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AccessibleProfile current for 2026-2027

Virginia Commonwealth University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

With an acceptance rate near 93%, Virginia Commonwealth University is an accessible public university in Virginia. Because it admits most qualified applicants, admission turns on the strength of your whole profile rather than any one number.

Your odds at Virginia Commonwealth University
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Virginia Commonwealth University weighs, where it ranks among Virginia schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1240, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
93%
Accessible
SAT middle 50%
1010-1270
of admitted students
Type
Public
Richmond, VA
Average net price
$23,433
per year after aid

Virginia Commonwealth University application deadlines, 2026-27

What do students study at Virginia Commonwealth University?

Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.

Visual and Performing Arts · 665 (14.2%)Business, Management and Marketing · 567 (12.1%)Psychology · 518 (11.1%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 378 (8.1%)Education · 345 (7.4%)Health Professions and Related Programs · 325 (7%)Computer and Information Sciences · 265 (5.7%)Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and Firefighting · 249 (5.3%)Social Sciences · 241 (5.2%)Multi and Interdisciplinary Studies · 219 (4.7%)Engineering · 213 (4.6%)Communication and Journalism · 178 (3.8%)

Will I get into Virginia Commonwealth University?

Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into Virginia Commonwealth University, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.

What are my chances of getting into Virginia Commonwealth University?

Virginia Commonwealth University admits most qualified applicants (around 93%), but that overall rate is not your personal chance. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for Virginia Commonwealth University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Virginia Commonwealth University hard to get into?

Virginia Commonwealth University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 93% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

What GPA do you need to get into Virginia Commonwealth University?

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Virginia Commonwealth University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Virginia Commonwealth University reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.

Calculate your chances at Virginia Commonwealth University →

Your chances at Virginia Commonwealth University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Virginia Commonwealth University for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 3 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).

What are my chances at Virginia Commonwealth University with a 3.1 GPA and a 1140 SAT?

About 98% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 1140 SAT, the middle of Virginia Commonwealth University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1270 SAT comes out near 98%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.

Estimated admission chance at Virginia Commonwealth University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 101025th pctSAT 1140middleSAT 127075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.567%Likely88%Safety96%Safety88%Safety
2.890%Safety97%Safety98%Safety98%Safety
3.198%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety
3.498%Safety98%Safety98%Safety98%Safety

Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/virginia-commonwealth-university.

How to get into Virginia Commonwealth University

Built from Virginia Commonwealth University's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.

Here is how to get into Virginia Commonwealth University, built from what its admitted class actually looks like and what the school says it weighs.

Step 1
Match the typical admit on the transcript

CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at Virginia Commonwealth University carries about a 2.98 core GPA and a 1220 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Meeting it puts you in the admitted range for most applicants.

Step 2
Decide on scores with the real range

The admitted middle 50% is 1010 to 1270 SAT (22 to 30 ACT). Submit a score at 1140 or higher; below 1010, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Virginia Commonwealth University weighs

Virginia Commonwealth University rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.

Step 4
Apply in the round that helps

Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by Virginia Commonwealth University's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.vcu.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.

See your odds and your top moves at Virginia Commonwealth University →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.vcu.edu ↗

How many students apply to Virginia Commonwealth University, and how many get in?

For the fall 2023 entering class, Virginia Commonwealth University received 19,052 applications and admitted 17,729, an acceptance rate of 93.1%. 4,519 enrolled. Only about 25% of admitted students enrolled, so the school admits several students for every seat it expects to fill, which is why its acceptance rate reads higher than its selectivity feels. Virginia Commonwealth University enrolls about 20,753 undergraduates in total, 63% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to 1.

Applied
19,052
fall 2023
Admitted
17,729
93.1% of applicants
Enrolled
4,519
25% yield
Undergraduates
20,753
Richmond, midsize city

Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.

What SAT and ACT scores do you need for Virginia Commonwealth University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Virginia Commonwealth University scored between 1010 and 1270 on the SAT (average 1137). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 22 to 30. A score above 1270 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1010 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Virginia Commonwealth University is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.

SAT middle 50%
1010-1270
average 1137
ACT middle 50%
22-30
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.

