Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) vs University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM)
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) are two distinct universities with unique offerings. VCU, located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, boasts a vibrant urban campus and a diverse student body. UWM, situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, offers a more traditional college experience with a strong focus on research and academics. While both universities share similarities in terms of size and academic reputation, they differ in acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee |
![]() Virginia Commonwealth University |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Richmond, Virginia |
Campus setting | City: Large | 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 | 76.0% | 84.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 89.0% | 92.8% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$25
Graduate:
$56
|
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
|
SAT range | N/A | 1070 - 1300 |
ACT range | 18 - 25 | 20 - 29 |
Students submitting SAT score | 29.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 82.0% | 5.0% |
Total number of applicants | 14,859 | 17,579 |
Total number of admissions given out | 13,218 | 16,308 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 3,358 | 4,084 |
Yield rate | 25.4% | 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:
$24,614
Out of state:
$36,479
|
In state:
$36,861
Out of state:
$58,199
|
Average net price | $17,083 | $19,656 |
Tuition |
In state:
$8,091
Out of state:
$19,956
|
In state:
$12,094
Out of state:
$32,742
|
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,274
Meal plan:
$4,189
|
Room/dormitory:
$6,953
Meal plan:
$5,820
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
89.0%
Average amount $4,401 |
78.0%
Average amount $13,623 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
43.0%
Average amount $4,970 |
44.0%
Average amount $5,174 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $10,933 |
8.0%
Average amount $17,903 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
19,411
Men 45.2% Women 54.8% |
21,394
Men 36.9% Women 63.1% |
Graduate students |
4,418
Men 37.3% Women 62.7% |
7,200
Men 33.7% Women 66.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | 10.7% | 7.0% |
International students | 4.3% | 3.6% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 4,228 | 5,958 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Wisconsin Illinois Minnesota Missouri Indiana | Virginia Maryland North Carolina New Jersey Pennsylvania |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 18:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 47.4% | 67.6% |
Dropout rate | 48.0% | 10.5% |
Transferred out | N/A | 19.2% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Industrial Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.





















































































































































































































































