• The VCU pep band leads a parade down the street [View Image]

    The Ram Spirit Walk, led by The Peppas spirit band and VCU dance squad, is a Welcome Week tradition for each new freshman class.

  • Male student stands in front of VCU building holding skateboard [View Image]

    Students say they love VCU's urban campus and all that Richmond has to offer.

  • The Dragon Boat Festival along the James River [View Image]

    The International Dragon Boat Festival is Richmond's biggest spectacle on the James River and just one of the city's many annual festivals.

  • Aerial photo of Richmond and the James River [View Image]

    Richmond, Virginia's capital city, provides an urban canvas for our students to sculpt their VCU experience.

Our tenacity. Our love of the city. Our commitment to diversity and access.

These are the things that drive us and make us one of America’s premier research universities. They are what set us apart from your average college. They are how we make it real.

Previous Next

About VCU

About VCU

 
Access the latest VCU COVID-19 information and resources »

When you’re a Ram, you know you are part of something big.

You’re part of a culture that values hard work, stick-to-it-ness and even — dare we say it? — grit. You are part of a community that loves its city, serves its city and learns from its city. As a Ram, you also love a good Cinderella story — like the time VCU surprised the country and made it to the NCAA Final Four. These are the success stories that make you cheer, make you proud, make you #RamProud.

Eight things that make us RamProud [View Image]
  • Woman sitting in front of fountain [View Image]

    Richmond

    We are urban, and we love that Richmond is our home.

  • Man crouching down to examine nature specimen [View Image]

    Research

    The National Science Foundation ranks us among the top 100 U.S. schools.

  • Student volunteers gardening [View Image]

    1.3+ million hours

    Our students perform over a million community service hours in a year.

  • Student entrepreneur, Desmund Delaney, holding box with sneaker on top of it [View Image]

    $2 million

    VCU student entrepreneurs earned more than $2 million in revenue, grants and investments.

  • Students wearing I Love VCU T-shirts [View Image]

    Diversity

    It’s one reason students say they choose VCU and U.S. News & World Report ranked VCU No. 38 in Campus Ethnic Diversity.

  • Woman in dental coat looking at laptop [View Image]

    Health sciences

    VCU is the only Virginia school to offer health professions, dentistry, medicine, nursing and pharmacy.

  • Close-up of two medical professionals in masks and special glasses [View Image]

    #1 hospital

    VCU Medical Center is the top hospital in the Richmond region and one of the top in Virginia.

  • VCU Peppas pep band [View Image]

    Peppas

    We have one of the most celebrated pep bands in the country.

Discovery and creativity go hand in hand.

VCU photo [View Image]

We’re ranked a top 100 research university by the National Science Foundation. And we’re home to the nation’s No. 1 public graduate arts school.

What does that mean for you? Research and creativity are two of our greatest strengths, and they will be part of your VCU education, no matter what field you pursue.

So bring us your boldest ideas, your most unconventional ideas, your best ideas. And we'll help make them real.

VCU photo [View Image]

Explore VCU Health

That’s our medical enterprise, where our experts teach and mentor future doctors and other health professionals, provide great care to patients and conduct trailblazing medical research.

As a VCU student, you’ll have the chance to pursue a health career, connect a health-related topic to your studies or even volunteer to make a patient’s day brighter.

Learn more about VCU Health.

Quick facts

Founded: 1838

Location: Richmond, Va.

Students: 30,103

Alumni: 199,158

Faculty (full time): 2,551

More facts

A word from President Michael Rao

“Our students are the center of our mission and the spirit of our institution. We are now in the midst of our $750 million Make It Real comprehensive capital campaign. This campaign reaffirms — and catalyzes — our commitments to student success, innovation and entrepreneurship, clinical care and enriching our community.”

Quick links

VCU Mascot [View Image]

Ready to be a Ram?

Apply to VCU Schedule a visit