Welcoming admission applications for the fall and spring semesters, the Virginia Commonwealth University accepts the student’s applications on a considerably high acceptance rate of 87%. The selectivity of this prestigious university of the US Education System depends on various elements that prove academic competence, potential, and reliance. Besides supporting the applicant’s right from the process of application until the completion of the graduation program, the admissions office is a part of VCU Strategic Enrollment Management.
In total, there are 21 schools and colleges under the Virginia Commonwealth University which offers more than 200 undergraduate, post-graduate, professional, continuing, and doctoral programs. In fall, the University received 17088 applications out of which it shortlisted 87% and 30% of them enrolled. Currently, there are 30,697 students studying in various schools under the University out of which 23,693 are undergraduates.
Some points to be considered while applying for Virginia Commonwealth University are as follows:
- The University welcomes undergraduate and graduate applications for fall, spring and summer semesters.
- Freshman and graduate applicants can apply for the programs through the Common Application or VCU Graduate Online Application respectively.
- The application fee for both undergraduate and graduate programs is 70 USD.
- All submitted transcripts must be accompanied with course by course evaluation preferably from NACES/ AICE.
- Students must meet the submission criteria for SAT/ACT/GRE/GMAT scores for admission.
- For admission, the admission office of the university requires the SAT/ACT scores mark sheets to be submitted before the deadline of February 1.
- Considering that money matters, the university provides an average package of 17,153 USD for financial aid to undergraduate students.
COVID-19 Admission Updates
Virginia Commonwealth University has taken certain decisions and made some announcements. The changes made in the admission and academic departments due to the COVID-19 phase have been publicized to the student and applicants via the website.
- All the study abroad programs have been canceled by the University due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the whole world. The decision has been made after considering the serious risks associated with overseas traveling.
- A COVID-19 relief funding website has been established by the university to support in terms of financial aid and funding to financially weaker sections.
- The University is providing refunds and reimbursements for the dining, housing, parking, and school of the art tuition differential.
Highlights
| Application Portal | Online Application on the website/Common Application |
| Application Fee | 70 USD (non-refundable) |
| Acceptance Rate | 87% |
| Average SAT Score | 980-1260 |
| Average ACT Score | 20-28 |
| Mode of Payment | MasterCard/Visa/Discover/NetBanking/American Express |
| Academic Calendar | Based on Semester |
| Intake Sessions | Fall, Spring Summer (only for graduates) |
| Work Experience | Required for Graduate Applications |
| Financial Aid | Loans, Awards, and Financial Grants |
| Admissions Desk | admissions@vcu.edu; (804) 828-0100 |
Virginia Commonwealth University Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate for Virginia Commonwealth University is as follows:
| Acceptance Rate (Fall) | 87% |
|---|---|
| Selectivity | Medium to Easy |
| Average SAT score required | 1070-1260 |
| Average ACT score required | 21-28 |
Admission Deadlines
The Virginia Commonwealth University has proposed the following deadlines for the submission of admission applications. The applicants need to submit complete applications, attached with supporting (required and recommended) documents which are mentioned below. Applications that are submitted after the preferred deadline may either get rejected or considered on a secondary base.
| Semester | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall | June 1 |
| Spring | October 1 |
Graduate programs have varying deadlines. Applications are accepted for fall, summer and spring terms.
International Student Admissions
More than 1200 international students who are representing 102 countries are studying at Virginia Commonwealth University. There are specific requirements and recommendations that students need to take care of while applying for admission to the university. These requirements and recommendations revolve around high school records, language & standardized tests, and proof of information provided.
Application Portal: Common Application (undergraduate) or VCU Graduate Online Application (graduate)
Application Fee: 70 USD
Basic Admission Requirements: The University states the following requirements mandatory for every international applicant/student.
- A Complete Application form
- Official and Sealed Transcripts
- Dates of Attendance (each institution)
- Degree & Diploma Earned (each)
- English language proficiency results (scored mentioned in the next segment)
- Names of Examinations Passed (with scores)
- Immigration Transfer Clearing Form
- I-20 DS Request Form
- Educational Agent Processing Agreement
- Personal Statement
- GRE/GMAT (Special School Requirements)
- Letter of Recommendation
- Graduate Admission Reference Form
- Educational Agent Processing Certificate
English Proficiency Test Scores
There is a slab of minimum scores that an international applicant needs to achieve in the English Proficiency test. This test is an essential supporting document that is required by the university.
| International Undergraduate Applicants | |
| TOEFL (internet-based) For the College of Engineering: Reading Listening Writing |
70 80 13-18 12-19 21-23 |
| IELTS For school of engineering |
6.0 6.5 |
| PTE | 53 |
| International Graduate Applicants | |
| TOEFL (paper-based) Reading Writing Listening |
19-23 24-26 20-23 |
| TOEFL (Internet-based) | 80 |
| IELTS | 6.5 |
| PTE | 65 |
Visa Process for International Students
The post-acceptance process includes the issue of the I-20 form to the applicant following which the applicant should apply for an F-1 visa to study in the USA. A form I-20 is issued to the student by the SEVP-certified schools via delivery (the universities aren’t allowed to electronically send the copy of I-20 form according to the United States Customs & Immigration Services). When the I-20 form is issued (M or F status) the student can apply for the international student visa with the supporting documents.
