University of North Carolina at Asheville vs. VCU

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

University of North Carolina at Asheville VCU
Location Asheville, NC Richmond, VA
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 2,914 28,082
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #444 #442
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website unca.edu vcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of North Carolina at Asheville VCU
Tuition (In State) $4,122 $12,458
Tuition (Out of State) $21,470 $33,726
Room & Board $10,556 $12,279
Avg Net Price $14,730 $21,294
Avg Grant Aid $6,491 $12,583
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 83%

Admission

University of North Carolina at Asheville VCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,278 18,242
Admitted 3,179 16,600
Acceptance Rate 74.3% 91%
Enrolled % 15.9% 25.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.49 3.75
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 21/28 22/30
SAT Range 1145/1340 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 Aug 1, 2025 Jan 18, 2025

Academics

University of North Carolina at Asheville VCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Business (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

Outcomes

University of North Carolina at Asheville VCU
Graduation Rate 61% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,900 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,641 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $213 $240

Diversity

University of North Carolina at Asheville VCU
% Men 42% 36%
% Women 58% 64%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 80% 50%
% Black 4% 18%
% Hispanic 5% 8%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 6%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

University of North Carolina at Asheville VCU
% In-State 82% 92%
% Out-of-State 16% 6%

Campus

University of North Carolina at Asheville 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 University of North Carolina at Asheville based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 2,914 students)

University of North Carolina at Asheville vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of North Carolina at Asheville or VCU?

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is 202.2% more expensive to attend than University of North Carolina at Asheville for in-state tuition ($12,458.00 vs. $4,122.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 57.1% higher at VCU than University of North Carolina at Asheville ($33,726.00 vs. $21,470.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Asheville than VCU ($14,730 vs. $21,294)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Asheville are 16.3% lower than costs at Virginia Commonwealth University ($10,556 vs. $12,279)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of North Carolina at Asheville than Virginia Commonwealth University (90% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 93.9% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Asheville ($12,583 vs. $6,491)

University of North Carolina at Asheville vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of North Carolina at Asheville (1159) is 62 points higher than at VCU (1097)
  • Incoming University of North Carolina at Asheville students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at VCU (24)
  • Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at University of North Carolina at Asheville (3.49)
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than University of North Carolina at Asheville (74.3%)

University of North Carolina at Asheville vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of North Carolina at Asheville 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 North Carolina at Asheville.

  • The graduation rate at University of North Carolina at Asheville is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University (61% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University earn on average $9,600 more per year than University of North Carolina at Asheville graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $37,900)
  • University of North Carolina at Asheville students graduate with a $2,609 lower median federal student loan debt than VCU graduates. ($20,641 vs. $23,250)
  • University of North Carolina at Asheville graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than VCU graduates. ($213 vs. $240)
  • More University of North Carolina at Asheville graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 56%)

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