What is the acceptance rate at Virginia State University?

Virginia State University's acceptance rate is approximately 89% (Petersburg, VA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.

What SAT score do you need for Virginia State University?

Admitted students at Virginia State University typically score 840–1070 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

How much does Virginia State University cost?

At Virginia State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,840 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.

How many undergraduates attend Virginia State University?

Virginia State University enrolls approximately 5,074 undergraduate students.

Where is Virginia State University located?

Virginia State University is located in Petersburg, VA.

Virginia State University: Acceptance Rate, SAT & Cost — QuantAdmit

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Virginia State University

Petersburg, VApublicwww.vsu.edu/

Acceptance

89%

SAT 25–75

840–1070

Avg net price

$15,840

Earnings (10 yr)

$45,543

Graduation rate

39%

Admit rate has ranged 89%–96% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.

Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.

Virginia State University (VSU) is a public historically Black university in Petersburg, VA, known for its accessible admissions, strong community vibe, and focus on practical fields like criminal justice and business. While graduation rates lag behind national averages, its affordability and cultural richness make it a vital option for students seeking an HBCU experience with big-school resources.

Admission requirements

Test-optional — scores considered if submitted

Required

High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)

Considered (not required)

Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program

Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.

More details

Undergrad enrollment: 5,074
In-state tuition: $10,043
Out-of-state tuition: $22,650
Median Debt: $26,500
Acceptance Rate: 89%
Graduation Rate: 41–44%
On-Campus Housing: 76% of students
Most Popular Majors: Psychology, Criminal Justice, Business

Outcomes & value

Median earnings (10 yr): $45,543
Value (earnings ÷ net price): 2.9×
Median debt at graduation: $26,500
Graduation rate: 39%
First-year retention: 69%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr): 27%
Pell (lower-income) share: 77%
First-generation share: 34%
Endowment / student: $18,838

Top-earning majors

Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.

Management Information Systems and Services$42,682
Mathematics$41,193
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians$39,927
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$37,424
Social Work$33,281
Business Administration, Management and Operations

Campus & location

Campus safety

On-campus violent crimes (2024): 17
Per 1,000 students: 3.35

On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.

Climate

Pleasant days / yr: 98
Summer high: 88°F
Winter low: 35°F
Annual rain: 45.3"
Annual snow: 4"
Natural-hazard risk: Relatively Moderate

Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.

Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility

Research output

Institutional h-index: 132
Scholarly works: 2,686

Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.

Economic mobility

Mobility rate: 3.4%
Bottom → top quintile: 18%
From bottom quintile: 19%

Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.

Quick answers

What is the acceptance rate at Virginia State University?: Virginia State University's acceptance rate is approximately 89% (Petersburg, VA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Virginia State University?: Admitted students at Virginia State University typically score 840–1070 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Virginia State University cost?: At Virginia State University, the average net price (after aid) is about $15,840 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Virginia State University?: Virginia State University enrolls approximately 5,074 undergraduate students.
Where is Virginia State University located?: Virginia State University is located in Petersburg, VA.

Admissions

VSU is decidedly not a selective school, with an 89% ([BigFuture](https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/virginia-state-university/admissions), [Niche](https://www.niche.com/colleges/virginia-state-university/admissions/)). Of the 11,775 applicants in a recent cycle, 10,436 were admitted, though only about half enrolled ([Peterson’s](https://www.petersons.com/college-search/virginia-state-university-000_10000761.aspx)). The middle 50% of admitted students have SAT scores between 840–1070 or ACT scores of 14–20 ([PrepScholar](https://www.prepscholar.com/sat/s/colleges/Virginia-State-University-sat-scores-GPA), [Niche](https://www.niche.com/colleges/virginia-state-university/admissions/)). The university emphasizes a , stating it seeks students with 'diverse talents' ([Freshman Requirements](https://www.vsu.edu/admissions/apply/freshman-apply/freshman-requirements.php)). Merit scholarships start at a 3.0 GPA and 1080 SAT/21 ACT ([At-a-Glance PDF](https://www.vsu.edu/files/docs/admissions/vsu-at-a-glance.pdf)).

bigfuture.collegeboard.org niche.com petersons.com prepscholar.com vsu.edu

Compare Virginia State University

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Virginia State University

Admission requirements

Outcomes & value

Top-earning majors

Campus safety

Climate

Research output

Economic mobility

Quick answers

Admissions

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