Facts and rankings
Unlike any other
VCU is a community of more than 300,000 Rams — each a unique mix of style, story and attitude — that is forging a future that is built by us. Every day, we blend discovery and creativity to generate new ideas, all in pursuit of a better tomorrow. Our impact can be felt in more than 200 academic programs, from our world-renowned arts and advertising programs to our top-ranked hospital and health science schools. And it’s all happening in a city that’s teeming with opportunities to make real and lasting change.
If that sounds too good to be true, here are the stats to back it up.
Location
Richmond, VA
School colors
Black and gold
Mascot
Rodney the Ram
Quick facts
- 28,408 students enrolled
- 16:1 student-faculty ratio
- 2,501 full-time faculty
- 216,696 alums
Programs and schools ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s top 50
These rankings are based on the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools, Best Online Colleges and Best Colleges rankings.
Graduate programs
1st Fine Arts — Sculpture
1st Nurse Anesthesia
2nd Fine Arts — Printmaking
3rd Health Care Management
4th Fine Arts
4th Fine Arts — Graphic Design
5th Time-Based/New Media
6th Rehabilitation Counseling
12th Fine Arts — Painting/Drawing
15th Occupational Therapy
16th Social Policy
17th Urban Policy
19th Public Management and Leadership
20th Pharmacy
20th Physical Therapy
21st Nuclear Engineering
25th Social Work
27th Best Education Schools
Graduate programs (cont.)
36th Public Policy Analysis
39th Public Affairs
41st Best Nursing Schools: Master’s
43rd Clinical Psychology
44th Biostatistics: Doctoral
Online programs
11th Online Master’s in Nursing — Nursing Administration/Leadership
19th Online Master’s in Education — Curriculum and Instruction
21st Online Master’s in Nursing — Overall
25th Online Master’s in Education — Overall
49th Online MBA — Overall
Undergraduate programs
31st Nursing
A university for Richmond
- 24,065 employees at VCU and VCU Health System
- $6 billion economic impact as Richmond’s largest employer
- 180+ alumni-owned businesses in Richmond
- Nearly 40% of alums live in Richmond
- $5 million raised in investment, revenue and acquisitions by student startups since 2018
Our students
28,408 students
82% full time
86% Virginia residents
21,270 undergraduates
5,622 graduates
1,516 first professionals
1,495 transfer students
1,158 Honors students
999 international students
5,703 residence hall capacity
VCU is a Diversity Champion
- 4-time Diversity Champion from INSIGHT’s Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award
- 54% of undergraduate students and nearly half of all students are from minority backgrounds
- 34% of incoming freshmen at VCU are first-generation college students
- Nearly 1/3 of undergraduate students are Pell Grant-eligible
- Students from 49 states, Washington, D.C., and 140 countries worldwide
- We are the only institution in Virginia to be named an “age-friendly university” by the Gerontological Society of America.
Undergraduate tuition and fees* and financial aid
Virginia resident: $16,233
Nonresident: $38,817
Room and board**: $13,283
Average financial aid awarded to full-time undergraduates seeking assistance in 2021-22: $19,290
* Based on 15 credit hours per semester and 30 credit hours for the 2023-24 year. This does not include program fees, which vary based on a student’s major.
** Room charge is based on a double occupancy in Rhoads Hall and the dining rate is for the 200 swipe with $225 dining dollars meal plan.
Quick facts
- Top 20 Most innovative public university by U.S. News & World Report
- Top 50 National Science Foundation public research university
- Top 20% Best Global Universities by U.S. News & World Report
Our research and innovation
- One of only 64 public universities nationwide classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an “R1 Doctoral University – Highest Research Activity,” as well as its prestigious “Community Engagement” status.
- More than $460 million in sponsored research in FY 2023
- Among public universities, eight of our schools and programs rank in the top 25 in terms of funding from the National Institutes of Health — addictions research (No. 6), pharmacology (No. 10), psychiatry (No. 11), family medicine (No. 12), School of Pharmacy (No. 12), School of Dentistry (No. 13), genetics (No. 18) and School of Nursing (No. 25)
- One of about 80 “Innovation & Economic Prosperity” universities nationally to receive the special innovation designation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.
No. 1 hospital in Richmond
- VCU Medical Center is both the region’s safety net hospital and its No. 1-ranked hospital (per the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospital rankings).
- It is the only Level I trauma center in the region that is verified in burn, pediatric and adult trauma care.
- More than 800 clinical trials and research studies open for enrollment
Campuses
198 acres in downtown Richmond: Monroe Park Campus and MCV Campus. And we earned a Gold Rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Looking for even more facts about VCU?
Explore the latest facts and figures.
Accreditation
SACSCOC
VCU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral degrees. VCU also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of VCU may be directed in writing to SACSCOC at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500 or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
For more information, visit provost.vcu.edu/academics/accreditation.
Additional accreditations
For information on specialized university program accreditations or certifications, please visit the department or office website of which the program is a part, or view this list of specialized accreditations by college or school.
Student consumer information
Students and prospective students may find the information resources of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia of use in planning for college and careers. SCHEV has created an institutional profile for each Virginia public college and university, and for each independent college or university participating in the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant Program.