Virginia State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Petersburg, Virginia. It enrolls 5,074 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes22
Value57
Affordability84
Selectivity14
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 88.6%, Virginia State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
88.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
840 – 1070
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
14 – 20
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Virginia State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
5.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Virginia State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,840 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,840
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
72%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
76%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$10,043
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$22,650
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,355
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,233
Books & Supplies
$1,300
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,640
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,940
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,661
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$13,220
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,758
$48,001 – $75,000
$19,463
$75,001 – $110,000
$22,223
Over $110,000
$25,508
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$8,67525%percentile
$26,500Medianpercentile
$31,00075%percentile
$41,01790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,459
↓ $8,041
No Pell $13,000
↓ $13,500
Dependent students $17,500
↓ $9,000
Independent students $19,000
↓ $7,500
Female students $18,423
↓ $8,077
Male students $15,301
↓ $11,199
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,585, less than completers ($26,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
41% of full-time students who enrolled at Virginia State University graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
41%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Virginia State University earn a median of $45,543 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,543
Earning > $25K
72%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$37,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$40,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$39,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
29.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 59% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Virginia State University is home to 5,074 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
5,074
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
34%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 83.1%4,214
Hispanic 6.2%313
Other 5.5%280
White 2.0%99
International 1.1%54
Asian 0.3%13
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Virginia State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbPetersburg, Virginia
Housing
Strongly residential4,015 beds for 5,074 students
Adult Learners
8%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
What You Can Study
Virginia State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
49 distinct programs across
22 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia State University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,190
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$99M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$83,140
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
313 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
74
24%
$98,620
Associate Professors
105
34%
$88,726
Assistant Professors
80
26%
$75,155
Instructors
54
17%
$62,894
Pros & Cons of Virginia State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Virginia State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Virginia State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Virginia State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Virginia State University.
Is Virginia State University hard to get into?
Virginia State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 88.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Virginia State University?
Virginia State University has an acceptance rate of 88.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Virginia State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Virginia State University scored between 840 and 1070 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Virginia State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Virginia State University scored between 14 and 20 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Virginia State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Virginia State University is $15,840 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Virginia State University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,543 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,840 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Virginia State University known for?
Virginia State University is best known for its programs in Psychology, Criminal Justice, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Virginia State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Virginia State University are $45,543, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Virginia State University accredited?
Yes. Virginia State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Virginia State University?
Virginia State University enrolls 5,074 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Virginia State University?
Virginia State University graduates 41% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Virginia State University a public or private college?
Virginia State University is a Public institution.
Where is Virginia State University located?
Virginia State University is located in Petersburg, Virginia.
What programs does Virginia State University offer?
Virginia State University offers 49 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Criminal Justice, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia State University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Virginia
Other colleges in Virginia share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Teaching Specific Subjects
Liberal Arts
Health/Medical Preparatory
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