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JMU Mason Virginia Tech Mary Washington College Old Dominion CNU CofC William & Mary UVA WVU UMBC Howard| Charleston Southern University | Virginia Commonwealth University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
CSU | VCU | ||
| Location | Charleston, SC | Richmond, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,418 | 28,082 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #918 | #442 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | csuniv.edu | vcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CSU | VCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $29,490 | $12,458 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $29,490 | $33,726 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,250 | $12,279 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,536 | $21,294 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $26,417 | $12,583 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 83% |
Admission |
CSU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,967 | 18,242 | ||
| Admitted | 4,309 | 16,600 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.8% | 91% | ||
| Enrolled % | 16.9% | 25.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.24 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/23 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 940/1170 | 1030/1290 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 18, 2024 |
Academics |
CSU | VCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CSU | VCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 38% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $39,800 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 50% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $240 |
Diversity |
CSU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 36% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 64% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 61% | 50% | ||
| % Black | 26% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 6% | ||
| % International | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
CSU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 76% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 23% | 6% | ||
Campus |
CSU | VCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Virginia Commonwealth University is larger than than CSU based on total student enrollment (28,082 students vs. 3,418 students)
CSU vs. VCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CSU or VCU?
- Charleston Southern University is 136.7% more expensive to attend than VCU for in-state tuition ($29,490.00 vs. $12,458.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.4% higher at VCU than Charleston Southern University ($33,726.00 vs. $29,490.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Charleston Southern University than VCU ($17,536 vs. $21,294)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Charleston Southern University are 9.1% lower than costs at Virginia Commonwealth University ($11,250 vs. $12,279)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Charleston Southern University than Virginia Commonwealth University (99% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Charleston Southern University students is 109.9% larger than aid received Virginia Commonwealth University ($26,417 vs. $12,583)
CSU vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CSU or VCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCU or CSU .
- The average SAT score at Virginia Commonwealth University (1097) is 67 points higher than at CSU (1030)
- Incoming VCU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at CSU (23)
- Accepted freshman VCU students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at CSU (3.24)
- VCU has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than CSU (86.8%)
CSU vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CSU or VCU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between VCU and CSU.
- The graduation rate at VCU is higher than Charleston Southern University (53% vs. 38%)
- Graduates from Virginia Commonwealth University earn on average $7,700 more per year than CSU graduates after ten years. ($47,500 vs. $39,800)
- Virginia Commonwealth University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($23,250 vs. $27,000)
- VCU graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($240 vs. $279)
- More VCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 50%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/