Colleges › Virginia › Virginia State University

Virginia State University

Virginia State University is a public campus in suburban Petersburg, VA. It is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities — a federally recognized designation. The federal record identifies it as a land-grant institution.

Compare this school Find colleges

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$12,432

family income
under $30k

$13,665

$30–48k

$17,511

$48–75k

$19,774

$75–110k

$22,390

over $110k

Average net price

$15,8402023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Virginia State University rose from $10,833 (2008) to $15,840 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$10,833
2009	$11,292
2010	$11,049
2011	$12,279
2012	$13,399
2013	$14,337
2014	$13,617
2015	$14,507
2016	$15,063
2017	$15,899
2018	$16,970
2019	$17,237
2020	$15,359
2021	$14,164
2022	$14,553
2023	$15,840

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$27,6612024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Virginia State University rose from $16,189 (2009) to $27,661 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$16,189
2010	$16,799
2011	$17,597
2012	$18,945
2013	$20,075
2014	$20,767
2015	$21,105
2016	$21,453
2017	$22,009
2018	$22,581
2019	$23,239
2020	$23,673
2021	$23,673
2022	$23,673
2023	$24,173
2024	$27,661

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2001	$3,312	$9,738
2002	$3,554	$10,248
2003	$4,350	$11,260
2004	$4,544	$11,462
2005	$4,834	$12,046
2006	$5,440	$12,512
2007	$5,655	$13,307
2008	$5,903	$14,018
2013	$7,784	$17,192
2014	$8,002	$17,838
2015	$8,226	$18,398
2016	$8,472	$19,002
2017	$8,726	$19,572
2018	$9,056	$20,307
2019	$9,154	$20,909
2020	$9,154	$20,909
2021	$9,154	$20,909
2022	$9,654	$21,409
2023	$9,755	$22,006

IPEDS Published price 2001–02 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Virginia State University reports tuition of $10,043 for in-state students and $22,650 for out-of-state students. Check Virginia State University’s residency rules, attendance budget and aid offer. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 5,074 undergrads, Virginia State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

39.4% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Virginia State University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

39.4%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Virginia State University rose from 32.8% (entered 1991) to 39.4% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	32.8%
1992 cohort	25.6%
1993 cohort	33.7%
1994 cohort	29.2%
1995 cohort	37.5%
1996 cohort	41.6%
1997 cohort	38.7%
1998 cohort	41.4%
1999 cohort	40.7%
2000 cohort	42.6%
2001 cohort	42.2%
2002 cohort	39.3%
2003 cohort	43.8%
2004 cohort	41.3%
2005 cohort	38%
2006 cohort	41.9%
2007 cohort	40.3%
2008 cohort	42.5%
2009 cohort	48.1%
2010 cohort	44%
2011 cohort	42.1%
2012 cohort	39.2%
2013 cohort	38.5%
2014 cohort	46.2%
2015 cohort	47.8%
2016 cohort	37.9%
2017 cohort	40.7%
2018 cohort	39.4%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$16,563	$4,938
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$16,500	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$16,229	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$15,688	$4,168
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$15,603	$4,725
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$15,385	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$16,250	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$16,700	$3,938
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$16,750	$3,998
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$17,125	$5,117
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$17,125	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$17,250	$6,125
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$19,125	$8,979
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$23,500	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$25,388	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$27,000	$8,061
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$27,500	$9,075
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$28,500	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$29,414	$9,508
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$29,750	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$30,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$29,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$27,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$26,500	$9,585

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$33,630

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$39,572

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$45,543

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Virginia State University admitted 10,436 of 11,775 applicants in Fall 2024. The 88.6% rate describes that application pool.

88.6%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $9,755 in-state tuition · 2023–24 5,074 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 840–10701600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Virginia State University received 11,775 applications and admitted 10,436 (88.6%), with 1,489 enrolling.

Virginia State University reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For Virginia State University’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 440–550 and Math was 400–520 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 840–1070 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	440	495	550
SAT Math	400	450	520
ACT Composite	14	18	20

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

88.6%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	89%
Fall 2002	75.6%
Fall 2003	75.6%
Fall 2004	63.8%
Fall 2005	63.8%
Fall 2006	83.1%
Fall 2007	78.4%
Fall 2008	57.8%
Fall 2009	64.5%
Fall 2010	66.6%
Fall 2011	57.8%
Fall 2012	83.7%
Fall 2013	94.6%
Fall 2014	80.1%
Fall 2015	77%
Fall 2016	94.5%
Fall 2017	91.1%
Fall 2018	91.1%
Fall 2019	95%
Fall 2020	96.3%
Fall 2021	96.1%
Fall 2022	89.7%
Fall 2023	89.1%
Fall 2024	88.6%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

