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Lynchburg, VA · Richmond, VA
| Liberty University | Virginia Commonwealth University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $29,357/yr | $23,433/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $30,667/yr | $17,512/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $24,500 | $21,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $27,807/yr | $17,777/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $27,347/yr | $20,925/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $27,142/yr | $24,691/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $30,545/yr | $32,739/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $260/mo | $228/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $13,835/yr | $18,254/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,870/yr | $18,254/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,596/yr | $1,250/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $6,593/yr | $6,344/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $42,025/yr | $38,954/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $22,465/yr | $16,945/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $22,465/yr | $40,109/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 38% | 31% |
| Students taking federal loans | 46% | 39% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 99% | 93% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 1010–1270 |
| SAT average | No data reported | 1137 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 22–30 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | No data reported | English 21–31 · Math 18–27 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 36,921 | 19,052 |
| Students accepted | 36,671 | 17,729 |
| Students who enrolled | 6,419 | 4,519 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 18% | 25% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | No data reported | 35% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | No data reported | 4% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Required |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 65% | 63% |
| Freshmen who come back | 80% | 85% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $44,813/yr | $58,128/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $24,639–$68,020 | $37,933–$84,890 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 47% | 67% |
| White students graduating | 70% | 61% |
| Black students graduating | 41% | 61% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 51% | 59% |
| Asian students graduating | 71% | 73% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $39,707/yr | $47,161/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 64% | 75% |
| Graduate on time | 55% | 46% |
| Pell students who graduate | 53% | 59% |
| First-gen students who finish | 31% | 63% |
| Low-income students who finish | 23% | 62% |
| Students who transfer out | 1.1% | 21% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $40,638/yr | $54,212/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 19% · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies 13% · Psychology 12% | Visual & Performing Arts 14% · Business, Management & Marketing 13% · Psychology 10% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 19% of degrees | Visual & Performing Arts — 14% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies — 13% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 13% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Psychology — 12% of degrees | Psychology — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Education — 8% of degrees | Computer & Information Sciences — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 6% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $95,825/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $203,129/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 6% | 23% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 50,012 | 20,753 |
| Students per professor | 18 : 1 | 17 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 51,366 | 7,254 |
| Average professor pay | $8,826/mo | $12,401/mo |
| Full-time professors | 16% | 61% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $31,696 | $51,128 |
| Setting | City (small) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Lynchburg, VA | Richmond, VA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1971 | 1968 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral/Professional Universities | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.8% | 1.8% |
| Men | 45% | 37% |
| Women | 55% | 63% |
| White students | 57% | 39% |
| Black students | 11% | 23% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 7.9% | 12% |
| Asian students | 1.8% | 14% |
| Two or more races | 4.2% | 8.2% |
| Other / not reported | 18% | 2% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | None |
| First-generation students | 42% | 28% |
| Part-time students | 35% | 10% |
| Students age 25+ | 48% | 9.1% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $4,004/yr | $16,705/yr |
| Endowment | $2.6B | $2.9B |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 8,807 | 5,973 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,560/yr | $7,849/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $5,360/yr | $6,786/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Evangelical Christian | No data reported |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division I-FBS | NCAA Division I without football |
| Football team | Yes | No |
| Varsity teams | 16 | 13 |
| Student athletes | 551 | 313 |
| Athletic scholarships | $11.1M | $8.4M |
| Athletics budget | $62.1M | $40.7M |
| Athletics revenue | $62.1M | $40.9M |
| Recruiting spend | $1.4M | $498,226 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.