Cost & financial aid brief
Virginia Commonwealth University Tuition, Costs & Financial Aid
How much does Virginia Commonwealth University cost after financial aid?
For aid recipients, Virginia Commonwealth University has an average net price of $23,433 against a published cost of $38,954, leaving an average aid offset of $15,521. Aid covers about 40% of the published cost for the average aid recipient.
The lowest income band has an average net price of $17,512, compared with $32,739 in the highest band, showing larger price reductions in lower-income bands. In its 2024-25 Common Data Set, the university reported that during the 2024-25 academic year, first-year aid recipients with need had an average 29% of need met.
Their average need-based aid package was $19,344, including loans and work where awarded. Of 3,098 first-year students determined to have need, 243 had need fully met.
During the 2024-25 academic year, merit aid went to 930 first-year students, averaging $5,637.
Virginia Commonwealth University lists a published cost of attendance of $38,954, though actual costs vary by family income. The average net price—what aid recipients pay after grants and scholarships—is $17,512 for the lowest-income band, $17,777 for the lower-middle band, $20,925 for the middle-income band, $24,691 for the upper-middle band, and $32,739 for the high-income band.
The gap from lowest to highest is $15,227. Azimuth places the affordability pillar in the 46th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Aid covers about 40% of the published cost for the average aid recipient, with average aid savings of $15,521. Across all aid recipients, the average net price is $23,433.
The peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), is $15,634, placing the university's average net price $7,799 above that benchmark. Aid reduces the sticker price substantially, yet the remaining cost sits above the peer median.
Median federal student loan debt at completion is $21,500 among borrowers who finish. The peer median for comparable institutions (same type and size) is $20,076, making the university's median $1,424 above that figure.
An estimated 90.1% of federal aid recipients borrow federal loans. That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $244 a month if repaid over ten years.
Median Parent PLUS borrowing is $23,585.
Student loans: what does repayment look like?
At Virginia Commonwealth University, borrowing is widespread, and completed borrowers’ federal debt is above the comparable-school midpoint. 90.1% of federal aid recipients take federal loans.
Among borrowers who completed, median federal student loan debt is $21,500. The peer median—the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size)—is $20,076, leaving the university’s median $1,424 above it.
Separate parent borrowers have median Parent PLUS borrowing of $23,585. In its 2024-25 Common Data Set, the university reported that 58% of graduates borrowed from any source, at an average cumulative $29,417 per borrower.
The reported borrowers include 56% of graduates with federal loans averaging $20,305. They also include 14% of graduates with private loans averaging $39,795.
Virginia Commonwealth University shows above-expected earnings, though its median debt sits above the comparable-institution benchmark. Federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled earn a median of $64,703 four years after completion, placing the university in the 65th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Graduates earn about $2,975 more than expects for similar students. Earnings beyond expectations, the gap between what graduates earn and what the model expects for similar students, stands in the 65th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings scenarios range from $48,501 in the downside case to $85,395 in the upside case, with $64,703 as the typical scenario. Median federal student loan debt at completion is $21,500, $1,424 above the $20,076 peer median at comparable institutions (same type and size).
That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $244 a month if repaid over ten years. Above-expected earnings and above-peer debt point in different directions.
For the separate population of Parent PLUS parent borrowers, median federal borrowing is $23,585. For student borrowers who completed, that debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $244 a month if repaid over ten years.
Repayment figures are in the Financial GPS card below. Borrowing populations and model assumptions.
Parent loans: what can the family afford?
How Parent PLUS borrowing affects families
- Median Parent PLUS debt
- $23,585
- Estimated parent payment
- $300/mo
| Household income | Share of income above basic expenses | Risk level |
|---|---|---|
| $35,000 | No room | High pressure |
| $50,000 | No room | High pressure |
| $75,000 | 17.7% | High pressure |
| $100,000 | 7.9% | Caution |
| $150,000 | 3.8% | Safe |
| $200,000 | 2.5% | Safe |
The 10-year payment on the median Parent PLUS balance, as a share of household income above basic expenses ($54,640 a year: 200% of the 2026 federal poverty guideline for a household of three). No room is High pressure. Open the parent tool for your own numbers. Read the assumptions and limits.
Student and parent loans: the monthly payments
Financial GPS
What does repayment look like?
- Institution median student debt
- $21,500
- Institution Parent PLUS debt
- $23,585
Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included.
- Estimated student payment · monthly
- $244/mo
- Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly
- $300/mo
- Modeled student + parent payments
- $544/mo
Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s.
Student payment as a share of available income
At median graduate earnings of $64,703, with a $23,940 annual allowance for basic expenses:
7.2% of income above the allowance · Excellent
- Excellent Under 8% · selected scenario
- Good 8–under 12%
- Concerning 12–20%
- High risk Over 20%
How this estimate works
These are modeled earnings scenarios, not observed earnings percentiles. Annual student payments ÷ (earnings − basic-expense allowance). The starting allowance, $23,940, uses the published framework’s 2026 baseline; it is not a current local living-cost estimate. Change it for your budget, including taxes and other obligations. This combines school-level figures for illustration, not a typical individual’s budget or an official school rating. Parent PLUS is separate.
Payment assumptions
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates.
Data & methodology
Sources and reporting periods: methodology.
Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.
Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.
Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.
Net price and borrowing. The 2023–24 income-band averages include living costs and cover eligible first-time, full-time aid recipients; public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. They are not individual aid offers. Peer matching supplies overall net prices, not matched income-band averages. College Scorecard data and documentation.
A personal student-risk assessment also needs your major and borrowing plan; these school-level illustrations do not assign you a personal risk zone.
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. Private-loan figures from the Common Data Set are separate from these federal repayment illustrations.