Virginia Commonwealth University

What are the graduation rates for students at Virginia Commonwealth University?

Virginia Commonwealth University reports an overall graduation rate of 65%, placing it in the top 35% of comparable institutions. This rate reflects students who complete their programs within six years. The four-year graduation rate stands at 47%, which is also considered average and ranks in the top 45% among peer schools.

When broken down by gender, female students graduate at a higher rate of 69%, while male students graduate at a rate of 59%. Both rates are classified as average, with women ranking in the top 35% and men in the top 40% nationally.

Retention rates at Virginia Commonwealth University are notably strong, with 86% of first-year students returning for the following academic year. This retention rate is high and places the university in the top 25% of institutions.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Virginia Commonwealth University?

Graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University display a wide range of earning potential depending on their chosen field of study. Among the highest earners are those who graduate with degrees in engineering and computer-related disciplines. For instance, graduates in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering earn an average of $70,920, while those with a degree in Computer Engineering make about $70,204. Similarly, Chemical Engineering graduates earn around $67,147, and Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates bring in an average of $67,978.

The health professions also offer competitive earnings, with graduates in Dental Support Services and Allied Professions earning approximately $62,142, and those in Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing making about $60,267. Other health-related fields such as Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions and Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions yield averages of $56,687 and $54,497 respectively.

Business-related degrees provide moderate earning opportunities. Graduates with a Business/Commerce, General degree earn about $43,919, and those in Accounting and Related Services earn $52,310. Fields like Marketing and Business/Managerial Economics see average earnings of $40,690 and $40,239 respectively.

In the sciences, fields such as Physics and Chemistry offer average salaries of $45,482 and $31,701 while Mathematics graduates earn about $39,377. Degrees in Biomedical/Medical Engineering average $43,433, indicating a solid earning potential within interdisciplinary scientific fields.

Some social sciences and humanities degrees show lower but still relevant earnings. Graduates in Communication and Media Studies earn an average of $31,961, Criminal Justice and Corrections graduates make $34,326, and those in Political Science and Government earn approximately $32,107. More modest earnings appear among degrees such as Anthropology at $21,118, Philosophy at $16,953, and English Language and Literature, General at $24,182.

Fields associated with arts and design tend to have lower average earnings, such as Design and Applied Arts with $29,473, Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $22,092, and Music earning around $22,973. Even among these, there is variation reflecting diverse career outcomes.

Overall, Virginia Commonwealth University offers a broad spectrum of degree programs with varying earning potentials, where technical, engineering, and health-related degrees commonly lead to higher average incomes, while arts and humanities fields present more modest financial prospects.