Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Richmond #284 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $84,260, placing University of Richmond in the 87.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Business Administration #21 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions — a program-level strength anchoring University of Richmond's return profile, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $103,856. Students at University of Richmond earn about $6,212 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 79.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Richmond #86 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with strong median earnings and a nationally ranked program in Business Administration driving outcomes that consistently outpace what comparable institutions deliver.
Azimuth ranks University of Richmond #284 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 80.9 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university located in University of Richmond, VA, University of Richmond enrolls roughly 2,980 undergraduates. Retention stands at 90.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 85.2%, reflecting strong degree-completion performance relative to peers. Where University of Richmond performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Richmond #86 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 94.3 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $84,260, placing University of Richmond in the 87.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,212 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Richmond in the 79.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Business anchors much of this earnings strength, with Business representing 36% of degree output. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. University of Richmond admits about 22.2% of applicants — a selectivity level that, by design, limits the size of each entering class and the number of low-income students the institution enrolls (17.2% Pell, 12.3% first-generation). University of Richmond sits in the 63.2 percentile for access and the 19.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 59.8 percentile. For families that qualify for need-based aid, the institution's private nonprofit structure typically supports meaningful grant packaging that reshapes the net cost well below sticker price.
University of Richmond's published cost of attendance is $80,961. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $12,808, families in the lower-middle band pay around $6,507, middle-income families pay about $15,553, families in the upper-middle band pay approximately $22,021, and higher-income families pay around $49,892. Azimuth ranks University of Richmond #1148 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. University of Richmond meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based grants, loans, and work-study. The institution uses the FAFSA and CSS Profile to assess financial need. Families should review the financial aid page for current aid policies and application procedures. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,512; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's typical four-year earnings scenario of $84,260, median federal debt of $21,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $237 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $61,446 would create tighter monthly cash flow — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than relying on the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Richmond is a strong fit for students drawn to business, finance, and related professional fields who want a small private liberal arts university experience in VA with above-average long-term earnings and a selective admissions process. Graduates earn median 87.5 percentile median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and University of Richmond sits in the 79.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $6,212 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful advantage for students focused on post-graduation financial outcomes. The access profile is more selective than typical: University of Richmond admits about 22.2% of applicants, and 17.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants — a smaller share than at most public universities. For students who are admitted and need to borrow, median debt at graduation is $21,000, and higher-income families pay a net price of approximately $49,892. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the selective admit rate means the application process is competitive, and the program mix is concentrated in Business and related professional fields. Students whose academic interests align with those areas and who can manage the net price will find strong earnings outcomes and a well-positioned alumni network in South.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the University Of Richmond hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
26 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
34 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
223 graduates
Economics
46 graduates
Human Resources Management and Services
80 graduates
University of Richmond's program mix is anchored in Business — the dominant program family — alongside a supporting cast of social sciences, quantitative, and liberal-arts-adjacent fields. Business accounts for 36% of graduates, with Social Sciences and other STEM fields rounding out the mix at 13% and 3% respectively.
This applied-professional orientation, combined with a selective liberal-arts identity, shapes a program portfolio where strong early-career earnings are concentrated in a relatively focused set of fields. The highest aggregate-return program at University of Richmond is Business Administration, which combines meaningful cohort scale with strong four-year earnings — making it the institution's largest program family in terms of total graduate earnings output.
The Business Administration program graduates 223 students annually with median earnings of $103,856 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #21 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Human Resources Management and Services and Biology, General are also among the largest programs by graduate count, each contributing to the institution's broad-based business and social-science profile.
The highest-earning programs at University of Richmond cluster in finance, accounting, and quantitative business fields. Artificial Intelligence leads with median earnings of $112,621 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #67 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Accounting follows with median earnings of $112,202, and Azimuth ranks it #17 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These high-earning programs are largely direct-to-workforce pathways — graduates enter financial services, consulting, and corporate roles — while fields like Interdisciplinary Studies and Psychology, General include a meaningful share of students who continue to graduate or professional school, where four-year earnings undercount longer-term trajectory.
Across 27 programs serving roughly 899 students annually, University of Richmond offers focused depth rather than broad scale, with employer relationships concentrated in finance and professional services. See [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) for the ranking methodology and [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) for labor-market context on these fields.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
George Mason University Higher acceptance rate (65.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 88 miles away; similar graduate earnings | VA | 89% | $76,343 | Compare |
Hampden-Sydney College Higher acceptance rate (26.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 56 miles away; similar graduate earnings | VA | 50% | $67,640 | Compare |
The Catholic University Of America Higher acceptance rate (60.5 percentage points higher) and located 98 miles away; similar graduate earnings | DC | 84% | $73,250 | Compare |
Elon University Higher acceptance rate (44 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NC | 67% | $74,545 | Compare |
Saint Johns University Higher acceptance rate (67.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MN | 90% | $76,786 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wellesley College Similar quality tier (#10676 ranked) | MA | 14% | $84,803 | #10676 | Compare |
Southern Methodist University Similar quality tier (#10684 ranked) | TX | 63% | $78,354 | #10684 | Compare |
University Of San Francisco Similar quality tier (#10691 ranked) | CA | 62% | $89,812 | #10691 | Compare |
Berea College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#10704 ranked) | KY | 19% | $43,150 | #10704 | Compare |
Case Western Reserve University Similar quality tier (#10714 ranked) | OH | 37% | $87,989 | #10714 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Richmond's published cost of attendance is $80,961. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $12,808, families in the lower-middle band pay around $6,507, middle-income families pay about $15,553, families in the upper-middle band pay approximately $22,021, and higher-income families pay around $49,892.
Azimuth ranks University of Richmond #1148 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
University of Richmond meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based grants, loans, and work-study. The institution uses the FAFSA and CSS Profile to assess financial need.
Families should review the [financial aid page](https://admission.richmond.edu/cost-aid/) for current aid policies and application procedures. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,512; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's typical four-year earnings scenario of $84,260, median federal debt of $21,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $237 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $61,446 would create tighter monthly cash flow — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than relying on the institutional average.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $84,260, placing University of Richmond in the 87.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $6,212 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Richmond in the 79.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of Richmond #86 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern at University of Richmond is anchored by its dominant concentration in Business, which accounts for 36% of degree output and channels graduates into high-demand professional roles. The Business Administration program graduates 223 students with median earnings of $103,856 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #21 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, at 1.5x the national benchmark for the field.
Human Resources Management and Services and Biology, General also deliver competitive median four-year earnings of $92,389 and $69,564 respectively, with Azimuth ranking Human Resources Management and Services #2 and Biology, General #45 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Fields such as Interdisciplinary Studies and Psychology, General round out the program mix, posting median four-year earnings of $90,369 and $64,584 and reinforcing the breadth of University of Richmond's return profile across Social Sciences and other STEM fields disciplines.
