Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) vs South University-Richmond

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and South University-Richmond (SUR) are two distinct institutions of higher learning located in the vibrant city of Richmond, Virginia. While both universities offer a diverse range of academic programs and opportunities, they differ in several key aspects. VCU, a public research university, boasts a significantly higher acceptance rate compared to SUR, a private institution. VCU's larger student body reflects its broader appeal, while SUR's smaller size fosters a more intimate learning environment. In terms of academic offerings, VCU excels in fields like nursing, engineering, and the arts, while SUR specializes in healthcare, business, and criminal justice. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further distinctions between these two esteemed universities and make an informed decision that aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.

	South University-Richmond	Virginia Commonwealth University
Overview
Location	Glen Allen, Virginia	Richmond, Virginia
Campus setting	Suburb: Large	City: Midsize
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (For Profit)	Public
Calendar system	Quarter	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate		84.0%
Common app member	No	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	Open Admission	92.8%
Application fees		Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $70
SAT range	N/A	1070 - 1300
ACT range	N/A	20 - 29
Students submitting SAT score		29.0%
Students submitting ACT score		5.0%
Total number of applicants		17,579
Total number of admissions given out		16,308
Admitted students who chose to enroll		4,084
Yield rate		25.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	Not required	N/A
High school GPA	N/A	Required
Recommendation letters	N/A	Not required
High school transcript	N/A	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	N/A	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$33,088	In state: $36,861 Out of state: $58,199
Average net price	$20,656	$19,656
Tuition	$16,920	In state: $12,094 Out of state: $32,742
Room & board		Room/dormitory: $6,953 Meal plan: $5,820
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	100.0% Average amount $5,477	78.0% Average amount $13,623
Students receiving federal student loan	75.0% Average amount $8,210	44.0% Average amount $5,174
Students taking out private loans	0.0% Average amount $0	8.0% Average amount $17,903

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	342 Men 33.6% Women 66.4%	21,394 Men 36.9% Women 63.1%
Graduate students	120 Men 20.0% Women 80.0%	7,200 Men 33.7% Women 66.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	7.0%
International students	1.1%	3.6%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Large	City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity	N/A	5,958
First year students are required to live on campus?	N/A	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	Virginia Maryland North Carolina New Jersey Pennsylvania

Academics
Popular study areas	Health Professions Psychology Business Computer and Information Science Law Enforcement and Firefighting	Health Professions Visual & Performing Arts Business Public Administration and Social Service Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio	10:1	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	11.1%	67.6%
Dropout rate	83.3%	10.5%
Transferred out	N/A	19.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $95,547 Year 2: $100,140 Year 3: $107,514 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates) Year 1: $90,641 Year 2: $98,736 Year 3: $102,466 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $90,832 Year 2: $91,613 Year 3: $98,023 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $65,499 Year 2: $66,883 Year 3: $71,557 Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $59,218 Year 2: $60,839 Year 3: $62,890 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $46,002 Year 2: $42,799 Year 3: $48,444 Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $39,831 Year 2: $44,418 Year 3: $46,834 Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees) Year 1: $39,095 Year 2: $43,489 Year 3: $45,357 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $37,748 Year 2: $39,986 Year 3: $42,014 Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $38,224 Year 2: $36,598 Year 3: $39,039	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

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Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) vs South University-Richmond

South University-Richmond

Virginia Commonwealth University

Overview

Admission

Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

Students and Campus

Academics

Outcome

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