HPU vs. VCU

Should I go to High Point University or Virginia Commonwealth University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if HPU or VCU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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High Point University vs. Virginia Commonwealth University comparison
High Point University Virginia Commonwealth University College 3 College 4
High Point University Virginia Commonwealth University
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Overview

HPU VCU
Location High Point, NC Richmond, VA
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 5,981 28,082
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #442
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website highpoint.edu vcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

HPU VCU
Tuition (In State) $36,636 $12,458
Tuition (Out of State) $36,636 $33,726
Room & Board $16,524 $12,279
Avg Net Price $40,221 $21,294
Avg Grant Aid $18,930 $12,583
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 83%

Admission

HPU VCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,446 18,242
Admitted 9,817 16,600
Acceptance Rate 78.9% 91%
Enrolled % 15.3% 25.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.4 3.75
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/29 22/30
SAT Range 1103/1280 1030/1290
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2025 Jan 18, 2025

Academics

HPU VCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

Outcomes

HPU VCU
Graduation Rate - 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,421 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $231 $240

Diversity

HPU VCU
% Men 43% 36%
% Women 57% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 79% 50%
% Black 5% 18%
% Hispanic 4% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

HPU VCU
% In-State 24% 92%
% Out-of-State 75% 6%

Campus

HPU VCU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than HPU based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 5,981 students)

HPU vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HPU or VCU?

  • High Point University is 194.1% more expensive to attend than VCU for in-state tuition ($36,636.00 vs. $12,458.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.6% higher at HPU than Virginia Commonwealth University ($36,636.00 vs. $33,726.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Commonwealth University than HPU ($21,294 vs. $40,221)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Commonwealth University are 34.6% lower than costs at High Point University ($12,279 vs. $16,524)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at High Point University than Virginia Commonwealth University (94% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by High Point University students is 50.4% larger than aid received Virginia Commonwealth University ($18,930 vs. $12,583)

HPU vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HPU or VCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCU or HPU .

  • The average SAT score at High Point University (1113) is 16 points higher than at VCU (1097)
  • Incoming HPU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at VCU (24)
  • Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at HPU (3.4)
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than HPU (78.9%)

HPU vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, HPU or VCU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between VCU and HPU.

  • Graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University earn on average $5,500 more per year than HPU graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $42,000)
  • High Point University students graduate with a $829 lower median federal student loan debt than VCU graduates. ($22,421 vs. $23,250)
  • HPU graduates are paying $9 less per month on federal student loans than VCU graduates. ($231 vs. $240)
  • More HPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 56%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/