Founded in 1838, Virginia Commonwealth University. is a Public college. Located in Virginia, which is a city setting in Virginia, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 23,865 full time undergraduate students, and 7,007 full time graduate students.
The Virginia Commonwealth University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 18:1. There are 1233 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
81%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
65
SAT Range
980-1200
ACT Range
21-27
Admissions at VCU are considered Less Selective, with ,208% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 27 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
88% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 48% were in the top quarter, and 18% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Virginia Commonwealth University.
1%
“We”re apathetic”
9%
“We know about current events and vote”
53%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
37%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
4%
“We save it for the classroom”
14%
“Sometimes, but not often”
55%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
27%
“All the time, including weekends”
3%
“I”m always terrified”
15%
“I only go out in groups”
56%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
26%
“I feel extremely safe”
3%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
39%
“We bought the gear”
58%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
2%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
26%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
72%
“We”re a very artistic group”
3%
“Haven”t met them”
7%
“Available in class”
64%
“They keep regular office hours”
26%
“They”re always available”
4%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
35%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
58%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
3%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
2%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
24%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
46%
“We only party on weekends”
28%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
6%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
52%
“There might be people who do”
33%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
9%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
1%
“We”re apathetic”
9%
“We know about current events and vote”
53%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
37%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
4%
“We save it for the classroom”
14%
“Sometimes, but not often”
55%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
27%
“All the time, including weekends”
3%
“I”m always terrified”
15%
“I only go out in groups”
56%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
26%
“I feel extremely safe”
3%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
39%
“We bought the gear”
58%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
2%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
26%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
72%
“We”re a very artistic group”
3%
“Haven”t met them”
7%
“Available in class”
64%
“They keep regular office hours”
26%
“They”re always available”
4%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
35%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
58%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
3%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
422 Students rated on-campus housing 3.4 stars. 12 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
368 Students rated off-campus housing 3.5 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
466 Students rated campus food 3.3 stars. 18 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
479 Students rated campus facilities 4.1 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
480 Students rated class size 3.7 stars. 24 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
479 Students rated school activities 4.1 stars. 43 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
481 Students rated local services 4.3 stars. 55 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
480 Students rated academics 3.9 stars. 35 % gave the school a 5.0.
Virginia Commonwealth University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Virginia Commonwealth University?
235 Students rated Virginia Commonwealth University
Taylor
I think that Virginia Commonwealth University is a diverse and welcoming community of people that are accepting and do not lack character. I agree that this university in unforgettable and a campus full of lively students and staff that help reach other goals. Student life is never boring and the campus is so accessible to multiple activities. Festivals and events for student happen often. If you name a club and there is one. I am in love with the campus and people.
Ray
I toured Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) as a 12th grader from Washington, D.C., and immediately observed that it was an urban, artsy, and multicultural setting. The campus blends into the city of Richmond, which gives the school a special atmosphere compared to most college campuses. It would seem to be a great place for students who enjoy city life, the arts, and research or healthcare prospects.
Scholarship-wise, VCU is highly experienced in arts, healthcare, business, and engineering. The VCU School of the Arts (VCUarts) is one of the best in the country, and the medical schools are prestigious because of the VCU Medical Center. The student-faculty ratio is 17:1, meaning class sizes aren't consistent—some are discussion-based and small, while others are big lectures. Research opportunities seem to be a big part of the school, especially in science, healthcare, and public policy.
Campus life at VCU is a mixture of artistic energy and activism. The students are active politically and diverse, and Greek life exists but is not a prevailing component of campus culture. The largest sport on campus is basketball, but the institution is not completely about sports as some colleges. VCU possesses a strong arts culture, and students seem very passionate about what they are studying. Freshmen have their accommodations guaranteed, though upperclassmen move off campus, where rents are expensive based on location.
Jaden
I am having a great time at Virginia Commonwealth University. I have made lifelong friendships and relationships that I will cherish forever. My knowledge has grown since attending Virginia Commonwealth University and obtained opportunities that I never thought I would get. My time at VCU will prepare me for what I need to be successful in professional school.
