University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. VCU

Should I go to University of Massachusetts Boston or Virginia Commonwealth University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Massachusetts-Boston 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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University of Massachusetts Boston vs. Virginia Commonwealth University comparison
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University of Massachusetts Boston Virginia Commonwealth University
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Overview

University of Massachusetts-Boston VCU
Location Boston, MA Richmond, VA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 15,586 28,082
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #448 #442
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umb.edu vcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Massachusetts-Boston VCU
Tuition (In State) $14,542 $12,458
Tuition (Out of State) $35,515 $33,726
Room & Board $16,896 $12,279
Avg Net Price $17,123 $21,294
Avg Grant Aid $11,104 $12,583
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 83%

Admission

University of Massachusetts-Boston VCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,512 18,242
Admitted 15,757 16,600
Acceptance Rate 80.8% 91%
Enrolled % 15.5% 25.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.35 3.75
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/29 22/30
SAT Range 1080/1300 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 Feb 15, 2025 Jan 18, 2025

Academics

University of Massachusetts-Boston VCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

Outcomes

University of Massachusetts-Boston VCU
Graduation Rate 40% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,200 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,060 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $228 $240

Diversity

University of Massachusetts-Boston VCU
% Men 41% 36%
% Women 59% 64%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 36% 50%
% Black 16% 18%
% Hispanic 14% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 6%
% International 12% 3%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

University of Massachusetts-Boston VCU
% In-State 78% 92%
% Out-of-State 14% 6%

Campus

University of Massachusetts-Boston VCU
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than University of Massachusetts-Boston based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 15,586 students)

University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Massachusetts-Boston or VCU?

  • University of Massachusetts Boston is 16.7% more expensive to attend than VCU for in-state tuition ($14,542.00 vs. $12,458.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.3% higher at University of Massachusetts-Boston than Virginia Commonwealth University ($35,515.00 vs. $33,726.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Massachusetts Boston than VCU ($17,123 vs. $21,294)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Commonwealth University are 37.6% lower than costs at University of Massachusetts Boston ($12,279 vs. $16,896)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Massachusetts Boston than Virginia Commonwealth University (99% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 13.3% larger than aid received University of Massachusetts Boston ($12,583 vs. $11,104)

University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Virginia Commonwealth University (1097) is 42 points higher than at University of Massachusetts-Boston (1055)
  • Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at University of Massachusetts-Boston (3.35)
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than University of Massachusetts-Boston (80.8%)

University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Massachusetts-Boston 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 University of Massachusetts-Boston.

  • The graduation rate at VCU is higher than University of Massachusetts Boston (53% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from University of Massachusetts Boston earn on average $3,700 more per year than VCU graduates after ten years. ($51,200 vs. $47,500)
  • University of Massachusetts Boston students graduate with a $1,190 lower median federal student loan debt than VCU graduates. ($22,060 vs. $23,250)
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than VCU graduates. ($228 vs. $240)
  • More University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 56%)

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