Home / Worth-It Scores / Virginia / Virginia Commonwealth
Is Virginia Commonwealth University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Virginia Commonwealth, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Virginia Commonwealth sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $58,128 helps, but median debt of $21,500 plus yearly net price of $23,433 creates a tighter path. For context, Virginia Commonwealth's net price sits about 74% above the typical 4-year, public school and near the top of its sector range. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$22,852
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis significantly impacts your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $9,698 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $39,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price is manageable, but it makes the aid offer matter a lot.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$23,433
Median earnings 10 years out
$58,128
Median debt at graduation
$21,500
Graduation rate
64%
At Virginia Commonwealth, a typical graduate carries about $21,500 in student debt and earns roughly $58,128 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $244 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Virginia Commonwealth is a public four year school in Richmond, VA. For many families, the key question is whether the published value here beats cheaper in state or regional alternatives once your real aid offer arrives.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Public 4-year
James Madison
Harrisonburg, VA
Worth-It Score: 77/100
Median net price: $23,322
Public 4-year
Christopher Newport
Newport News, VA
Worth-It Score: 67/100
Median net price: $23,015
Public 4-year
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
Blacksburg, VA
Worth-It Score: 85/100
Median net price: $24,953
Public 4-year
University of Virginia-
Charlottesville, VA
Worth-It Score: 92/100
Median net price: $21,565
Public 4-year
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA
Worth-It Score: 67/100
Median net price: $20,667
Common questions about Virginia Commonwealth
The median net price at Virginia Commonwealth is $23,433 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Virginia? See the most affordable public universities in Virginia →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →