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AccessibleReviewed for the 2026-2027 cycle

Virginia State University acceptance rate and your odds of getting in

With an acceptance rate near 89%, Virginia State 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 State University
Three numbers, no account, the same published model the full calculator runs.

Use this page to see what Virginia State 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 1020, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.

Acceptance rate
89%
Accessible
SAT middle 50%
840-1070
of admitted students
Type
Public
Petersburg, VA
Average net price
$15,840
per year after aid

What do students study at Virginia State 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.

Business, Management and Marketing · 117 (18.5%)Psychology · 71 (11.2%)Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and Firefighting · 56 (8.9%)Education · 50 (7.9%)Biological and Biomedical Sciences · 46 (7.3%)Communication and Journalism · 45 (7.1%)Social Sciences · 45 (7.1%)Engineering Technologies · 37 (5.9%)Multi and Interdisciplinary Studies · 30 (4.7%)Agriculture and Agricultural Operations · 25 (4%)Computer and Information Sciences · 24 (3.8%)Public Administration and Social Service · 20 (3.2%)

Will I get into Virginia State University?

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

What are my chances of getting into Virginia State University?

Virginia State University admits most qualified applicants (around 89%), 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 State University in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.

Is Virginia State University hard to get into?

Virginia State University is accessible: it admits most qualified applicants, with about a 89% acceptance rate. Meeting the academic basics gives most qualified applicants a realistic shot.

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

There is no hard GPA cutoff at Virginia State University, but admitted students span a wide GPA range, with many in the 2.8 to 3.5 band. Virginia State 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 State University →

Your chances at Virginia State University by GPA and SAT

Estimated chance of admission at Virginia State 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 State University with a 3.1 GPA and a 960 SAT?

About 98% (Safety), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.1 unweighted GPA and a 960 SAT, the middle of Virginia State University's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.4 GPA with a 1070 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 State University by unweighted GPA (rows) and SAT score (columns)
GPASAT 84025th pctSAT 960middleSAT 107075th pctNo testtest-optional
2.561%Likely85%Safety94%Safety77%Safety
2.888%Safety96%Safety98%Safety96%Safety
3.197%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-state-university.

How to get into Virginia State University

Built from Virginia State 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 State 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 State University carries about a 3.02 core GPA and a 1020 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 840 to 1070 SAT (14 to 20 ACT). Submit a score at 955 or higher; below 840, apply test-optional if the policy allows.

Step 3
Build the file around what Virginia State University weighs

Virginia State 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 State University's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at www.vsu.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 State University →Add it to your college list →Official site: www.vsu.edu ↗

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

For the fall 2023 entering class, Virginia State University received 10,577 applications and admitted 9,424, an acceptance rate of 89.1%. 1,448 enrolled. Only about 15% 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 State University enrolls about 5,074 undergraduates in total, 59% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.

Applied
10,577
fall 2023
Admitted
9,424
89.1% of applicants
Enrolled
1,448
15% yield
Undergraduates
5,074
Petersburg, large suburb

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

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

Admitted students at Virginia State University post SAT scores of 840 to 1070 in the middle 50%, with an average of 948. On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 14 to 20. A score above 1070 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 840 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. Virginia State 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%
840-1070
average 948
ACT middle 50%
14-20
of admitted students
Test scores
Test-optional
admissions policy

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

What Virginia State University looks for

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

In its review, Virginia State 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 State 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
Important
Standardized test scores
Very important

SAT score positioning at Virginia State 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 State University
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300Above the admitted 75th percentile
1200Above the admitted 75th percentile
1100Above the admitted 75th percentile
Colleges for a 1020 SAT →Colleges for a 19 ACT →See colleges by GPA →

How much does Virginia State University cost after financial aid?

The full sticker price at Virginia State University (tuition, fees, housing, food, books) is about $27,661 a year. Tuition and fees are $10,043 for VA residents and $22,650 for out-of-state students, a $12,607 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 $15,840 a year, and it ranges from $13,220 for families earning under $30,000 to $25,508 for families earning over $110,000. 72% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.

Sticker price
$27,661
per year, before aid
Average net price
$15,840
after grants and scholarships
In-state tuition
$10,043
$22,650 out of state
Pell recipients
72%
of undergraduates
Family incomeAverage net price per year
$0 to $30k$13,220
$30k to $48k$14,758
$48k to $75k$19,463
$75k to $110k$22,223
Over $110k$25,508

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 State University graduates earn, and how many graduate?

Median earnings for Virginia State University students ten years after entry are $45,543 ($33,630 at the six-year mark). 39% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 69% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $26,500; 76% of undergraduates take federal loans.

Median earnings
$45,543
10 years after entry
Graduation rate
39%
within six years
Retention
69%
return for year two
Median debt
$26,500
at graduation, borrowers

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

How Virginia State University compares in Virginia

Virginia State University ranks #21 most selective of 28 schools in Virginia in our database.

Among the 28 Virginia schools we track, Virginia State University ranks #21 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 State University

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

Build around Virginia State University with peers at a comparable selectivity, such as Colorado State University, East Carolina University, and Iowa 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.

Colorado State University
89%acceptance · CO
East Carolina University
89%acceptance · NC
Iowa State University
89%acceptance · IA
New Mexico State University
89%acceptance · NM
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
89%acceptance · TX
Texas State University
89%acceptance · TX

Frequently asked questions

What is Virginia State University's acceptance rate?

Virginia State University admitted 9,424 of 10,577 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 89.1% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 15% of admitted students enrolled.

What SAT score do you need for Virginia State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 840 to 1070 on the SAT and 14 to 20 on the ACT. A score above 1070 is in the top quarter of admits. Virginia State University is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.

Is Virginia State University test-optional?

Yes. Virginia State 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 State University cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Virginia State University, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $15,840 a year against a sticker price of about $27,661. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $13,220 on average.

What do Virginia State University graduates earn?

Median earnings ten years after entering Virginia State University are $45,543 a year among students who received federal aid, and 39% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).

What does Virginia State University value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, Virginia State 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 State University favor in-state applicants?

As a public university, Virginia State 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 State 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 State University specifically.

How does residency affect admission to Virginia State University?

As a public university, Virginia State 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 State University?

Virginia State 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.