Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Virginia State University #321 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Virginia State University sits in the 62.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduates who earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Virginia State University #226 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Virginia State University's composite ranking reflects a combination of earnings beyond expectations and mobility outcomes that together distinguish it among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $51,739 four years after enrollment, placing Virginia State University in the 11.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Virginia State University #321 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Petersburg, VA, Virginia State University enrolls roughly 5,074 undergraduates. Freshman retention stands at 69.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 39.4%, reflecting the university's commitment to moving students through to degree completion. The composite is shaped most clearly by what Virginia State University does for its students after graduation. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $51,739, and earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Virginia State University in the 62.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business anchors the degree mix and connects graduates to career pathways that tend to outperform what similar students achieve at comparable institutions. 72.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.2% are first-generation college students, giving the institution a broad-access profile that shapes both its access and mobility standing. Return on investment sits in the 22.0 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, while access sits in the 95.6 percentile and mobility in the 84.7 percentile. Affordability rounds out the composite at the 58.4 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the cost structure typical of a public institution serving a high share of Pell-eligible students. Together, these pillars position Virginia State University as a public university where broad access and earnings outcomes that exceed expectations define the institutional value proposition.
Virginia State University's published cost of attendance is $27,661. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $13,220, families in the lower-middle range pay around $14,758, middle-income families pay about $19,463, families in the upper-middle range pay approximately $22,223, and higher-income families pay roughly $25,508. Azimuth ranks Virginia State University #594 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. Virginia State University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based grants, loans, and work-study. The college uses the FAFSA to determine eligibility and constructs aid packages that blend institutional funding with federal and state resources. Most admitted students receive need-based aid, and the college publishes its financial aid policies on its admissions website. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,181; 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 $51,739, median federal debt of $26,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $299 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Virginia State University is a public university in Petersburg, VA, well suited for students drawn to Business and related applied fields who want a historically Black public university experience with a strong focus on access and upward mobility. Graduates earn in the 11.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Virginia State University sits in the 62.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing long-term return on investment. The access profile is broad. 72.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.2% are first-generation college students, and the institution's completion outcomes for Pell-eligible students — 39.5% — reflect a campus built to support students who need more than just an open door. For families managing costs, median student debt at graduation is $26,500, and higher-income families pay a net price of $25,508 after aid. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix centers on Business and applied professional fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes. Students seeking a broad research-university portfolio or highly specialized STEM programs may find a better match elsewhere.
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 State 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 State University's published cost of attendance is $27,661. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $13,220, families in the lower-middle range pay around $14,758, middle-income families pay about $19,463, families in the upper-middle range pay approximately $22,223, and higher-income families pay roughly $25,508.
Azimuth ranks Virginia State University #594 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.
Virginia State University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based grants, loans, and work-study. The college uses the FAFSA to determine eligibility and constructs aid packages that blend institutional funding with federal and state resources.
Most admitted students receive need-based aid, and the college publishes its financial aid policies on its admissions website. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,181; 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 $51,739, median federal debt of $26,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $299 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 State University earn median 4-year earnings of $51,739, placing Virginia State University in the 11.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Virginia State University #1153 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Virginia State University sits in the 8.6 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. These outcomes reflect the college's strength in fields where employers actively recruit and where early-career earnings compound steadily over time.
The earnings pattern centers on Business, which shapes both the scale and the financial trajectory of Virginia State University graduates. Criminal Justice is the largest program with 72 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $48,624, representing 0.9x the national benchmark for the field.
The Psychology, General program graduates 67 students earning $37,861, and the The Subject-Specific Teacher Education program graduates 54 students earning $48,362. Together, these programs anchor the college's economic profile and demonstrate how a concentrated program mix can deliver consistent, above-benchmark outcomes across a cohesive student body.
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
16 graduates
Management Information Systems and Services
16 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
12 graduates
Hospitality Administration/Management
10 graduates
Marketing
23 graduates
Virginia State University's program mix is anchored in Business, reflecting the institution's liberal arts identity and emphasis on humanities and social inquiry. The largest programs by enrollment are Criminal Justice with 72 graduates earning $48,624 four years after enrollment, followed by Psychology, General with 67 graduates earning $37,861, and Subject-Specific Teacher Education with 54 graduates earning $48,362.
Business Administration and Communication and Media Studies round out the five largest majors, each enrolling substantial cohorts with solid mid-career outcomes. The highest-earning programs at Virginia State University reflect the institution's strength in applied and quantitative fields.
Digital Marketing leads with median earnings of $53,709 four years after enrollment across 23 graduates, followed by Biology, General with $53,398 for 26 graduates. Business Administration, Social Work, and Criminal Justice also deliver strong four-year earnings, demonstrating that Virginia State University graduates across multiple fields achieve competitive early-career financial outcomes.
These patterns suggest that program choice matters meaningfully at the institution, with earnings varying by field in ways that align with national labor-market demand. Virginia State University serves roughly 601 students across 27 programs, with 17 meeting Azimuth's ranking threshold.
The concentration in Business (representing 19%) alongside Education (representing 9%) and Social Sciences (representing 8%) reflects a balanced liberal arts portfolio. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national wage trends and employer hiring patterns.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Michigan University Similar quality tier (#10845 ranked) | MI | 85% | $53,562 | #10845 | Compare |
Southern Connecticut State University Similar quality tier (#10833 ranked) | CT | 91% | $55,043 | #10833 | Compare |
Kansas State University Similar quality tier (#10851 ranked) | KS | 82% | $57,262 | #10851 | Compare |
Central Washington University Similar quality tier (#10854 ranked) | WA | 91% | $61,580 | #10854 | Compare |
North Carolina Central University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#10859 ranked) | NC | 87% | $42,968 | #10859 | Compare |
