Virginia Commonwealth University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Virginia Commonwealth University is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 85%. The school occupies two campuses in Richmond: the 88-acre Monroe Park Campus in the historic Fan District, and the 52-acre MCV Campus, home to the VCU Medical Center, in the financial district.

Students can choose from over 60 baccalaureate degree programs, with the arts, sciences, social sciences, and humanities all being popular among undergraduates. At the graduate level, VCU's health programs have an excellent national reputation. In athletics, the VCU Rams compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic 10 Conference.

Considering applying to VCU? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Virginia Commonwealth University had an acceptance rate of 85%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 85 students were admitted, making VCU's admissions process less competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

VCU requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. One exception to the score requirement is freshmen applicants with a minimum high school GPA of 3.3. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 88% of admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of VCU's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to VCU scored between 550 and 640, while 25% scored below 550 and 25% scored above 640. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 520 and 620, while 25% scored below 520 and 25% scored above 620. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1260 or higher will have particularly competitive chances at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Requirements

VCU does not require the SAT writing section. Note that Virginia Commonwealth participates in the scorechoice program, which means that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Virginia Commonwealth requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. One exception to the score requirement is freshmen applicants with a minimum high school GPA of 3.3. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 18% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of VCU's admitted students fall within the top 42% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to VCU received a composite ACT score between 21 and 28, while 25% scored above 28 and 25% scored below 21.

Requirements

Note that Virginia Commonwealth University does not superscore ACT results; your highest composite ACT score will be considered. VCU does not require the ACT writing section.

GPA

In 2019, the middle 50% of Virginia Commonwealth University's incoming class had high school GPAs between 3.35 and 4.02. 25% had a GPA above 4.02, and 25% had a GPA below 3.35. These results suggest that most successful applicants to Virginia Commonwealth University have primarily A and B grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Virginia Commonwealth University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Virginia Commonwealth University, which accepts over eighty percent of applicants, has a less selective admissions process. If your SAT/ACT scores and grades fall within the school's average ranges, you have a strong chance of being accepted. However, VCU has holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their test scores are outside VCU's typical range.

For applicants with a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.3 or higher, the submission of test scores is optional. Note that applicants who wish to be considered for scholarships, as well as engineering majors, home-schooled students, and non-native English speakers are not eligible for test-optional admissions.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. The data show that the majority of successful applicants had high school averages of "B" or better, combined SAT scores of 1000 or higher (ERW+M), and ACT composite scores of 20 or better. An average in the "A" range makes an acceptance letter from VCU much more likely.

If You Like VCU, You Might Also Consider These Schools

• University of Virginia
• James Madison University
• Howard University
• UNC - Chapel Hill
• George Mason University

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Virginia Commonwealth University Undergraduate Admissions Office.