Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
JMU Mason Alabama UL Lafayette Virginia Tech Mary Washington College Florida State Old Dominion Tulane LA Tech- Louisiana Tech- Tech CNU UH| Louisiana State University | Virginia Commonwealth University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
LSU | VCU | ||
| Location | Baton Rouge, LA | Richmond, VA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 39,418 | 28,238 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #287 | #469 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lsu.edu | vcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
LSU | VCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,038 | $12,850 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,038 | $34,744 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,296 | $16,119 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,808 | $22,852 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $13,509 | $12,433 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 88% | 99% |
Admission |
LSU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 42,558 | 19,052 | ||
| Admitted | 31,491 | 17,729 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74% | 93.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.9% | 25.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.77 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 24/29 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1150/1330 | 1030/1270 | ||
| 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 | Jul 15, 2026 | Jan 18, 2026 |
Academics |
LSU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 17:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
LSU | VCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,900 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 67% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,900 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $216 | $240 |
Diversity |
LSU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 11% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 73% | 50% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 6% | ||
| % International | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 1% |
Students |
LSU | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 61% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 37% | 6% | ||
Campus |
LSU | VCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Louisiana State University is larger than than VCU based on total student enrollment (39,418 students vs. 28,238 students)
LSU vs. VCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, LSU or VCU?
- Virginia Commonwealth University is 59.9% more expensive to attend than LSU for in-state tuition ($12,850.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- Out of state tuition is 332.2% higher at VCU than Louisiana State University ($34,744.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Louisiana State University than VCU ($21,808 vs. $22,852)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Louisiana State University are 12.8% lower than costs at Virginia Commonwealth University ($14,296 vs. $16,119)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than Louisiana State University (99% vs. 88%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Louisiana State University students is 8.7% larger than aid received Virginia Commonwealth University ($13,509 vs. $12,433)
LSU vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, LSU or VCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCU or LSU .
- The average SAT score at Louisiana State University (1163) is 66 points higher than at VCU (1097)
- Incoming LSU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at VCU (24)
- Accepted freshman LSU students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.77) than students at VCU (3.75)
- VCU has a higher acceptance rate (93.1%) than LSU (74%)
LSU vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, LSU 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 LSU.
- The graduation rate at LSU is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University (60% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Louisiana State University earn on average $9,400 more per year than VCU graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $47,500)
- Louisiana State University students graduate with a $2,350 lower median federal student loan debt than VCU graduates. ($20,900 vs. $23,250)
- LSU graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than VCU graduates. ($216 vs. $240)
- More LSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 56%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/