Virginia Union University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Richmond, Virginia. It enrolls 1,203 students (a small, tight-knit 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
58/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes13
Value57
Affordability89
Selectivity2
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 98%, Virginia Union University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
98%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
850 – 885
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
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 Union University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
34.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Virginia Union 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 $13,235 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,235
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
69%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
71%
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
$17,450
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,016
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,580
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$8,144
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$13,592
Total Cost of Attendance
$29,075
Application fee: $25 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$11,424
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,372
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,420
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,362
Over $110,000
$18,301
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
$6,25025%percentile
$29,000Medianpercentile
$29,41975%percentile
$40,00090%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 $23,625
↓ $5,375
No Pell $18,250
↓ $10,750
Dependent students $24,000
↓ $5,000
Independent students $15,250
↓ $13,750
Female students $25,000
↓ $4,000
Male students $19,250
↓ $9,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $14,000, less than completers ($29,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
29% of full-time students who enrolled at Virginia Union University graduate within six years, and 65% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
29%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
65%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Virginia Union University earn a median of $38,275 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$38,275
Earning > $25K
67%
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
$34,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$33,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$32,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$35,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$34,400
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 ↑
17.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 41% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Virginia Union University is home to 1,203 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,203
Part-Time
6%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 75.4%907
Other 2.7%33
Hispanic 1.3%16
International 1.3%15
White 0.6%7
Asian 0.3%4
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Virginia Union University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityRichmond, Virginia
Housing
Mostly residential667 beds on campus
Adult Learners
17%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Virginia Union University offers
a varied set of programs:
32 distinct programs across
16 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 Union University is 22:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
22:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$74M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$50,843
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
55 instructional faculty across 3 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
11
20%
$53,727
Associate Professors
17
31%
$67,861
Assistant Professors
27
49%
$38,953
Pros & Cons of Virginia Union University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Virginia Union 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
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Virginia Union University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Virginia Union University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Virginia Union University.
Is Virginia Union University hard to get into?
Virginia Union University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 98%.
What is the acceptance rate at Virginia Union University?
Virginia Union University has an acceptance rate of 98%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Virginia Union University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Virginia Union University scored between 850 and 885 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Virginia Union University cost?
The average net price after aid at Virginia Union University is $13,235 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Virginia Union University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $38,275 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,235 per year. That's roughly 2.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Virginia Union University known for?
Virginia Union University is best known for its programs in Theology, Business Administration, Theology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Virginia Union University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Virginia Union University are $38,275, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Virginia Union University accredited?
Yes. Virginia Union University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Virginia Union University?
Virginia Union University enrolls 1,203 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Virginia Union University?
Virginia Union University graduates 29% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Virginia Union University a public or private college?
Virginia Union University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Virginia Union University located?
Virginia Union University is located in Richmond, Virginia.
What programs does Virginia Union University offer?
Virginia Union University offers 32 distinct programs. The most popular include Theology, Business Administration, Theology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia Union University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Virginia Union University is 22:1, 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.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
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College outcomes
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Rankings That Feature Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
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