professional tracks.
Research
- VCU is classified by Carnegie as R1 (very high research spending and doctorate production) and reported more than $550 million in sponsored research in fiscal 2025.
- Among public universities, VCU's School of Dentistry ranks No. 7 for NIH funding and its Department of Family Medicine No. 8.
- Undergraduate research is supported through the provost's transformative learning office.
Schools & faculties
- College of Engineering
- College of Health Professions
- College of Humanities and Sciences
- School of the Arts
- School of Business
- School of Dentistry
- School of Education
- L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
- Richard T. Robertson School of Communication
- School of Medicine
- School of Nursing
- School of Pharmacy
Student life
VCU is a city campus in the middle of Richmond, so students live in residence halls, Fan District apartments and Oregon Hill houses rather than a walled campus. More than 5,800 students live on campus, including most first-years. The university reports more than 450 student organizations, eight student media outlets and study, research, internship and service programs in more than 50 countries. Basketball games at the Siegel Center are the main sporting event, with teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
- More than 450 student organizations and 27 sports clubs.
- Nine first-year living-learning communities, plus upperclass options.
- NCAA Division I VCU Rams in the Atlantic 10 Conference, with games at the Siegel Center.
- Study, research, internship and service abroad in more than 50 countries; some cost the same as in-state tuition, room and board.
Housing. Residence halls have a capacity of 5,962 and more than 5,800 students live on campus, including most first-years; off-campus apartments in the Fan and Oregon Hill are within walking distance.
Location
VCU has two main campuses in Richmond, the Virginia state capital: the Monroe Park Campus, which houses the arts, engineering and most undergraduate life, and the MCV Campus for the health schools and hospital. Richmond is a mid-sized city known for its food scene, museums and river. VCU reports that 39 percent of its alumni live in the city and that it is Richmond's largest employer together with VCU Health.
Nearest airport: Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Notable alumni
- PA Patch AdamsPhysician, activist and author; Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Virginia (VCU), 1971
- DB David BaldacciBest-selling novelist; B.A. in political science from VCU
- SB Sam Beam (Iron & Wine)Singer-songwriter; bachelor's degree in art from VCU
- TC Tony CokesVisual artist and 2024 MacArthur Fellow; MFA in sculpture from VCU (1985)
- EM Eric MaynorFormer NBA player; played basketball at VCU and graduated in sports management
- LD Lucy DacusSinger-songwriter; began studying film at VCU but left without a degree (non-degree study)
- CP Christopher Poole (moot)Founder of the 4chan message board; attended VCU for a few semesters before dropping out (non-degree study)
Frequently asked questions
What is VCU's acceptance rate?
In the fall 2024 Common Data Set, VCU admitted 20,769 of 24,804 first-year applicants, about 84 percent. The Common Data Set's gender breakdown sums to fewer applicants, so treat this as approximate.
Does VCU require the SAT or ACT?
No. All first-year applicants are eligible for test-optional review. The exception is the Honors College guaranteed admission programs, which still require scores.
What are VCU's application deadlines for fall 2027?
November 1, 2026 is the scholarship priority deadline and January 15, 2027 is the regular decision deadline, with a decision guaranteed by April 1 for complete applications.
How much does VCU cost for an international student?
For 2026-27, non-Virginia residents pay $41,127 for tuition and fees, plus an estimated $15,889 for room and dining, for a table total of $57,016 before books and personal costs. Out-of-state merit scholarships of $10,000 to $15,000 a year are available to students with a 3.0 or higher GPA.
What English test score does VCU require?
For undergraduates, TOEFL iBT 70 (or 4.0 on the new scale for tests taken from 21 January 2026), IELTS 6.0, Pearson 53 or Duolingo 105, unless you qualify for a waiver.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- QS World University Rankings 2027 (topuniversities.com)
- THE World University Rankings 2026
- ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
- US News: Virginia Commonwealth University (Best Colleges 2027)
- US News Best Global Universities: Virginia Commonwealth University
- NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments, FY2025 endowment market values
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