Getting in
For Fall 2024, 21,201 first-year students applied to VCU, 19,572 were admitted and 4,275 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 92.3%.
Source: VCU Common Data Set 2024-2025 (opens in a new tab), section C1 (all gender lines added together; the 2024-2025 edition is the newest VCU posts). Read Oct 1, 2026.
By school or major. VCU's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole university, with no rate by school or major.
Source: VCU Common Data Set 2024-2025 (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Early plans. VCU has no early decision or early action plan. Its November 1 date is a scholarship deadline: first-year applicants who apply by then are considered for university-level scholarships.
Source: VCU Common Data Set 2024-2025 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Oct 1, 2026.
Programs with extra requirements
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
You apply through the Common App to one undergraduate degree program. Some programs and paths ask for more:
- Guaranteed University Admission. First-year applicants with a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher (weighted, if your transcript shows it) are guaranteed admission if they apply with all materials by January 15, 2027. There is nothing extra to send. School of the Arts applicants are not eligible.
Source: VCU Admissions, Guaranteed University Admission (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
- School of the Arts. Supplemental materials described on the School of the Arts website, reviewed by the school's own committee.
- College of Engineering. To be competitive, aim for at least a B average. Applicants not admitted directly are considered for the undeclared major in the College of Humanities and Sciences.
- Honors College. A separate Honors College application. To be competitive: a 3.5 GPA and an SAT of 1330 or ACT of 29.
- Honors College Guaranteed Admission Programs. Entry to medical school and other VCU health sciences programs. All applications are due November 1, and test scores are required.
Source: VCU Admissions, First-year requirements (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Majors
72 majors across 12 schools. Every bachelor's degree major in VCU's official 2026-27 Undergraduate Bulletin, grouped by the school or college that offers it, with the degree it leads to. Concentrations are folded into their major; minors, certificates and graduate programs are left out.
School of Business9
- Accounting (B.S.)
- Business (B.S.)
- Economics (B.S.)
- Finance (B.S.)
- Financial Technology (B.S.)
- Information Systems (B.S.)
- Marketing (B.S.)
- Real Estate (B.S.)
- Supply Chain Management (B.S.)
Source: VCU 2026-27 Undergraduate Bulletin, School of Business (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Humanities and Sciences24
- African American Studies (B.A.)
- Anthropology (B.S.)
- Bioinformatics (B.S.)
- Biology (B.S.)
- Chemistry (B.S.)
- Economics (B.S.)
- English (B.A.)
- Environmental Studies (B.S.)
- Foreign Language (B.A.)
- Forensic Science (B.S.)
- Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies (B.A.)
- Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science (B.S.)
- History (B.A.)
- Interdisciplinary Studies, liberal studies for early and elementary education (B.I.S.)
- International Studies (B.A.)
- Mass Communications (B.S.)
- Mathematical Sciences (B.S.)
- Philosophy (B.A.)
- Physics (B.S.)
- Political Science (B.A.)
- Psychology (B.S.)
- Religious Studies (B.A.)
- Science (B.S.)
- Sociology (B.S.)
Source: VCU 2026-27 Undergraduate Bulletin, College of Humanities and Sciences (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of the Arts15
- Art History (B.A.)
- Arts (B.F.A.)
- Cinema (B.A.)
- Communication Arts (B.F.A.)
- Craft and Material Studies (B.F.A.)
- Dance and Choreography (B.F.A.)
- Fashion (B.A., B.F.A.)
- Graphic Design (B.F.A.)
- Interior Design (B.F.A.)
- Kinetic Imaging (B.F.A.)
- Music (B.M., B.A.)
- Painting and Printmaking (B.F.A.)
- Photography and Film (B.F.A.)
- Sculpture (B.F.A.)
- Theatre (B.A., B.F.A.)
Source: VCU 2026-27 Undergraduate Bulletin, School of the Arts (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Engineering7
- Biomedical Engineering (B.S.)
- Chemical and Life Science Engineering (B.S.)
- Computer Engineering (B.S.)
- Computer Science (B.A., B.S.)
- Electrical Engineering (B.S.)
- Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)
- Robotics and Autonomous Systems Engineering (B.S.)
Source: VCU 2026-27 Undergraduate Bulletin, College of Engineering (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
College of Health Professions3
- Clinical Radiation Sciences (B.S.)
- Health Services (B.S.)
- Medical Laboratory Sciences (B.S.)
Source: VCU 2026-27 Undergraduate Bulletin, College of Health Professions (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs3
- Criminal Justice (B.S.)
- Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (B.A.)
- Urban and Regional Studies (B.S.)
Source: VCU 2026-27 Undergraduate Bulletin, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of Dentistry1
- Dental Hygiene (B.S.)
Source: VCU 2026-27 Undergraduate Bulletin, School of Dentistry (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of Education6
- Early Childhood Education and Teaching (B.S.Ed.)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (B.S.Ed.)
- Health and Physical Education (B.S.Ed.)
- Human and Organizational Development (B.A.)
- Secondary Education and Teaching (B.S.Ed.)
- Special Education and Teaching (B.S.Ed.)
Source: VCU 2026-27 Undergraduate Bulletin, School of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of Nursing1
- Nursing (B.S.)
Source: VCU 2026-27 Undergraduate Bulletin, School of Nursing (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of Pharmacy1
- Pharmaceutical Sciences (B.S.)
Source: VCU 2026-27 Undergraduate Bulletin, School of Pharmacy (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
School of Social Work1
- Social Work (B.S.W.)
Source: VCU 2026-27 Undergraduate Bulletin, School of Social Work (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
University College1
- Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.)
Source: VCU 2026-27 Undergraduate Bulletin, University College (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scholarship deadline | November 1 | not published | No |
| Regular decision | January 15 | By April 1 | No |
Apply on the Common App by November 1 to be considered for university-level scholarships. Applications submitted by January 15 get a decision by April 1; decisions on later applications are sent on a rolling basis. The application fee is $75, and a waiver can be requested in the applicant portal.
Source: VCU Admissions, First-year applicants (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
Every applicant is eligible for test-optional review, whatever the GPA, and is still considered for scholarships. If you have scores and want them read, you can send them. Scores are required only for the Honors College Guaranteed Admission Programs.
Source: VCU Admissions, First-year requirements (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked VCU's admission pages on October 1, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: VCU Admissions, Deadlines (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at VCU, 2026-2027:
| Item | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and mandatory fees | $17,963 | $41,127 |
| Food and housing (on campus) | $19,724 | $19,724 |
| Books and supplies | $1,290 | $1,290 |
| Personal and miscellaneous | $4,322 | $4,322 |
| Transportation | $1,304 | $2,880 |
| Loan fees | $70 | $70 |
| Total | $44,673 | $69,413 |
VCU's estimate for an undergraduate living on campus, fall and spring. Program and major fees and the New Student Transition Fee are not included. A first-time undergraduate's cost of attendance also includes a $1,000 computer allowance.
Source: VCU Student Financial Services, Understanding Cost of Attendance (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $17,512 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $17,777 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $20,925 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $24,691 |
| Over $110,000 | $32,739 |
| All incomes | $23,433 |
What first-year, full-time, in-state students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from VCU's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Oct 1, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to Virginia Commonwealth University on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA · Public86.5% admitted$17,915 average net price
East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC · Public89.2% admitted$15,739 average net price
Appalachian State UniversityBoone, NC · Public90.1% admitted$16,836 average net price
Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, VA · Public91.4% admitted$14,638 average net price
Augusta UniversityAugusta, GA · Public86.4% admitted$13,787 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.