Texas Tech vs. VCU

Deciding between Texas Tech University and Virginia Commonwealth 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.

Texas Tech University
Virginia Commonwealth University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Texas Tech Lubbock, TX
  • VCU Richmond, VA
  • Setting
  • Texas Tech Midsize City
  • VCU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Texas Tech 40,757
  • VCU 28,464
  • Type
  • Texas Tech Public 4 Year
  • VCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Texas Tech #448
  • VCU #465
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Texas Tech -
  • VCU -
  • Status
  • Texas Tech Non-profit
  • VCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Texas Tech
  • VCU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Texas Tech $11,852
  • VCU $16,945
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Texas Tech $24,451
  • VCU $40,109
  • Room & Board
  • Texas Tech $10,742
  • VCU $18,254
  • Average Net Price
  • Texas Tech $16,919
  • VCU $26,836
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Texas Tech $10,494
  • VCU $14,186
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Texas Tech 79%
  • VCU 88%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Texas Tech 34,356
  • VCU 20,954
  • Admitted
  • Texas Tech 24,958
  • VCU 19,408
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Texas Tech 72.6%
  • VCU 92.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Texas Tech 27.1%
  • VCU 21.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Texas Tech 1190
  • VCU 1140
  • Typical ACT score
  • Texas Tech 25
  • VCU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Texas Tech 3.76
  • VCU 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Texas Tech A-
  • VCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Texas Tech Challenging
  • VCU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Texas Tech Low
  • VCU
  • ACT Range
  • Texas Tech 23/28
  • VCU 22/30
  • SAT Range
  • Texas Tech 1090/1280
  • VCU 1010/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Texas Tech Test optional
  • VCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Texas Tech
  • VCU Jan 18, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Texas Tech 20:1
  • VCU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Texas Tech
    • Business (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Work and Family Studies (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • VCU
    • Business (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Texas Tech 61%
  • VCU 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Texas Tech $58,500
  • VCU $47,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Texas Tech 66%
  • VCU 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Texas Tech $22,500
  • VCU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Texas Tech $232
  • VCU $240
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Texas Tech 49%
  • VCU 36%
  • % Women
  • Texas Tech 51%
  • VCU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Texas Tech High
  • VCU High
  • HBCU
  • Texas Tech No
  • VCU No
  • % White
  • Texas Tech 60%
  • VCU 50%
  • % Asian
  • Texas Tech 2%
  • VCU 13%
  • % Black
  • Texas Tech 6%
  • VCU 18%
  • % Hispanic
  • Texas Tech 23%
  • VCU 8%
  • % Native American
  • Texas Tech 0%
  • VCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Texas Tech 0%
  • VCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Texas Tech 3%
  • VCU 6%
  • % International
  • Texas Tech 5%
  • VCU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Texas Tech 1%
  • VCU 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Texas Tech 90%
  • VCU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Texas Tech 8%
  • VCU 6%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Texas Tech Yes
  • VCU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Texas Tech No
  • VCU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Texas Tech Yes
  • VCU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Texas Tech Yes
  • VCU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Texas Tech No
  • VCU Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX with Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Texas Tech University is larger than VCU based on total student enrollment (40,757 students vs. 28,464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Texas Tech University is located in Lubbock, TX (Midsize City setting); Virginia Commonwealth University is in Richmond, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Texas Tech University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Texas Tech University 20:1; Virginia Commonwealth University 17:1.

Texas Tech vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Texas Tech or VCU? 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 Texas Tech University than VCU ($16,919 vs. $26,836).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas Tech University are 41.2% lower than at Virginia Commonwealth University ($10,742 vs. $18,254).
  • Virginia Commonwealth University is 43% more expensive for in-state tuition than Texas Tech (about $5,093 more per year; $16,945.00 vs. $11,852.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 64% higher at VCU than at Texas Tech University (about $15,658 more per year; $40,109.00 vs. $24,451.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than at Texas Tech University (88% vs. 79%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 35.2% larger than aid received by Texas Tech University students ($14,186 vs. $10,494).

Texas Tech vs. VCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Texas Tech or VCU? 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 VCU and Texas Tech.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Texas Tech University (1190) is 50 points higher than at VCU (1140).
  • Incoming VCU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at Texas Tech).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Texas Tech University 1090/1280; Virginia Commonwealth University 1010/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Texas Tech University 23/28; Virginia Commonwealth University 22/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Texas Tech - Test optional; VCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VCU Jan 18, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Texas Tech students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.76) than students at VCU (3.75).
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (92.6%) than Texas Tech (72.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.1% at Texas Tech vs. 21.6% at VCU.

Texas Tech vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Texas Tech and VCU? 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).

  • Texas Tech University's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University's (53%).
  • Graduates from Texas Tech University earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than VCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,500 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Texas Tech University graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than VCU graduates ($22,500 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Texas Tech graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VCU graduates ($232 vs. $240).
  • More Texas Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 56%)

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.