Virginia State University

What is the cost of studying for a year at Virginia State University?

For 2025-26, reported full-time undergraduate tuition and required fees at Virginia State University totaled $10,043 for Virginia residents and $21,874 for out-of-state students. Required fees are a substantial part of each figure, so comparing tuition alone understates the published charge.

• Virginia resident: $5,701 tuition plus $4,342 required fees.
• Out-of-state student: $17,532 tuition plus $5,118 required fees.
• Reported room and board: $13,355 for an academic year.
• Reported books and supplies: $1,300.

Adding the reported room, board, and book amounts produces approximately $25,998 for an in-state student or $37,305 for an out-of-state student before transportation, personal expenses, and other applicable costs. Those are illustrations using 2024-25 figures, not current bills or full official cost-of-attendance budgets. Living arrangements, course loads, and residency status change the calculation.

Financial aid can lower what a student pays, but grants and loans work differently: grants generally do not need repayment, while loans do. In the reported aid data, 92% of students in the measured group received financial aid and 76% had student loans. The reported average net price for students from families earning $0-$48,000 was $14,758; net price reflects average costs after grant and scholarship aid, not an individual offer. Eligible students should complete the FAFSA and review federal grants, Virginia aid, VSU scholarships, and any applicable military education benefits. The most useful comparison is a current, personalized aid offer against the current cost-of-attendance budget.

What are the work-study opportunities at Virginia State University?

Virginia State University students can pursue employment alongside their studies, but Federal Work-Study, ordinary part-time jobs, and internships serve different purposes. Federal Work-Study is a need-based financial aid program: eligible students generally must complete the FAFSA, receive a work-study award, find an eligible position, and earn wages for hours worked. An award is not an automatic paycheck or a reduction applied to the tuition bill in advance.

Students can ask financial aid and campus employment offices how work-study positions are posted and whether approved community-service jobs are available. Other campus jobs may have different eligibility and funding rules. For career development, VSU's career services include individual counseling, résumé preparation, interview workshops, job fairs, and employer recruitment. Those services can support a search for internships or post-graduation work, but access to a service should not be confused with a job offer. VSU does not require an internship of every student, though an individual major may have its own fieldwork requirements.