VCU vs. WVU

Deciding between Virginia Commonwealth University and West Virginia 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.

Virginia Commonwealth University
West Virginia University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • VCU Richmond, VA
  • WVU Morgantown, WV
  • Setting
  • VCU Midsize City
  • WVU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • VCU 28,464
  • WVU 23,643
  • Type
  • VCU Public 4 Year
  • WVU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • VCU #465
  • WVU #566
  • Religious Affiliation
  • VCU -
  • WVU -
  • Status
  • VCU Non-profit
  • WVU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • VCU
  • WVU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • VCU $16,945
  • WVU $10,104
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • VCU $40,109
  • WVU $28,608
  • Room & Board
  • VCU $18,254
  • WVU $14,582
  • Average Net Price
  • VCU $26,836
  • WVU $15,169
  • Average Grant Aid
  • VCU $14,186
  • WVU $12,363
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • VCU 88%
  • WVU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • VCU 20,954
  • WVU 18,729
  • Admitted
  • VCU 19,408
  • WVU 16,669
  • Acceptance Rate
  • VCU 92.6%
  • WVU 89%
  • Enrolled
  • VCU 21.6%
  • WVU 24.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • VCU 1140
  • WVU 1120
  • Typical ACT score
  • VCU 26
  • WVU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • VCU 3.75
  • WVU 3.45
  • Typical High School Grades
  • VCU A-
  • WVU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • VCU Challenging
  • WVU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • VCU
  • WVU
  • ACT Range
  • VCU 22/30
  • WVU 20/26
  • SAT Range
  • VCU 1010/1270
  • WVU 1010/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • VCU Test optional
  • WVU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • VCU Jan 18, 2027
  • WVU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • VCU 17:1
  • WVU 19:1
  • Popular Majors
  • VCU
    • Business (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • WVU
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • VCU 53%
  • WVU 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • VCU $47,500
  • WVU $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • VCU 56%
  • WVU 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • VCU $23,250
  • WVU $24,001
  • Median Loan Payment
  • VCU $240
  • WVU $248

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • VCU 36%
  • WVU 47%
  • % Women
  • VCU 64%
  • WVU 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • VCU High
  • WVU Low
  • HBCU
  • VCU No
  • WVU No
  • % White
  • VCU 50%
  • WVU 81%
  • % Asian
  • VCU 13%
  • WVU 1%
  • % Black
  • VCU 18%
  • WVU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • VCU 8%
  • WVU 4%
  • % Native American
  • VCU 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • VCU 0%
  • WVU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • VCU 6%
  • WVU 3%
  • % International
  • VCU 3%
  • WVU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • VCU 1%
  • WVU 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • VCU 91%
  • WVU 41%
  • % Out-of-State
  • VCU 6%
  • WVU 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA with West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than WVU based on total student enrollment (28,464 students vs. 23,643 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Virginia Commonwealth University is located in Richmond, VA (Midsize City setting); West Virginia University is in Morgantown, WV (Small City setting).
  • Virginia Commonwealth University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. West Virginia University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Virginia Commonwealth University 17:1; West Virginia University 19:1.

VCU vs. WVU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCU or WVU? 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 West Virginia University than VCU ($15,169 vs. $26,836).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Virginia University are 20.1% lower than at Virginia Commonwealth University ($14,582 vs. $18,254).
  • Virginia Commonwealth University is 67.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than WVU (about $6,841 more per year; $16,945.00 vs. $10,104.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.2% higher at VCU than at West Virginia University (about $11,501 more per year; $40,109.00 vs. $28,608.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Virginia University than at Virginia Commonwealth University (94% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 14.7% larger than aid received by West Virginia University students ($14,186 vs. $12,363).

VCU vs. WVU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VCU or WVU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between WVU and VCU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Virginia Commonwealth University (1140) is 20 points higher than at WVU (1120).
  • Incoming VCU students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (26 vs. 23 at WVU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Virginia Commonwealth University 1010/1270; West Virginia University 1010/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Virginia Commonwealth University 22/30; West Virginia University 20/26.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: VCU - Test optional; WVU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: VCU Jan 18, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman VCU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at WVU (3.45).
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (92.6%) than WVU (89%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.6% at VCU vs. 24.8% at WVU.

VCU vs. WVU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for VCU and WVU? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • West Virginia University's six-year graduation rate (57%) is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University's (53%).
  • Graduates from West Virginia University earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than VCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,600 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Commonwealth University graduates have a $751 lower median loan debt than WVU graduates ($23,250 vs. $24,001).
  • Among borrowers, VCU graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WVU graduates ($240 vs. $248).
  • More WVU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (59% 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.