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Summary
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution that was founded in 1838. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 23,754, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 143 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Virginia Commonwealth University's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 170. Its in-state tuition and fees are $9,885 (2012-13); out-of-state tuition and fees are $23,300 (2012-13).
Virginia Commonwealth University is a public school in Richmond. Cheering on the school’s Division I sports teams, the VCU Rams, is a popular outlet for students. There are also a variety of clubs and organizations students can join, as well as more than 30 fraternities and sororities. About five percent of VCU students are involved in Greek life. For off-campus recreation, students can take advantage of the school’s Outdoor Adventure Program, which coordinates kayaking, backpacking, and whitewater rafting trips, among other activities. VCU has a variety of academic departments for graduate students, too, including a well-regarded School of Education, a School of Medicine, a School of Business, and a School of Engineering. The university also has a campus in Qatar that focuses on arts programs.
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Virginia Commonwealth University is one of the nation's top research universities, VCU enrolls more than 32,000 students on two Richmond campuses - Monroe Park Campus and MCV Campus. The VCU Medical Center, including the university's health sicences schools, offers state-of-the-art care in more than 200 speciality areas and serves as the regions's only Level 1 Trauma Center.
Vision statement VCU will be a premier urban, public research university distinguished by its commitment to: Core values The Virginia Commonwealth University Health System is an urban, comprehensive academic medical center in central Virginia established to preserve and restore health for all people, to seek the cause and cure of diseases through innovative research, and to educate those who serve humanity. |
General Information
| School type | public, coed college |
| Year founded | 1838 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2011 Endowment | $286,989,578 |
Applying
When applying to Virginia Commonwealth University, it's important to note the application deadline is January 15. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due February 1. The application fee at Virginia Commonwealth University is $50. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 65.7 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 65.7% |
| Application deadline | January 15 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | February 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Virginia Commonwealth University is 19:1, and the school has 34.5 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Virginia Commonwealth University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Visual and Performing Arts; Health Professions and Related Programs; Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services; and Psychology. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 85.2 percent.
Student Life
Virginia Commonwealth University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 23,754, with a gender distribution of 43.5 percent male students and 56.5 percent female students. At this school, 21.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 79.0 percent of students live off campus. Virginia Commonwealth University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at Virginia Commonwealth University.
| Total enrollment | 31,899 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
Virginia Commonwealth University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, day care, and health service. Virginia Commonwealth University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Virginia Commonwealth University.
| Students who have cars on campus | N/A |
| Health insurance offered | No |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | Yes |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Virginia Commonwealth University, 56.6 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $6,188.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| In-state tuition and fees | $9,885 (2012-13) |
| Out-of-state tuition and fees | $23,300 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $8,748 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