Lauren
It was so-so. It's never where I imagined I would end up, but I took a while to finish college, and at a certain point, I needed to be at a school with other non-traditional students. I think this is an excellent school for art students and pre-med students. For everyone else, it's just so-so.
Christine
Virginia Commonwealth University offers a wide variety of academic, social and political activities, both inside and outside the classroom. Located in the bustling city of Richmond, Virginia, VCU is a mecca for arts, science and liberal arts. There is truly something for everyone.
Sophia
There are extracurricular groups dedicated to certain marginalized communities, and that makes me feel good because it indicates that people in administration care about those groups. However, many buildings are in need of repair and maintenance and have physical accessibility issues.
I am enjoying my time at Virginia Commonwealth University very much. The courses in my Psychology major are challenging and keep me engaged. My advisor has been very supportive and even suggested I minor in Social Welfare (i.e, Social Work) to round out my education. I am very involved with the university Pep Band, which has approximately 80 members. The 'Peppas' have been recognized as one of the best college Pep Bands in the country. Participating helps me balance my academic experience with music and athletics.
Anje
Love the diversity here, many opportunities to branch out and meet new people and join a variety of groups. I personally do not care for how the campus reminds my of New York City because I'm not from the suburbs. I believe many teachers here are genuinely here to see their students succeed. I also love that they have opportunities to earn a bachelor's and master's simultaneously.
Meshac
VCU is a great urban school with a lot of opportunities for students of any age to enjoy their studies, make life-long friends, and grow.
Xavier
The experience was pretty good. The schools environment and energy was nice as well. I liked there facilities a lot and they kept them in shape. Everyone I met or noticed were nice and respectable. Most people see m to get along very well. I definitely would recommend this college to many other to come.
sanaa
I think the school is amazing. all of my friends that have taken visits to VCU liked it and I haven’t seen any bad things that happen within the campus and I feel like VCU is like a big family and it’s easy to find your own group of people. There’s so many resources for anything that anyone could need.
Sarah
During my time at Virginia Commonwealth University, they were known to welcome diversity, community, and philanthropy. The student body is welcoming and well-involved in on-campus activities. They are politically involved and love to support causes that matter to others. Professors are pro-active and open to providing opportunities to student that allow them to excel. Student housing and meal plan options could use some improvements (especially for students with dietary restrictions). The campus can also make improvements on handicap accessibilities.
Jaiden
I think VCU is an amazing college with an amazing vibe and feel to it. The students are incredibly friendly and as I've heard so are the teachers. Not only that the sports are all activities which makes it a really fun experience. Overall I really enjoyed VCU and hope I will be a Ram one day.
Kahla
VCU is a very diverse and fun filled campus. It is the perfect blend of college and city life. They allows us to be ourselves and have an amazing academic oppurtunity, VCU has always been around since I was born and raised in Richmond. But, I don't think you will ever get the true experience of VCU until you attend and I'm pleasantly surprised.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Virginia Commonwealth University is 81%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
Assuming I could go back in time and speak to Katie the High School Senior, I would discuss two important points with her. First, I would tell her that college is not going to be easy. I would assure her that while college seems like fun and games with a bit of work mixed in, it is quite the opposite. “High remarks are imperative to college success.” I would state. Katie will look at me with sad eyes, afraid she will fail. I will then tell her with undoubted seriousness that she is capable of incredible things. I will tell her to always be confident in her abilities and to never doubt herself. I will say, “It will be tough, but you are strong and you can do anything.” Next, I will tell her to close her eyes and feel the burning in her soul. I would say, “Katie, that fire inside you is your passion.” I would tell her to embrace that passion whole-heartedly, and to never let it go. Her gaze will change, focused on the goal. Strength, courage, and passion radiate from her soul. She is ready. She will succeed.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
The worst thing about Virgina Commonwealth University would probably the cross walks around school. Many students have to cross busy and dangerous intersections in order to get to their classes. Sometimes I really don't feel safe or comfortable crossing the street .
