University of South Alabama vs Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)

In the pursuit of higher education, prospective students often find themselves torn between multiple universities that align with their academic aspirations. To aid in this decision-making process, we present a comprehensive comparison of the University of South Alabama (USA) and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique characteristics. USA boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students, while VCU's lower student-to-faculty ratio ensures personalized attention. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences, including popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates, to determine which university best aligns with your individual needs and aspirations.
University of South Alabama logo

University of South Alabama

Virginia Commonwealth University logo

Virginia Commonwealth University

Overview

Location Mobile, Alabama Richmond, Virginia
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 71.0% 84.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 70.8% 92.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $35

Graduate: $35
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
SAT range 985 - 1215 1070 - 1300
ACT range 19 - 26 20 - 29
Students submitting SAT score 7.0% 29.0%
Students submitting ACT score 86.0% 5.0%
Total number of applicants 11,817 17,579
Total number of admissions given out 8,364 16,308
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,778 4,084
Yield rate 21.3% 25.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $23,838

Out of state: $32,094
In state: $36,861

Out of state: $58,199
Average net price $14,984 $19,656
Tuition
In state: $8,256

Out of state: $16,512
In state: $12,094

Out of state: $32,742
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $4,260

Meal plan: $3,890
Room/dormitory: $6,953

Meal plan: $5,820
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

92.0%
Average amount $7,774
78.0%
Average amount $13,623
Students receiving federal student loan 49.0%
Average amount $10,354
44.0%
Average amount $5,174
Students taking out private loans 4.0%
Average amount $12,311
8.0%
Average amount $17,903

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 8,833
Men 38.7% Women 61.3%
21,394
Men 36.9% Women 63.1%
Graduate students 5,159
Men 20.2% Women 79.8%
7,200
Men 33.7% Women 66.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 24.3% 7.0%
International students 1.5% 3.6%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 3,331 5,958
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Alabama Mississippi Florida Illinois Louisiana Virginia Maryland North Carolina New Jersey Pennsylvania

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Health Professions
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio 17:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 47.4% 67.6%
Dropout rate 19.5% 10.5%
Transferred out 29.5% 19.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $116,286
  • Year 2: $109,763
  • Year 3: $117,239
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,918
  • Year 2: $115,711
  • Year 3: $112,240
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,131
  • Year 2: $102,706
  • Year 3: $111,122
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,584
  • Year 2: $96,954
  • Year 3: $102,546
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $60,839
  • Year 3: $80,009
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,655
  • Year 2: $72,214
  • Year 3: $79,002
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,253
  • Year 2: $66,240
  • Year 3: $76,272
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,913
  • Year 2: $68,219
  • Year 3: $75,983
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,168
  • Year 2: $61,516
  • Year 3: $74,579
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,562
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $72,349
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $234,763
  • Year 3: $225,432
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $166,030
  • Year 2: $181,454
  • Year 3: $181,915
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,586
  • Year 2: $106,935
  • Year 3: $134,578
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $101,582
  • Year 2: $119,256
  • Year 3: $121,903
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,371
  • Year 2: $93,178
  • Year 3: $105,544
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,094
  • Year 2: $93,467
  • Year 3: $97,893
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,759
  • Year 2: $86,867
  • Year 3: $94,244
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,726
  • Year 2: $82,440
  • Year 3: $90,664
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,993
  • Year 2: $89,305
  • Year 3: $82,470
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,920
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $82,210

Compare Similar Colleges

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