Youngstown State vs. VCU

Deciding between Youngstown State University and Virginia Commonwealth 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.

Youngstown State University
Virginia Commonwealth University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Youngstown State Youngstown, OH
  • VCU Richmond, VA
  • Setting
  • Youngstown State Small City
  • VCU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Youngstown State 12,204
  • VCU 28,464
  • Type
  • Youngstown State Public 4 Year
  • VCU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Youngstown State #976
  • VCU #465
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Youngstown State -
  • VCU -
  • Status
  • Youngstown State Non-profit
  • VCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Youngstown State
  • VCU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Youngstown State $11,113
  • VCU $16,945
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Youngstown State $11,473
  • VCU $40,109
  • Room & Board
  • Youngstown State $11,730
  • VCU $18,254
  • Average Net Price
  • Youngstown State $12,757
  • VCU $26,836
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Youngstown State $8,420
  • VCU $14,186
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Youngstown State 91%
  • VCU 88%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Youngstown State 7,368
  • VCU 20,954
  • Admitted
  • Youngstown State 6,222
  • VCU 19,408
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Youngstown State 84.4% Open
  • VCU 92.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Youngstown State 29.4% Open
  • VCU 21.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Youngstown State 1120
  • VCU 1140
  • Typical ACT score
  • Youngstown State 22
  • VCU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Youngstown State 3.51
  • VCU 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Youngstown State A-
  • VCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Youngstown State Moderate
  • VCU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Youngstown State
  • VCU
  • ACT Range
  • Youngstown State 19/25
  • VCU 22/30
  • SAT Range
  • Youngstown State 1010/1230
  • VCU 1010/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Youngstown State Open admission
  • VCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Youngstown State Aug 1, 2027
  • VCU Jan 18, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Youngstown State 20:1
  • VCU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Youngstown State
    • Business (18%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • VCU
    • Business (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Youngstown State 35%
  • VCU 53%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Youngstown State $37,700
  • VCU $47,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Youngstown State 36%
  • VCU 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Youngstown State $27,000
  • VCU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Youngstown State $279
  • VCU $240
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Youngstown State 43%
  • VCU 36%
  • % Women
  • Youngstown State 57%
  • VCU 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Youngstown State Low
  • VCU High
  • HBCU
  • Youngstown State No
  • VCU No
  • % White
  • Youngstown State 76%
  • VCU 50%
  • % Asian
  • Youngstown State 1%
  • VCU 13%
  • % Black
  • Youngstown State 11%
  • VCU 18%
  • % Hispanic
  • Youngstown State 4%
  • VCU 8%
  • % Native American
  • Youngstown State 0%
  • VCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Youngstown State 0%
  • VCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Youngstown State 3%
  • VCU 6%
  • % International
  • Youngstown State 1%
  • VCU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Youngstown State 4%
  • VCU 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Youngstown State 63%
  • VCU 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Youngstown State 11%
  • VCU 6%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Youngstown State University in Youngstown, OH with Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than Youngstown State based on total student enrollment (28,464 students vs. 12,204 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Youngstown State University is located in Youngstown, OH (Small City setting); Virginia Commonwealth University is in Richmond, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Youngstown State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Youngstown State University 20:1; Virginia Commonwealth University 17:1.

Youngstown State vs. VCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Youngstown State or VCU? 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 Youngstown State University than VCU ($12,757 vs. $26,836).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Youngstown State University are 35.7% lower than at Virginia Commonwealth University ($11,730 vs. $18,254).
  • Virginia Commonwealth University is 52.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Youngstown State (about $5,832 more per year; $16,945.00 vs. $11,113.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 249.6% higher at VCU than at Youngstown State University (about $28,636 more per year; $40,109.00 vs. $11,473.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Youngstown State University than at Virginia Commonwealth University (91% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 68.5% larger than aid received by Youngstown State University students ($14,186 vs. $8,420).

Youngstown State vs. VCU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Youngstown State or VCU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between VCU and Youngstown State.

  • Youngstown State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Commonwealth University (1140) is 20 points higher than at Youngstown State (1120).
  • Incoming VCU students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 22 at Youngstown State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Youngstown State University 1010/1230; Virginia Commonwealth University 1010/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Youngstown State University 19/25; Virginia Commonwealth University 22/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Youngstown State - Open admission; VCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Youngstown State Aug 1, 2027; VCU Jan 18, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Youngstown State (3.51).
  • VCU has a higher acceptance rate (92.6%) than Youngstown State (84.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.4% at Youngstown State vs. 21.6% at VCU.

Youngstown State vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Youngstown State and VCU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Virginia Commonwealth University's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than Youngstown State University's (35%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of about $9,800 more per year than Youngstown State graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,500 vs. $37,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Commonwealth University graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than Youngstown State graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, VCU graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Youngstown State graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More VCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Youngstown State students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 36%)

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.