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Virginia State University: tuition, cost and admissions

Petersburg, VA · Public university · Suburb (large)

4,295Undergraduates
90%Acceptance rate
910Average SAT
$14,164Avg net cost / yr
See Virginia State University on the map → Official website

What Virginia State University actually costs

ItemAmount
Tuition & fees (in-state)$9,654Published rate before aid
Tuition & fees (out-of-state)$21,409Published rate before aid
Room & board (on campus)$11,544Annual
Books & supplies$1,300Estimated annual
Total sticker cost$23,673Everything, before aid
Average actual cost paid$14,164Average paid after grants and scholarships — an average, not a quote

Across all students, the average paid here was $9,509 less than the sticker price — about 40% off, once grants and scholarships are counted. Individual awards vary enormously, and many students receive nothing at all.

Do your own due diligence on cost. Every figure above is a historical federal average for all students at this college. No student pays the average. What you are charged depends on your family’s income and assets, your academic record, the year you apply, and what aid this college has available — and it changes year to year. Use these numbers to decide which colleges are worth investigating, never to decide what one will cost you. Run the college’s own net price calculator — every US college is required by law to publish one — then confirm in writing with its financial aid office before committing to anything. We are not financial, admissions or tax advisers and have no relationship with this college.

Most popular fields of study

Business, Management & Marketing — 19%
Psychology — 11%
Homeland Security & Law Enforcement — 11%
Education — 8%
Social Sciences — 8%
Communication & Journalism — 6%
Engineering Technologies — 6%
Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 4%

Share of degrees awarded, US Dept. of Education.

Varsity athletics at Virginia State University

Athletic associationD-II
Men’s varsity sports (8)Football (132), Track & Field (96), Lacrosse (34), Baseball (30), Soccer (26), Basketball (20), Golf (9), Tennis (5)
Women’s varsity sports (8)Track & Field (58), Lacrosse (22), Soccer (20), Softball (16), Volleyball (16), Basketball (15), Tennis (8), Bowling (7)
Softball conferenceCIAA
Head softball coachJameshia Smith

Squad sizes in brackets, from the federal Equity in Athletics survey (2024–25). Filter by sport and division on the interactive map.

Plan a visit and compare

Add Virginia State University to your shortlist, score it against other colleges side by side, and plan a campus visit route from your front door with the free My University View map.

Other colleges in Virginia

Liberty University · Northern Virginia Community College · Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · George Mason University · Virginia Commonwealth University · James Madison University · Old Dominion University · University of Virginia-Main Campus