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JMU Mason UMBC Maryland Salisbury Virginia Tech Mary Washington College Old Dominion CNU William & Mary WCU UVA| Towson University | Virginia Commonwealth University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
TU | VCU | ||
| Location | Towson, MD | Richmond, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 19,793 | 28,082 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #445 | #442 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | towson.edu | vcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
TU | VCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $7,238 | $12,458 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $23,240 | $33,726 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,642 | $12,279 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,443 | $21,294 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,415 | $12,583 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 74% | 83% |
Admission |
TU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,770 | 18,242 | ||
| Admitted | 13,967 | 16,600 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.6% | 91% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.1% | 25.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.69 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1010/1230 | 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 | Apr 1, 2025 | Jan 18, 2025 |
Academics |
TU | VCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
TU | VCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,500 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,750 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $183 | $240 |
Diversity |
TU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 61% | 50% | ||
| % Black | 18% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 6% | ||
| % International | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 1% |
Students |
TU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 89% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 6% | ||
Campus |
TU | VCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than TU based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 19,793 students)
TU vs. VCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, TU or VCU?
- Virginia Commonwealth University is 72.1% more expensive to attend than TU for in-state tuition ($12,458.00 vs. $7,238.00)
- Out of state tuition is 45.1% higher at VCU than Towson University ($33,726.00 vs. $23,240.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Towson University than VCU ($14,443 vs. $21,294)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Commonwealth University are 11.1% lower than costs at Towson University ($12,279 vs. $13,642)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than Towson University (83% vs. 74%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 10.2% larger than aid received Towson University ($12,583 vs. $11,415)
TU vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, TU or VCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCU or TU .
- The average SAT score at Virginia Commonwealth University (1097) is 16 points higher than at TU (1081)
- Incoming VCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at TU (23)
- Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at TU (3.69)
- VCU has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than TU (78.6%)
TU vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, TU 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 TU.
- The graduation rate at TU is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University (64% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Towson University earn on average $6,000 more per year than VCU graduates after ten years. ($53,500 vs. $47,500)
- Towson University students graduate with a $5,500 lower median federal student loan debt than VCU graduates. ($17,750 vs. $23,250)
- TU graduates are paying $57 less per month on federal student loans than VCU graduates. ($183 vs. $240)
- More TU 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/