What Virginia Commonwealth University looks for

What Virginia Commonwealth University weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.

In its review, Virginia Commonwealth University leans most on rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. Solid grades in a challenging schedule do most of the work here, with the rest of the application providing context. These ratings come from Virginia Commonwealth University's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.

Rigor of secondary school record
Very important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Considered
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Recommendations
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered
Level of applicant interest
Considered

SAT score positioning at Virginia Commonwealth University

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at Virginia Commonwealth University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200In the competitive admitted range
1100Well below the admitted range
Colleges for a 1240 SAT →Colleges for a 26 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Virginia Commonwealth University cost after financial aid?

Virginia Commonwealth University's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $38,954 per year. Tuition and fees are $16,945 for VA residents and $40,109 for out-of-state students, a $23,164 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $23,433 a year, and it ranges from $17,512 for families earning under $30,000 to $32,739 for families earning over $110,000. 31% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$38,954
per year, before aid
Average net price
$23,433
after grants and scholarships
In-state tuition
$16,945
$40,109 out of state
Pell recipients
31%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$17,512
$30k to $48k$17,777
$48k to $75k$20,925
$75k to $110k$24,691
Over $110k$32,739

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.

What do Virginia Commonwealth University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Ten years after enrolling, the median Virginia Commonwealth University student who received federal aid earns $58,128 a year, up from $47,161 at six years. 63% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 85% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $21,500; 39% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$58,128
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
63%
within six years
Retention
85%
return for year two
Median debt
$21,500
at graduation, borrowers

Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.

How Virginia Commonwealth University compares in Virginia

Virginia Commonwealth University ranks #26 most selective of 28 schools in Virginia in our database.

Among the 28 Virginia schools we track, Virginia Commonwealth University ranks #26 most selective by acceptance rate. Schools like Washington and Lee University (14%) and University of Virginia (17%) sit nearby, which makes Virginia a useful frame for calibrating a balanced list. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.

Washington and Lee University
14%acceptance · VA
University of Virginia
17%acceptance · VA
University of Richmond
22%acceptance · VA
William & Mary
34%acceptance · VA
Regent University
38%acceptance · VA
Virginia Tech
55%acceptance · VA
Averett University
57%acceptance · VA
Bluefield University
59%acceptance · VA
See all Virginia schools →

Similar to Virginia Commonwealth University

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Build around Virginia Commonwealth University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Cal State Northridge, Jackson State University, and Northwestern State University. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.

Cal State Northridge
93%acceptance · CA
Jackson State University
93%acceptance · MS
Northwestern State University
93%acceptance · LA
University of Kansas
93%acceptance · KS
University of Kentucky
93%acceptance · KY
University of Northern Iowa
93%acceptance · IA

Frequently asked questions

What is Virginia Commonwealth University's acceptance rate?

Virginia Commonwealth University admitted 17,729 of 19,052 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 93.1% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 25% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Virginia Commonwealth University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1010 to 1270 on the SAT and 22 to 30 on the ACT. A score above 1270 is in the top quarter of admits. Virginia Commonwealth University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Virginia Commonwealth University test-optional?

Yes. Virginia Commonwealth University reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.

How much does Virginia Commonwealth University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Virginia Commonwealth University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $23,433 a year against a sticker price of about $38,954. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $17,512 on average.

What do Virginia Commonwealth University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Virginia Commonwealth University are $58,128 a year among students who received federal aid, and 63% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Virginia Commonwealth University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Virginia Commonwealth University weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

Does Virginia Commonwealth University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Virginia Commonwealth University generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.

How can I improve my chances at Virginia Commonwealth University?

Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at Virginia Commonwealth University specifically.

How does residency affect admission to Virginia Commonwealth University?

As a public university, Virginia Commonwealth University typically admits in-state students at a higher rate, and tuition differs sharply by residency. Select your home state in the calculator to fold the in-state effect into your estimate.

What are the admission requirements for Virginia Commonwealth University?

Virginia Commonwealth University reviews GPA, course rigor, test scores (where submitted), activities, and essays. With a more accessible acceptance rate, meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.