Virginia Commonwealth University
Academics

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How strong are the academics at Virginia Commonwealth University?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

16:1
Student to faculty ratio
32
Average class size
47%
4-year grad rate

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

VCU has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
187
10-19
453
20-29
560
30-39
247
40-49
119
50-99
170
100+
97

Honors Programs

Virginia Commonwealth University has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on VCU's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at Virginia Commonwealth University:

86%
First-year retention rate
47%
4-year grad rate
65%
6-year grad rate

The average base annual salary of students who were employed within six months of graduation is $53,427. This is higher than the national average of $48,300.

$53,427
$48,300 (National Average)

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are Virginia Commonwealth University's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Psychology, General
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Health Teacher Education
Business/Commerce, General
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
160.4
219.92
279.44
338.96
398.48
458

The Full List

Major Graduates
Area
  • Area Studies, Other 24
  • Women's Studies 10
  • African-American/Black Studies 9
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 338
  • Bioinformatics 37
Business
  • Business/Commerce, General 218
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General 135
  • Finance, General 82
  • Accounting 79
  • Business/Managerial Economics 28
  • Real Estate 14
  • Finance and Financial Management Services, Other 8
Communication
  • Mass Communication/Media Studies 188
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Information Science/Studies 167
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General 122
Education
  • Health Teacher Education 313
  • Elementary Education and Teaching 22
  • Art Teacher Education 21
  • Early Childhood Education and Teaching 7
  • Special Education and Teaching, General 6
  • Physical Education Teaching and Coaching 3
  • Secondary Education and Teaching 0
Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering 95
  • Chemical Engineering 46
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 40
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering 27
  • Computer Engineering, General 20
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 95
Foreign Languages
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures, General 5
Health Professions And Related Programs
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 210
  • Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist 44
  • Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer 44
  • Health/Health Care Administration/Management 13
  • Dental Hygiene/Hygienist 13
  • Nursing Practice 0
History
  • History, General 66
Homeland Security
  • Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 181
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other 70
  • Forensic Science and Technology 48
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 23
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other 186
  • Biological and Physical Sciences 72
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Studies 60
Parks
  • Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies 0
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 14
  • Religion/Religious Studies 4
Physical Sciences
  • Chemistry, General 94
  • Physics, General 16
Psychology
  • Psychology, General 458
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
  • Social Work 97
Social Sciences
  • Political Science and Government, General 133
  • Sociology, General 44
  • Urban Studies/Affairs 23
  • Anthropology, General 15
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Illustration 131
  • Fashion/Apparel Design 71
  • Graphic Design 70
  • Cinematography and Film/Video Production 46
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 45
  • Photography 42
  • Music Performance, General 41
  • Design and Applied Arts, Other 37
  • Painting 33
  • Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry 27
  • Sculpture 13
  • Interior Design 13
  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation 12
  • Dance, General 11

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