Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Virginia Commonwealth University #174 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Virginia Commonwealth University sits in the 72.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $3,766 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Virginia Commonwealth University #94 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Students at Virginia Commonwealth University earn more than similar students at other institutions, a result that holds across the university's broad program mix anchored by its nationally recognized arts and health sciences programs. Graduates earn median $64,703 four years after enrollment, placing Virginia Commonwealth University in the 64.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, while strong mobility outcomes reflect the university's ability to move a broad-access student population into durable career pathways.
Azimuth ranks Virginia Commonwealth University #174 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University enrolls roughly 20,753 undergraduates. Retention is 85.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 63.2%, reflecting solid degree completion relative to the institution's broad-access mission. What distinguishes Virginia Commonwealth University in the composite is mobility. The university sits in the 93.6 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a student body where 31.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 27.6% are first-generation college students. The dominant program family is Visual & Performing Arts, an unusual concentration among research universities that shapes both the institution's identity and its earnings profile. Graduates earn about $3,766 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Virginia Commonwealth University in the 72.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access sits in the 75.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, supported by an admission rate of 92.6% that keeps the door open for a wide range of students. Affordability registers in the 45.7 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, while return on investment sits in the 64.2 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a position shaped by median earnings that run below the peer median at comparable institutions and by the arts-and-humanities-leaning program mix, where early-career salaries tend to start lower than in STEM-heavy portfolios. For families weighing long-term outcomes against upfront cost, the composite reflects a university that combines meaningful access and strong mobility with more moderate return-on-investment positioning.
Virginia Commonwealth University's published cost of attendance is $38,954. Net price by income band varies meaningfully across the income spectrum: low-income families pay approximately $17,512, middle-income families pay around $20,925, and higher-income families pay approximately $32,739. 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. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for most students. Virginia Commonwealth University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA, and work-study is available as part of the aid package for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,585; 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 median four-year earnings of $64,703, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Virginia Commonwealth University is a strong fit for students drawn to the visual and performing arts, health sciences, and applied professional fields who want an urban public research university experience in Richmond, VA. Graduates earn in the 64.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Virginia Commonwealth University sits in the 72.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $3,766 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing long-term return on investment. The access profile is broad. 31.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 27.6% are first-generation students, with a Pell completion rate of 65.5% — figures that reflect Virginia Commonwealth University's role as a genuine pathway institution for low-income and first-generation students seeking a research-university credential in South. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is anchored in Visual & Performing Arts and health-oriented fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking a more traditional STEM or business-heavy curriculum may find a better match elsewhere; and students who need to borrow should weigh median debt of $21,500 against the earnings trajectory for their intended field before committing.
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
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Virginia Commonwealth University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Virginia Commonwealth University's published cost of attendance is $38,954. Net price by income band varies meaningfully across the income spectrum: low-income families pay approximately $17,512, middle-income families pay around $20,925, and higher-income families pay approximately $32,739.
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. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for most students.
Virginia Commonwealth University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA, and work-study is available as part of the aid package for qualifying students.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,585; 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 median four-year earnings of $64,703, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn median 4-year earnings of $64,703, placing the institution in the 64.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Virginia Commonwealth University #530 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
These outcomes reflect the university's focus on practical, career-oriented education anchored in Visual & Performing Arts and complementary professional fields that connect directly to employer demand. The earnings pattern centers on Visual & Performing Arts and related applied disciplines.
Psychology, General is the institution's largest program by aggregate return, combining substantial enrollment with solid mid-career pay. Among the most popular majors, Psychology, General enrolls 540 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $51,440, while Biology, General and Subject-Specific Teacher Education together account for significant enrollment and contribute to Virginia Commonwealth University's overall earnings profile.
Subject-Specific Teacher Education graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $59,442, reflecting the institution's strength in fields with clear career pathways and stable employer recruitment.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
118 graduates
Computer Engineering
23 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
37 graduates
Chemical Engineering
52 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
86 graduates
Virginia Commonwealth University's program mix centers on business, education, and liberal arts — a portfolio aligned with the institution's identity as a private liberal arts college. Psychology, General is the largest program with 540 graduates, followed by Biology, General, Subject-Specific Teacher Education, Design and Applied Arts, and Criminal Justice.
Across 51 total programs serving roughly 5,197 students annually, 45 programs meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong four-year earnings outcomes. The highest-earning programs reflect Virginia Commonwealth University's applied-professional strengths.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $86,661 four years after enrollment across 218 graduates, followed by Business/Commerce, General with $68,387 and Political Science with $62,182. Communication and Media Studies and Subject-Specific Teacher Education round out the top earners, delivering median earnings of $59,968 and $59,442 respectively.
The concentration in Visual & Performing Arts — representing 11% of graduates — is reflected in these earnings patterns, with business-adjacent fields and applied professional programs anchoring the institution's economic signature. Virginia Commonwealth University's program portfolio balances direct-to-workforce pathways with fields that support graduate and professional school transitions.
Programs in Business (10%) and Education (7%) provide breadth across the liberal arts, with some graduates continuing to advanced study while others enter the labor market directly. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Virginia Commonwealth University's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Iowa Similar quality tier (#4316 ranked) | IA | 84% | $64,762 | #4316 | Compare |
University Of Kansas Similar quality tier (#4317 ranked) | KS | 93% | $61,945 | #4317 | Compare |
Lamar University Similar quality tier (#4321 ranked) | TX | 86% | $49,652 | #4321 | Compare |
Old Dominion University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#4309 ranked) | VA | 90% | $54,914 | #4309 | Compare |
University Of Colorado Boulder Similar quality tier (#4308 ranked) | CO | 78% | $69,738 | #4308 | Compare |
