Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Virginia Commonwealth University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 37% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 41st percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (VA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Virginia Commonwealth University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | $84,338 | $118,521 | +28% | #50 of 459 | #77 | $19,933 |
| Computer Engineering | $82,964 | $118,273 | +8% | #41 of 189 | #96 | $23,605 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $77,938 | $107,487 | +7% | #41 of 258 | #159 | $22,550 |
| Chemical Engineering | $79,721 | $97,781 | +-0% | #70 of 158 | #123 | $27,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $73,355 | $88,410 | -4% | #228 of 318 | #302 | $22,220 |
| Information Science/Studies | $62,116 | $87,219 | +2% | #67 of 148 | #81 | $21,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $71,847 | $86,661 | -3% | #484 of 966 | #863 | $21,591 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $54,133 | $86,295 | -8% | #98 of 118 | #110 | $22,250 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $67,072 | $80,344 | +6% | #28 of 93 | #64 | $19,849 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $56,876 | $78,631 | +3% | #281 of 796 | #478 | $23,500 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | $72,808 | $78,231 | +15% | #13 of 76 | #36 | $22,341 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $66,750 | $77,786 | +10% | #81 of 253 | #133 | $22,000 |
| Physics | $39,804 | $77,737 | +1% | #57 of 107 | #73 | $22,078 |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services | $45,696 | $72,239 | +6% | #4 of 15 | #7 | $20,000 |
| Marketing | $41,767 | $68,622 | -1% | #214 of 516 | #367 | $20,500 |
| Mathematics | $43,784 | $68,457 | -2% | #170 of 309 | #223 | $25,750 |
| Business/Commerce | $51,669 | $68,387 | +-0% | #88 of 271 | #196 | $21,298 |
| Chemistry | $38,571 | $67,439 | +4% | #97 of 209 | #156 | $20,500 |
| Philosophy | $26,192 | $64,402 | +18% | #21 of 86 | #34 | $20,500 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $45,370 | $64,164 | -18% | #74 of 84 | #81 | $18,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $34,080 | $62,182 | -2% | #278 of 565 | #397 | $20,000 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $36,709 | $61,395 | +4% | #21 of 33 | #26 | $24,000 |
| Security Science and Technology | $37,501 | $61,026 | +6% | #19 of 45 | #32 | $24,583 |
| Real Estate | $47,681 | $60,718 | -28% | #22 of 25 | #22 | — |
| Communication and Media Studies | $35,808 | $59,968 | +6% | #169 of 660 | #322 | $21,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $34,677 | $59,442 | +16% | #47 of 345 | #138 | $25,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $38,495 | $58,792 | +6% | #176 of 660 | #412 | $21,250 |
| Biology | $31,149 | $58,420 | +2% | #398 of 841 | #609 | $20,500 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $33,626 | $58,084 | -7% | #19 of 30 | #20 | $22,250 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | $49,111 | $55,855 | +0% | #92 of 207 | #149 | $22,500 |
| Social Work | $34,088 | $55,288 | +7% | #130 of 420 | #324 | $22,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $25,872 | $53,575 | +4% | #139 of 299 | #193 | $24,250 |
| History | $29,794 | $53,186 | +5% | #174 of 459 | #297 | $21,269 |
| Sociology | $32,781 | $53,122 | +1% | #214 of 462 | #330 | $23,500 |
| Psychology | $29,462 | $51,440 | +1% | #434 of 1027 | #750 | $21,167 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $32,038 | $50,217 | -9% | #191 of 265 | #242 | $21,500 |
| Anthropology | $22,732 | $49,641 | +6% | #67 of 188 | #111 | $13,996 |
| Area Studies | $35,557 | $45,852 | -19% | #61 of 70 | #64 | $22,625 |
| English Language and Literature | $27,005 | $45,844 | -6% | #386 of 576 | #483 | $19,949 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $30,635 | $45,607 | -9% | #60 of 90 | #79 | $21,627 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $22,447 | $43,957 | +11% | #65 of 255 | #122 | $20,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $21,916 | $43,690 | +6% | #153 of 423 | #264 | $21,500 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $29,607 | $42,233 | -18% | #97 of 103 | #100 | $25,998 |
| Music | $28,989 | $38,278 | -11% | #215 of 268 | #234 | $27,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $23,109 | $37,958 | -13% | #118 of 144 | #135 | $24,125 |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry | $21,237 | $37,253 | -4% | — | — | $20,500 |
| Dance | $20,397 | — | — | — | — | $27,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Virginia Commonwealth University Town Property Report
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 23224 (4.9% cap, Richmond)
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🏆 Where Virginia Commonwealth University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $12,850 | $34,744 |
| Room | $7,849 | |
| Board | $6,786 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $39,967 | $62,551 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,830 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,612 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,455 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,633 |
| $110,001+ | $28,474 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
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- Outcomes (B+): Graduation and retention rates
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- Resources (C): Class sizes and selectivity
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- Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology