Virginia State University
Petersburg, Virginia
A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.
Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
The numbers behind the verdict
Lifetime ROI: the long view
Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.
Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.
Equity & access
Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.
5% gap between the two groups
7% gap between the two groups
2% gap between the two groups
Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.
Net price by family income
What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.
| Family income | Average net price / yr |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30k | $13,220 |
| $30k–$48k | $14,758 |
| $48k–$75k | $19,463 |
| $75k–$110k | $22,223 |
| $110k+ | $25,508 |
How Virginia State University compares
This college against the Virginia and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.
Graduate earnings over time
Median earnings of Virginia State University students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.
Best-paying majors at Virginia State University
Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.
| Major | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians | Associate's | $90,563 | — | +1,338% | Strong return |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | Associate's | $78,831 | $27,000 | +715% | Strong return |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | Certificate | $56,816 | — | +87% | Strong return |
| Psychology, General | Associate's | $50,956 | $26,000 | +45% | Break-even |
| Social Work | Associate's | $50,442 | $28,281 | +30% | Break-even |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Associate's | $49,029 | $27,000 | -3% | Poor return |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | Associate's | $46,108 | $28,375 | -74% | Poor return |
| Communication and Media Studies | Associate's | $45,992 | $27,000 | -76% | Poor return |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Associate's | $42,669 | $27,524 | -156% | Poor return |
Calculate your own ROI
Adjust the assumptions for your situation — the verdict, break-even and chart update live.
ROI at Virginia State University
Estimates from federal data; your result will vary. How this works.
Admissions & profile
Location
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.
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