Cost of attendance is an estimate of educational expenses used to determine financial aid eligibility. These estimates are based on full-time attendance for the entire academic year.
COA is a projected cost and does not represent the actual amount billed by VCU.
Whether you're planning to attend as an undergraduate or post-undergraduate, part-time or full-time, and in-state or out-of-state student, you can use our calculator to determine the per-semester cost of attending Virginia Commonwealth University. Please note the calculator provides an estimate of expenses and may not reflect the complete cost of tuition, fees and other charges.
Undergraduate resident | Undergraduate nonresident | Graduate resident | Graduate nonresident | |
Tuition | $12,094 | $32,742 | $12,618 | $25,956 |
Fees** | $2,616 | $3,306 | $2,582 | $3,272 |
Room and board - | $11,504 | $11,504 | $11,504 | $11,504 |
Books and supplies | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,198 | $1,198 |
Personal and miscellaneous | $1,723 | $1,723 | $5,034 | $5,034 |
Transportation | $2,174 | $2,900 | $2,704 | $2,704 |
Loan fees | $86 | $86 | $224 | $224 |
TOTAL | $31,697 | $53,761 | $35,864 | $49,892 |
Undergraduate resident | Undergraduate nonresident | Graduate resident | Graduate nonresident | |
Tuition | $12,094 | $32,742 | $12,134 | $24,741 |
Fees** | $2,502 | $3,162 | $2,363 | $3,056 |
Room and board - | $11,504 | $11,504 | $11,504 | $11,504 |
Books and supplies | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,198 | $1,198 |
Personal and miscellaneous | $1,500 | $1,500 | $5,034 | $5,034 |
Transportation | $2,174 | $2,900 | $2,704 | $2,704 |
Loan fees | $86 | $86 | $224 | $224 |
TOTAL | $31,360 | $53,392 | $35,161 | $48,45 |
** The ongoing university initiative to improve student financial services has been an important element in promoting student access and success. As a part of these improvements, the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success has developed a new structure for the numerous fees associated with individual undergraduate courses. This new structure will consolidate the highly varied course fees into a single program fee based on undergraduate student majors. This new fee structure will be implemented for fall 2020 and is anticipated to provide students and their families much more predictable and lower cost fees across semesters. The new fee structure is summarized on Page 16 of the 2020-2021 Adopted University Budget Plan and Tuition and Fees document. These fees may increase COA.
*** The estimate for students who live with their parents is $4,818.
The Student Computer Initiative requires all undergraduate students at VCU to own a personal computer.
VCU has built a one-time computer purchase allowance into the cost of attendance for all new freshmen and transfer students, which increases eligibility for financial aid. The allowance covers the minimum VCU computer specifications and is adjusted annually.
Adding an allowance to the student’s COA for a computer purchase does not necessarily mean financial aid funds will increase to cover the expense. If a student has already borrowed the maximum amount, is not eligible for a supplemental loan or does not have any remaining funding sources, there may be no financial aid to assist with the purchase of a computer.
To determine if there are any sources of financial aid available for a computer purchase, students should contact the VCU Office of Financial Aid.
VCU does not require graduate students to purchase a computer. However, a computer may be required by the student’s advisor, department chair, dean or course professor.
All graduate students who need to purchase a computer with financial aid funding must provide the following documentation to the VCU Office of Financial Aid:
Adding an allowance to the student’s COA for a computer purchase does not guarantee that financial aid funds will increase.