Virginia Commonwealth University is possibly the best decision I have ever made. Walking through the streets of Richmond is so interesting because of the amount of diversity I experience. It is not only diverse with race but also with gender, age, cultures and even how people carry their selves. Nothing appears to be strange or out of the ordinary because there are so many types of people that judging them would be pointless. It is such a friendly and welcoming environment to where anyone can fit in and should not have to feel stressed about being different. Don't even think I forgot about the party life style. Frats aren't always welcoming to other guys who aren't affiliated but once you actually get in, it is the wildest thing you can imagine. I feel like I am at a rave 24/7 because of the props and hype music they play. Don't get me started about their food system. You begin as a freshman with the certain amount of swipes and dining dollars that you chosen from, and can swipe 6 times an hour. They have an all you can eat dining hall named Shafer and a Shafer-to-go downstairs if you can't stay. Right next door is Einstein Bagels. In the commons, they have subway, an express pizza hut, a chinese place called nao and zen, taco bell, chick fila, and a place called the POD that is equivalent to a 7/11. We also have a place called bleaker that has the DANKEST sandwiches and just opened a new Panda Express on Shafer street. VCU is overall a quality school and definitely needs more credit. Although, I like the fact that people underestimate the qualities of VCU because if they were to ever visit then their minds would be blown.
Academics are a mixed bag depending on your department and educational leanings, but my experiences were largely positive. I majored in Biology and found most professors to be very nice and gave an excellent lecture. Basically as long as you're not an idiot about attendance or notetaking you'll be fine in most cases. I don't want to name names here, but the obvious exception was a rather condescending professor I had for cell bio (which you WILL take if you major in biology). The chem department, conversely, seemed to offer the opposite experience. I did well in the labs but my lecturers ranged from a half deaf guy, to a mousy little guy with no stage presence and little clarity on how his curve worked, to a psychotic englishman. While I'm sure they do excellent research it seems no one in that department can lecture to save their lives. Exceptions were the lab instructors who were quite good at making it clear what you should be doing and what was happening chemically. In the interest of disclosure, chemistry is one of the areas where I'm naturally weak anyway so take all this with as much salt as is necessary. My classes in the other departments (cheifly english and politics) were also very good and the professors were as entertaining as they were informative (especially english 101 and Poli 105).
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
The art community is pretty diverse with a wide spectrum of bathing schedules. Kidding aside you literally can't fit all of them in one category. Same for almost every other student at VCU. While its true the acceptance rate is quite high, the dropout rate is only slightly lower. VCU's tougher academically than people would be willing to admit: they'll give you a shot but staying in is easier said than done.
People who are open to new, different and quirky experiences, who understand the importance of learning but don't underestimate the value of injecting fun and personality into the classroom, are a really good fit for this school. There's always something to do and always something to see and those who don't take advantage of these opportunities will miss out on what it means to be a part of the diversity of VCU.
What kind of person should not attend this school?
The kind of people that should attend this University are the ones with Liberal points of views, who enbrace diversity, and would like an urban setting for their college campus.
Virginia Commonwealth University is very well known for their School of Art, but being a Biomedical Engineering major on the pre-med track, I would rather focus on their rising popularity in the department of Biomedical Engineering in the VCU School of Engineering. The program is relatively new but is growing very fast to accomodate for the rising demand in biomedical engineers all over the nation. Also, with the BioTech park and MCV very nearby, not only can BMEs gain medical and research experience, but also learn how to apply it to what they learn in class.
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
The two most frustrating things about my school would have to be the financial aid department and the bus. Our financial aid department SUCKS! Itt's like they don't really care about what's going on in our lives. It's very frustrating going in multiple times and they do nothing but give you the run around.
What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?
I hear a lot about how VCU is too Liberal and that all the students that go there are 'hippies' or social extremist, but there is a variety of opinions and types of students.
I think people on campus are always discussing the employers that work for our dining services. Don't get me wrong, the food on campus is great we have so many options but I think often where are they hiring their employees from?
Usually the 100-level and introductory classes tend to be very full. My core-curriculum classes were lectures of about 300 people with 3 exams that make up your entire grade. Once you get into upper-level classes, they will get smaller. I have a class with about 8 people in it and the professor knows everyone by name. It really depends.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
82% of students attending Virginia Commonwealth University receive some sort of financial aid.
32% were awarded federal grants.55%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
