University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) vs Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant energy of Los Angeles or the rich history of Richmond, Virginia. University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) stand as beacons of higher education, each offering a distinct experience. UCLA boasts a highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 12%, while VCU welcomes a more diverse student body, with an acceptance rate of 70%. Both universities excel in various academic disciplines, with UCLA renowned for its strength in life sciences and engineering, and VCU excelling in the arts, design, and health sciences. Explore the detailed comparison table to uncover further distinctions, including student demographics, graduation rates, and popular majors, and make an informed decision that aligns with your aspirations and goals.
University of California-Los Angeles logo

University of California-Los Angeles

Virginia Commonwealth University logo

Virginia Commonwealth University

Overview

Location Los Angeles, California Richmond, Virginia
Campus setting City: Large City: Midsize
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Quarter Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 97.0% 84.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 10.8% 92.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
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 139,489 17,579
Total number of admissions given out 15,028 16,308
Admitted students who chose to enroll 6,584 4,084
Yield rate 43.8% 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) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $36,173

Out of state: $65,927
In state: $36,861

Out of state: $58,199
Average net price $13,393 $19,656
Tuition
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
In state: $12,094

Out of state: $32,742
Room & board $16,763
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)

45.0%
Average amount $17,592
78.0%
Average amount $13,623
Students receiving federal student loan 11.0%
Average amount $4,391
44.0%
Average amount $5,174
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $19,764
8.0%
Average amount $17,903

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 32,122
Men 40.2% Women 59.8%
21,394
Men 36.9% Women 63.1%
Graduate students 13,994
Men 50.5% Women 49.5%
7,200
Men 33.7% Women 66.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 21.9% 7.0%
International students 14.5% 3.6%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 20,372 5,958
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Texas Washington New York Illinois Virginia Maryland North Carolina New Jersey Pennsylvania

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Health Professions
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 92.1% 67.6%
Dropout rate 3.7% 10.5%
Transferred out 3.6% 19.2%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $129,237
  • Year 2: $134,761
  • Year 3: $179,615
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $150,028
  • Year 2: $143,744
  • Year 3: $157,681
Applied Mathematics (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $156,116
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $117,100
  • Year 2: $110,878
  • Year 3: $147,842
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,050
  • Year 2: $101,128
  • Year 3: $130,087
Mechanical Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $112,202
  • Year 2: $117,572
  • Year 3: $126,081
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $116,282
  • Year 2: $111,435
  • Year 3: $123,214
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $110,139
  • Year 2: $97,071
  • Year 3: $111,727
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $98,817
  • Year 2: $96,775
  • Year 3: $110,729
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,892
  • Year 2: $99,040
  • Year 3: $110,415
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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