PC vs. VCU

Should I go to Presbyterian College or Virginia Commonwealth University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if PC 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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Presbyterian College vs. Virginia Commonwealth University comparison
Presbyterian College Virginia Commonwealth University College 3 College 4
Presbyterian College Virginia Commonwealth University
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Overview

PC VCU
Location Clinton, SC Richmond, VA
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,199 28,082
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #333 #442
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website presby.edu vcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

PC VCU
Tuition (In State) $38,990 $12,458
Tuition (Out of State) $38,990 $33,726
Room & Board $11,300 $12,279
Avg Net Price $21,571 $21,294
Avg Grant Aid $34,379 $12,583
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 83%

Admission

PC VCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,329 18,242
Admitted 1,977 16,600
Acceptance Rate 59.4% 91%
Enrolled % 13.8% 25.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.6 3.75
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/27 22/30
SAT Range 1020/1270 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 Sep 21, 2024 Jan 18, 2025

Academics

PC VCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • History (16%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

Outcomes

PC VCU
Graduation Rate 68% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,700 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,108 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $269 $240

Diversity

PC VCU
% Men 43% 36%
% Women 57% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 77% 50%
% Black 14% 18%
% Hispanic 3% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 6%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

PC VCU
% In-State 51% 92%
% Out-of-State 46% 6%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than PC based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 1,199 students)

PC vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PC or VCU?

  • Presbyterian College is 213% more expensive to attend than VCU for in-state tuition ($38,990.00 vs. $12,458.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.6% higher at PC than Virginia Commonwealth University ($38,990.00 vs. $33,726.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Commonwealth University than PC ($21,294 vs. $21,571)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Presbyterian College are 8.7% lower than costs at Virginia Commonwealth University ($11,300 vs. $12,279)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Presbyterian College than Virginia Commonwealth University (100% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Presbyterian College students is 173.2% larger than aid received Virginia Commonwealth University ($34,379 vs. $12,583)

PC vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Virginia Commonwealth University (1097) is 15 points higher than at PC (1082)
  • Incoming PC students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at VCU (24)
  • Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at PC (3.6)
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than PC (59.4%)

PC vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, PC 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 PC.

  • The graduation rate at PC is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University (68% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Presbyterian College earn on average $200 more per year than VCU graduates after ten years. ($47,700 vs. $47,500)
  • Virginia Commonwealth University students graduate with a $2,858 lower median federal student loan debt than PC graduates. ($23,250 vs. $26,108)
  • VCU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than PC graduates. ($240 vs. $269)
  • More PC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 56%)

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