Virginia State University
Petersburg, VA · Public four-year · Suburb: Large
4,829undergraduates
89%admitted
Test-optionalSAT/ACT
$16,184average net price per year
41%graduate in 6 years
71%return for year two
Admissions
- Applicants
- 10,577
- Admitted
- 9,424
- Admit rate
- 89%
- Admit rate, women
- 90%
- Admit rate, men
- 86%
- Admitted students who enroll
- 15%
- First-year students
- 1,448
- SAT/ACT
- Test-optional
- Students who sent SAT scores
- 14%
- SAT reading and writing (middle 50%)
- 420-540
- SAT math (middle 50%)
- 380-510
- Students who sent ACT scores
- 2%
- ACT composite (middle 50%)
- 14-20
| High school GPA | Required |
|---|---|
| High school record | Required |
| College-prep coursework | Considered, not required |
| SAT or ACT scores | Considered, not required |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Essay or personal statement | Not considered |
| Class rank | Considered, not required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required |
| Work experience | Not considered |
| Legacy status | Not considered |
Majors
33 undergraduate programs that awarded a degree or certificate last year, grouped by field. Numbers are how many were awarded.
Business, management, marketing, and related support services (6)
- Accounting Bachelor's (15 awarded)
- Business Administration and Management, General Bachelor's (52 awarded)
- Business/Managerial Economics Bachelor's (3 awarded)
- Hospitality Administration/Management, General Bachelor's (13 awarded)
- Management Information Systems, General Bachelor's (17 awarded)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General Bachelor's (17 awarded)
Psychology (1)
- Psychology, General Bachelor's (71 awarded)
Homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting and related protective services (1)
- Criminal Justice/Safety Studies Bachelor's (56 awarded)
Education (3)
- Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching Bachelor's (1 awarded)
- Physical Education Teaching and Coaching Bachelor's (47 awarded)
- Special Education and Teaching, General Bachelor's (2 awarded)
Biological and biomedical sciences (1)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General Bachelor's (46 awarded)
Communication, journalism, and related programs (1)
- Mass Communication/Media Studies Bachelor's (45 awarded)
Social sciences (2)
- Political Science and Government, General Bachelor's (24 awarded)
- Sociology, General Bachelor's (21 awarded)
Engineering/engineering-related technologies/technicians (3)
- Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other Bachelor's (5 awarded)
- Industrial Technology/Technician Bachelor's (16 awarded)
- Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Other Bachelor's (16 awarded)
Multi/interdisciplinary studies (1)
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other Bachelor's (30 awarded)
Agricultural/animal/plant/veterinary science and related fields (1)
- Agriculture, General Bachelor's (25 awarded)
Computer and information sciences and support services (1)
- Computer Science Bachelor's (24 awarded)
Public administration and social service professions (1)
- Social Work Bachelor's (20 awarded)
Visual and performing arts (2)
- Music Performance, General Bachelor's (7 awarded)
- Visual and Performing Arts, General Bachelor's (8 awarded)
Family and consumer sciences/human sciences (2)
- Family and Consumer Economics and Related Services, Other Bachelor's (13 awarded)
- Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General Certificate (under 1 year) (1 awarded)
Engineering (2)
- Computer Engineering, General Bachelor's (9 awarded)
- Manufacturing Engineering Bachelor's (3 awarded)
History (1)
- History, General Bachelor's (10 awarded)
English language and literature/letters (1)
- English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's (6 awarded)
Mathematics and statistics (1)
- Mathematics, General Bachelor's (5 awarded)
Physical sciences (1)
- Chemistry, General Bachelor's (3 awarded)
Health professions and related programs (1)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse Bachelor's (2 awarded)
Graduate programs (16)
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services Master's
- Curriculum and Instruction Master's
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General Master's, Doctorate (research)
- Trade and Industrial Teacher Education Post-bachelor's certificate
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management Master's
- Business/Managerial Economics Master's
- Computer Science Master's
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other Master's
- Mathematics, General Master's
- Health/Medical Psychology Doctorate (research)
- Psychology, General Master's
- Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other Master's
- Social Work Master's
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General Master's
- Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other Master's
- Dietetics/Dietitian Post-bachelor's certificate
Cost and aid
- Tuition and fees, in-state
- $9,755
- Tuition and fees, out-of-state
- $22,006
- Housing and food on campus
- $12,966
- Books and supplies
- $1,300
- Other on-campus costs
- $3,640
- Total cost on campus, in-state
- $27,661
- Total cost on campus, out-of-state
- $39,912
- Total cost living at home
- $23,881
Published prices for 2023-24.
| Family income | Per year |
|---|---|
| $0-30,000 | $12,432 |
| $30,001-48,000 | $13,665 |
| $48,001-75,000 | $17,511 |
| $75,001-110,000 | $19,774 |
| Over $110,000 | $22,390 |
Net price is the full cost minus grants and scholarships, for full-time first-year students who got aid in 2022-23 and paid in-state tuition.
- First-year students who got any aid
- 92%
- Got grants or scholarships
- 92%
- Average grant or scholarship
- $12,300
- Got a grant from the college
- 62%
- Average grant from the college
- $3,036
- Undergraduates with a Pell grant
- 71%
- First-year students who borrowed
- 92%
- Average amount borrowed
- $7,092
Graduation
- Bachelor's in 4 years
- 27%
- Bachelor's in 5 years
- 38%
- Bachelor's in 6 years
- 41%
- Bachelor's in 8 years
- 49%
- Any degree in 6 years (all students)
- 41%
- Came back for year two
- 71%
| Pell grant students | 37% |
|---|---|
| Subsidized loan, no Pell | 42% |
| Neither | 63% |
| Group | Students | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 661 | 45% |
| Men | 422 | 34% |
| Black | 13 | 46% (small group) |
| Race unknown | 1,065 | 41% |
| International | 5 | 60% (small group) |
| Started | Students | Earned a degree or certificate here | Enrolled at another college |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started here, full-time | 817 | 47% | 27% |
| Started here, part-time | 24 | 0% | 42% |
| Transferred in, full-time | 208 | 54% | 29% |
| Transferred in, part-time | 25 | 40% | 40% |
Graduation rates follow students who started full-time for the first time in fall 2017. Groups under 20 students are marked because a few students change the rate a lot.
Students
- Total students
- 5,190
- Undergraduates
- 4,829
- Full-time undergraduates
- 4,578
- Part-time undergraduates
- 251
- Graduate students
- 361
- Students per faculty member
- 13 to 1
- First-year students from in state
- 66%
- From out of state
- 33%
- From other countries
- 1%
- Undergraduates age 25 and up
- 8%
- Undergraduates taking all classes online
- 1%
| Women | 60% |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0% |
| Asian | 0% |
| Black | 93% |
| Hispanic | 0% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0% |
| White | 3% |
| Two or more races | 0% |
| Race unknown | 3% |
| International | 1% |
Campus life
- Setting
- Suburb: Large
- Address
- 1 Hayden Drive, Petersburg, VA, 23806
- County
- Chesterfield County
- Type
- Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs
- Highest degree
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
- Academic calendar
- Semester
- Historically Black college or university
- Yes
- Land-grant university
- Yes
- Athletics
- NCAA
- Teams include
- football, basketball, baseball, cross country and track
- Offers
- Army ROTC, Study abroad, Teacher certification, Online programs, Credit for AP exams
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2022-23 to 2024-25 surveys), and the College Scorecard.