The following documents shall be required by the US embassy at the time of Visa appointment:
- Valid Passport
- Receipt of I-901 fee payment
- Current United States Address & Contact Number
- Original copy of I-20
- M or F status (language students/vocational studies students)
- Proof of Health/Life Insurance form
Country Specific Requirements at Virginia Commonwealth University:
Here are the country-specific requirements for some countries if one wants to take admission at the Virginia Commonwealth University:
| Country | Undergraduate Requirements | Graduate Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| India | High School Certificate (HSC) with minimum 60%. | A 3-year bachelor’s degree with 60% or above. |
| Bangladesh | High School Certificate (HSC) with minimum 60%. | A 4-year bachelor’s degree with 50% or above |
| Nepal | Higher Secondary Education Certificate with 70% or above. | A bachelor’s degree with minimum 60%. |
| Thailand | High School Certificate (HSC) with minimum 60%. | A bachelor’s degree with minimum GPA of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale). |
| Indonesia | Certificate of Graduation from Academic/Islamic Secondary School with an overall grade 7 or above. | A bachelor’s degree with minimum GPA of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale). |
Virginia Commonwealth University Undergraduate Admissions
The Virginia Commonwealth University generally accepts the undergraduate admission applications for fall till January 15 and decisions are out by April 1. Applications that are submitted on the portal after the deadline may get a review if there is more room available otherwise will get rejected. Whereas, the regular decision for spring is on November 1.
Where to Apply: Common Application
Application Fee: 70 USD
Admission Requirements: Aspirants to apply should follow and exhibit the criteria stated below:
- Minimum 20 Units with recommended minimum as:
- English – 4 units
- Mathematics – 3 units
- History, social studies or government – 3 units
- Science (one laboratory) – 3 units
- One foreign language – 3 units or two foreign languages – 2 units
- Essay to be submitted with Common Application
- Above-average score on SAT/ACT (standardized test) and GED
- Letters of recommendation
- Fully updated high school transcripts with course by course evaluation from external agency
- Minimum GPA 3.3 (students who meet this requirement can seek admission without submitting test scores)
- High School Profiles
- English language proficiency (for international students)
All supporting documents are expected to be sent to globalfiles@vcu.edu in PDF format with applicant’s full name and University ID number. These materials can also be mailed to:
Virginia Commonwealth University – International Admissions
408 West Franklin Street
Box 843012
Richmond, Virginia 23284-3043
USA
Virginia Commonwealth University Graduate Admissions
Virginia Commonwealth University offers more than 70 master’s programs related to various disciplines like business, arts, science etc. for candidates across the globe seeking to study in the USA. All graduate programs have separate requirements. To be able to apply for any graduate programs, an applicant must have a completed U.S. bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution. It accepts graduate applications if they exhibited the following criteria:
Where to Apply: VCU Graduate Online Application
Application Fee: 70 USD
Admission Requirements: The following documents must be sent with the application for graduate programs:
- Completed application form
- Original and certified copies of academic records including diplomas, certificates, national level exams. It must include details of:
- Attending date for each institution
- List of courses taken with grades of each
- Number of weeks and hours classes were taken in labs
- Degrees indicating class rank
- Name and grade of each passed examination
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Personal Statement discussing reasoning for pursuing the choice of program
- GMAT/ GRE scores (as required by respective department)
- Official transcripts with course by course credential evaluation preferably from NACES/ AICE
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on 4.0
- Certificate of finances
- Letter of recommendation (depending on the choice of program)
Detailed requirements for some graduate programs offered by the University are given in the table below:
| Requirements | MBA | MS in Biology | MS in Computer Science | MS in Criminal Justice | MFA in Interior Environment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | 70 USD | 70 USD | 70 USD | 70 USD | 70 USD |
| Application Deadline | Fall – July 1 Spring – November 1 Summer – March 1 |
Fall – January 15 Spring/ summer – on permission of graduate director |
Fall – June 1 Spring – November 1 |
Fall – April 1 Spring – October 1 |
Fall – February 1 |
| Transcripts | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| GMAT/ GRE scores | Required | Not required | Required, GRE general | Required, GRE/ GMAT/ LSAT | Not required |
| Letter of recommendation | Required, 3 letters | Required, 3 letters | Required | Required | Required, 3 letters |
| Statement of Intent | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required, 1-2 pages |
| Essay | Not required | Not required | Not required | Not required | Required, 3-5 pages |
| CV/ Resume | Required | Not required | Not required | Required | Required |
| Work Experience | Not required | Not required | Not required | Required | Not required |
| Interview | Not required | Not required | Not required | Not required | Required |
All supporting documents are expected to be sent to globalfiles@vcu.edu in PDF format with applicant’s full name and University ID number. These materials can also be mailed to:
Virginia Commonwealth University – International Admissions
408 West Franklin Street
Box 843012
Richmond, Virginia 23284-3043
USA
The acceptance in the Virginia Commonwealth University is only made by thorough analyses and evaluation of each applicant through their flair, capability, and aptitude. Students can check the status of their applications by logging in to VCU’s applicant portal. Decisions are made on a rolling basis until the capacity is full. The University emphasizes on the importance of academic performance and test scores while reviewing applications of a student. Having completed the suggested college preparatory curriculum also creates a positive impact on the reviewers. For graduate program applicants, work experience and extracurricular participation are few points that help in strengthening the application.
