A top 50 public research university in Richmond blending arts, engineering, and health sciences.
VCU offers baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees across 15 schools and colleges, including the School of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Public Health, Engineering, Business, Arts, and Education. The university provides 225 certificate, undergraduate, graduate, professional, and doctoral degrees. Seventy-nine programs are unique to Virginia. VCU Life Sciences comprises three units: the Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Center for Environmental Studies, and Rice Center for Environmental Life Sciences, offering undergraduate, graduate, and PhD programs in Integrated Life Sciences.
VCU surpassed $560 million in sponsored research funding in 2025 and has been designated a top 50 university by the National Science Foundation for research expenditures since 2023. The university received a $104 million gift in 2022 to support the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health. VCU holds an endowment of $3.23 billion, the second largest for a public school in Virginia. The VCU Health System supports health care education, research, and patient care through the VCU Medical Center, Massey Cancer Center, and Children's Hospital of Richmond.
VCU's Monroe Park Campus houses general education facilities in the historic Fan district, while the MCV Campus in the Court End district is home to health sciences schools and the medical center. The university features historic buildings including the Egyptian Building and White House of the Confederacy. Students participate in over 8,500 community/civically engaged learning courses annually. VCU athletics compete in NCAA Division I as the Rams in the Atlantic 10 Conference, with notable programs in men's and women's basketball.
VCU welcomes undergraduate, graduate, professional, and international applicants. The 2025-26 base tuition and fees are $17,240 for in-state full-time undergraduates and $40,404 for out-of-state. The university offers a Guaranteed Admission Program for select incoming undergraduates who maintain high academic standards. Transfer, nondegree-seeking, and international pathways are available across all program levels.