AAMU vs. VSU

Deciding between Alabama A & M University and Virginia State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Alabama A & M University
Virginia State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • AAMU Normal, AL
  • VSU Petersburg, VA
  • Setting
  • AAMU Midsize City
  • VSU Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • AAMU 7,295
  • VSU 5,605
  • Type
  • AAMU Public 4 Year
  • VSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AAMU #1011
  • VSU #950
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AAMU -
  • VSU -
  • Status
  • AAMU Non-profit
  • VSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AAMU
  • VSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AAMU $10,024
  • VSU $10,043
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AAMU $18,634
  • VSU $22,650
  • Room & Board
  • AAMU $11,402
  • VSU $13,355
  • Average Net Price
  • AAMU $17,152
  • VSU $17,840
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AAMU $12,844
  • VSU $12,447
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AAMU 86%
  • VSU 92%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AAMU 23,406
  • VSU 11,775
  • Admitted
  • AAMU 13,564
  • VSU 10,436
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AAMU 58%
  • VSU 88.6%
  • Enrolled
  • AAMU 14.5%
  • VSU 14.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AAMU 930
  • VSU 960
  • Typical ACT score
  • AAMU 16
  • VSU 17
  • Average High School GPA
  • AAMU 3.02
  • VSU 2.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AAMU B
  • VSU B
  • Admissions Standards
  • AAMU Extremely Easy
  • VSU Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • AAMU Low
  • VSU
  • ACT Range
  • AAMU 14/19
  • VSU 14/20
  • SAT Range
  • AAMU 810/1040
  • VSU 840/1070
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AAMU Test optional
  • VSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AAMU
  • VSU May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AAMU 19:1
  • VSU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AAMU
    • Business (19%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Human Services (6%)
  • VSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AAMU 32%
  • VSU 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AAMU $34,300
  • VSU $36,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AAMU 25%
  • VSU 28%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AAMU $35,000
  • VSU $29,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AAMU $361
  • VSU $305

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AAMU 41%
  • VSU 40%
  • % Women
  • AAMU 59%
  • VSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AAMU Extremely Low
  • VSU Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • AAMU Yes
  • VSU Yes
  • % White
  • AAMU 3%
  • VSU 3%
  • % Asian
  • AAMU 0%
  • VSU 1%
  • % Black
  • AAMU 92%
  • VSU 87%
  • % Hispanic
  • AAMU 1%
  • VSU 2%
  • % Native American
  • AAMU 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AAMU 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AAMU 0%
  • VSU 0%
  • % International
  • AAMU 1%
  • VSU 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AAMU 3%
  • VSU 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AAMU 45%
  • VSU 68%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AAMU 54%
  • VSU 31%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • AAMU Yes
  • VSU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • AAMU No
  • VSU No
  • Meal Plan
  • AAMU Yes
  • VSU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • AAMU Yes
  • VSU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • AAMU Yes
  • VSU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Alabama A & M University in Normal, AL with Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Alabama A & M University is larger than VSU based on total student enrollment (7,295 students vs. 5,605 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Alabama A & M University is located in Normal, AL (Midsize City setting); Virginia State University is in Petersburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Alabama A & M University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Alabama A & M University 19:1; Virginia State University 13:1.

AAMU vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AAMU or VSU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Alabama A & M University than VSU ($17,152 vs. $17,840).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alabama A & M University are 14.6% lower than at Virginia State University ($11,402 vs. $13,355).
  • Virginia State University is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than AAMU (about $19 more per year; $10,043.00 vs. $10,024.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.6% higher at VSU than at Alabama A & M University (about $4,016 more per year; $22,650.00 vs. $18,634.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia State University than at Alabama A & M University (92% vs. 86%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Alabama A & M University students is 3.2% larger than aid received by Virginia State University students ($12,844 vs. $12,447).

AAMU vs. VSU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AAMU or VSU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between VSU and AAMU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia State University (960) is 30 points higher than at AAMU (930).
  • Incoming VSU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (17 vs. 16 at AAMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 810/1040; Virginia State University 840/1070.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Alabama A & M University 14/19; Virginia State University 14/20.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AAMU - Test optional; VSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VSU May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman AAMU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.02) than students at VSU (2.85).
  • VSU has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than AAMU (58%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.5% at AAMU vs. 14.3% at VSU.

AAMU vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AAMU and VSU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Virginia State University's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than Alabama A & M University's (32%).
  • Graduates from Virginia State University earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than AAMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia State University graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than AAMU graduates ($29,500 vs. $35,000).
  • Among borrowers, VSU graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AAMU graduates ($305 vs. $361).
  • More VSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AAMU students, three years after graduation. (28% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.