The process of admission for graduate applicants can take 6 to 8 weeks depending on how the necessary documents have been submitted. It is important to carefully check all requirements before applying to avoid rejection of an application. Also, do not wait for the deadline to apply. Since most applications are reviewed on a rolling basis it is better to get a decision early and proceed towards fulfilling other requirements such as the visa application.
FAQs
Ques. How can I check the status of my application and know that it was received by Virginia Commonwealth University?
Ans. Students can log in to the Virginia Commonwealth University VIP page with their provided usernames and passwords to check the application status.
Ques. How long will Virginia Commonwealth University take to process my I-20?
Ans. After submission of the application and all supporting requirements to Virginia Commonwealth University, the I-20 shall be processed within 1-2 weeks.
Ques. Is it possible to receive a copy of my I-20 form via e-mail from Virginia Commonwealth University?
Ans. According to the rules and regulations by the United States Customs & Immigration Services (USCIS), Virginia Commonwealth University is not allowed to send an electronic copy of the I-20 form. Therefore it is issued to the student by the SEVP-certified schools and sent via delivery.
Ques. I am a transfer student seeking admission to Virginia Commonwealth University. How can I apply?
Ans. Transfer students can apply for admission to Virginia Commonwealth University by completing VCU’s online application.
Ques. Do I have to submit an essay for admission to the undergraduate program at Virginia Commonwealth University?
Ans. Yes, submission of an essay is a part of the Common Application which must be completed in order to apply for admission to the undergraduate program at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Ques. What is the acceptance rate of Virginia Commonwealth University?
Ans.The university has an acceptance rate of 87%.
Ques. How much does it cost to apply?
Ans. Virginia Commonwealth University charges an application fee of $70.
Ques. How do I apply as an international student?
Ans. If you are not a national of the US, you will typically need to apply for an F-1 or J-1 Visa.
Ques. How do I write my personal statement?
Ans. When writing your statement:
- make sure it's styled in a formal manner and reads well
- write in a precise way using small paragraphs
- focus on your strengths, achievements and aspirations
- write about your skills and give examples
- explain why the course is interesting to you
- show that you've done your research
- be truthful, accurate and enthusiastic
- check your spelling and grammar
Ques. How long will it take for my I-20 to be processed?
Ans. The I-20 will be processed within 1-2 weeks after all of the required documents have been received. Applicants that are missing required documents will be notified using the email address provided on the application.
Ques. Do I have to take the TOEFL or IELTS? Can it be substituted with any other exam?
Ans. Students whose native language is not English are required to submit the results of one of
the approved English Language Assessments explained in the international admission
requirements for international students. Citizens of Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand
and the UK may be exempt from the English language testing requirements.
Ques. I already have a university degree. Is it still necessary for me to provide my high school transcripts or diploma?
Ans. One of the requirements for study is that the applicant must complete a minimum of high school before enrolling in ELP. Therefore, if you already have a university degree, you can provide a copy of your university transcript or degree instead of your high school documents.
Ques. Can I travel to the United States after the start date on my I-20 form?
Ans. If you will arrive late, you must request permission from the ELP Admissions Coordinator. If your request is approved, she will send you a letter of permission for late arrival by email. You must keep this letter with your I-20 when you travel to avoid any issues at your port of entry.
Ques. Do I need to purchase any textbooks or supplies for my classes?
Ans. Yes. Your teachers will give you instructions about which books and materials to purchase on your first day of classes. It is not necessary to buy the books ahead of time.
Ques. How can I contact Virginia Commonwealth University?
Ans. The university can be contacted at:
Email: vcuia@vcu.edu
Phone: (804) 828-6016
Address: 821 W Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23284, United States
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