840–1070Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	700	890
Fall 2002	710	890
Fall 2003	710	890
Fall 2004	750	920
Fall 2005	750	920
Fall 2006	750	920
Fall 2007	810	960
Fall 2008	790	940
Fall 2009	760	920
Fall 2010	790	950
Fall 2011	780	930
Fall 2012	780	920
Fall 2013	730	895
Fall 2014	760	920
Fall 2015	770	940
Fall 2016	730	900
Fall 2017	820	1010
Fall 2018	840	1010
Fall 2019	830	1010
Fall 2020	820	1000
Fall 2021	830	1040
Fall 2022	830	1030
Fall 2023	800	1050
Fall 2024	840	1070

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

14–20Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	13	19
Fall 2002	14	19
Fall 2003	14	19
Fall 2004	15	19
Fall 2005	16	19
Fall 2006	15	17
Fall 2010	16	20
Fall 2011	16	19
Fall 2012	16	20
Fall 2013	15	18
Fall 2014	15	19
Fall 2015	15	21
Fall 2016	15	19
Fall 2017	15	19
Fall 2018	15	21
Fall 2019	15	20
Fall 2020	15	20
Fall 2021	15	21
Fall 2022	14	17
Fall 2023	14	20
Fall 2024	14	20

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

5,074Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Virginia State University rose from 4,044 (Fall 2002) to 5,074 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	4,044
Fall 2003	3,937
Fall 2004	4,111
Fall 2005	4,278
Fall 2006	4,265
Fall 2007	4,194
Fall 2008	4,420
Fall 2009	4,775
Fall 2010	4,950
Fall 2011	5,181
Fall 2012	5,309
Fall 2013	5,023
Fall 2014	4,481
Fall 2015	4,176
Fall 2016	4,155
Fall 2017	4,265
Fall 2018	3,986
Fall 2019	4,019
Fall 2020	3,653
Fall 2021	3,886
Fall 2022	4,295
Fall 2023	4,787
Fall 2024	5,074

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

69%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Virginia State University has wandered from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023 — up to 76% at the peak — but ends near where it began, at 69%.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	71%
Fall 2003 cohort	70%
Fall 2004 cohort	72%
Fall 2005 cohort	75%
Fall 2006 cohort	73%
Fall 2007 cohort	68%
Fall 2008 cohort	67%
Fall 2009 cohort	74%
Fall 2010 cohort	71%
Fall 2011 cohort	65%
Fall 2012 cohort	65%
Fall 2013 cohort	61%
Fall 2014 cohort	73%
Fall 2015 cohort	74%
Fall 2016 cohort	71%
Fall 2017 cohort	66%
Fall 2018 cohort	65%
Fall 2019 cohort	62%
Fall 2020 cohort	76%
Fall 2021 cohort	73%
Fall 2022 cohort	71%
Fall 2023 cohort	69%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Virginia State University

72.1% of Virginia State University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Virginia State University as a primarily residential campus of 5,074 undergraduates — and 69.4% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Virginia State University's SAT section-percentile sums are 840–1070 — their midpoint is below the VA four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on Virginia State University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Virginia State University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Virginia State University88.6%

Virginia median79.8%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Virginia State University$10,043

Virginia median$21,650

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Virginia State University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Virginia State University$45,543

Virginia median$53,453

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Virginia State University, Virginia and national reference values
Metric & basis	Virginia State University	Virginia median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	88.6%	79.8%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$10,043	$21,650	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$45,543	$53,453	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Virginia State University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Virginia State University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 19 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians	$89,702
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians	$80,902
Management Information Systems and Services	$72,734
Accounting and Related Services	$72,375
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$60,276
Hospitality Administration/Management	$56,476
Marketing	$53,709
Biology, General	$53,398
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	$50,015
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$49,764
Social Work	$49,615
Agriculture, General	$48,778
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$48,624
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$48,362
Family and Consumer Economics and Related Studies	$46,514
Political Science and Government	$44,002
Communication and Media Studies	$40,896
Sociology	$40,432
Psychology, General	$37,861

These 19 fields listed for Virginia State University measure earnings after completion. The $45,543 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 16 additional Virginia State University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Virginia State University report?

Virginia State University's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 840–1070 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is Virginia State University's acceptance rate?

88.6% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 10,436 admitted from 11,775 applicants.

How much does Virginia State University cost?

In-state tuition is $10,043; out-of-state students pay $22,650. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does Virginia State University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $45,543. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Virginia

Virginia Union University — 98% admitted
Virginia Commonwealth University — 92.6% admitted
Southern Virginia University — 96.4% admitted
Richard Bland College — 89.3% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.