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Virginia State University

Petersburg, VA
Known forEconomic diversityTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 11, 2026

  • Entered fall 2024: 74% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 69%)Virginia State University Common Data Set 2025–26

Source:Virginia State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2025

9 in 10 applicants admitted

Virginia State admits about 9 in 10 applicants (89%). That puts it in the "Broadly accessible" tier, more selective than 26% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

89%

89%

acceptance rateBroadly accessible

Applied

11,775

Admitted

10,436

Yield

11%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

2.97

SAT middle 50%

840–1070

4001600
ACT middle 50%

14–20

1236
Applications +99% since fall 2014 · admit rate 80% → 89%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 5,074 undergrads, where 72% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

5.1K

undergrads · larger than 78% of colleges

Diversity index

0.30

Pell Grant

72%

above the median

First generation

34%

about the median

Large suburbNCAA D-II · Central Intercollegiate Athletic AssociationROTCStudy abroad
More diverse · index 0.26 → 0.30 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Criminal Justice/Safety Studies (10% of graduates). 13 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 50% of colleges. 65% of faculty are full-time. Spends $15,660 a year on instruction per student.

13 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 50% of colleges

Most popular major

Criminal Justice/Safety Studies

10% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians

$89.7K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

65%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$15.7K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $20,650 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $3.6K less than the national median. The 92% who received grants paid $17,840 on average; the other 8% paid the full sticker price of $27,661 in-state / $39,912 out-of-state.

36%

$20.7K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $3.6K below the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$27,661 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Little need-based aid above $110K
aid thins out for families above that income
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 36% of full price

Federal loans

76%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost falling · −19% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $45,543 ten years after enrolling, more than at 25% of colleges; 46% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.8 years of that salary.

46%

46%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$45.5K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$26.5K

≈ $281/month for 10 years

Retention

74%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 42% → 39% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price held about steady after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 19%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 99% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 80% to 89%.

  • Cost

    Falling

    −19% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +99%

  • Selectivity

    Less selective

    admit rate 80% → 89% (to fall 2024)

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.26 → 0.30

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Albany State University

6K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso SoutheastAlso public
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Norfolk State University

88% admit · SAT 927 · 5.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
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North Carolina Central University

87% admit · 6.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso Southeast
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Jackson State University

93% admit · SAT 945 · 4.6K undergrads

Similar scoresSimilar sizeAlso Southeast
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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    Virginia State University Common Data Set 2025–26

    Virginia State University · Fall 2025; 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Entered fall 2024; Fall 2026 cycle; 2026–27; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05

  4. 4
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    Virginia State University (2026)

    Virginia State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 234155 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything