UNCSA vs. VCU

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

UNCSA VCU
Location Winston-Salem, NC Richmond, VA
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 1,104 28,082
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #291 #442
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website uncsa.edu vcu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

UNCSA VCU
Tuition (In State) $6,497 $12,458
Tuition (Out of State) $23,731 $33,726
Room & Board $12,902 $12,279
Avg Net Price $11,251 $21,294
Avg Grant Aid $10,868 $12,583
% Receiving Grant Aid 69% 83%

Admission

UNCSA VCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,139 18,242
Admitted 362 16,600
Acceptance Rate 31.8% 91%
Enrolled % 58% 25.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 22/30 22/30
SAT Range 1115/1350 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 Mar 15, 2025 Jan 18, 2025

Academics

UNCSA VCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 6:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)

Outcomes

UNCSA VCU
Graduation Rate 58% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,100 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $279 $240

Diversity

UNCSA VCU
% Men 41% 36%
% Women 59% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 72% 50%
% Black 9% 18%
% Hispanic 8% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 6%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

UNCSA VCU
% In-State 43% 92%
% Out-of-State 52% 6%

Campus

UNCSA 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 UNCSA based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 1,104 students)

UNCSA vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNCSA or VCU?

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is 91.8% more expensive to attend than UNCSA for in-state tuition ($12,458.00 vs. $6,497.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 42.1% higher at VCU than University of North Carolina School of the Arts ($33,726.00 vs. $23,731.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina School of the Arts than VCU ($11,251 vs. $21,294)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Commonwealth University are 5.1% lower than costs at University of North Carolina School of the Arts ($12,279 vs. $12,902)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than University of North Carolina School of the Arts (83% vs. 69%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 15.8% larger than aid received University of North Carolina School of the Arts ($12,583 vs. $10,868)

UNCSA vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (1108) is 11 points higher than at VCU (1097)
  • Incoming UNCSA students have at the same average ACT score (24) as students at VCU (24)
  • Accepted freshman UNCSA students have at the same average high school GPA (3.75) as students at VCU (3.75)
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than UNCSA (31.8%)

UNCSA vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UNCSA 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 UNCSA.

  • The graduation rate at UNCSA is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University (58% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University earn on average $8,400 more per year than UNCSA graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $39,100)
  • Virginia Commonwealth University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than UNCSA graduates. ($23,250 vs. $27,000)
  • VCU graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than UNCSA graduates. ($240 vs. $279)
  • More UNCSA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 56%)

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