VCU is a place unlike any other. We are the UNCOMMON.
We represent distinctive excellence as evidenced through stories of a university and health system challenging preconceived notions and breaking through the sea of sameness prevalent in higher education and health care. We do so with an authentic and uncompromising voice.
We’re not here to follow the beaten path. We’re here to blaze a new one. To push boundaries in higher education and health care. It’s not just about getting ahead. It’s about setting the pace. Because when it comes to our students’ success, good enough isn’t good enough. It’s greatness, or nothing. Which is why we offer 200+ programs, top-ranked research opportunities and real-world experience. The status quo? We’re here to disrupt it. With unmatched excellence.
Welcome to VCU. A world unlike any other.
One of 69 public R1 universities with the Carnegie Classification’s community engagement designation
A top 50 public research institution
Ranked in top 20% of universities worldwide
28,594 students
UNCOMMON by design
We aren’t here to conform. Instead, we are prepared to undo the status quo in higher education and health care in order to pursue a future built by us. There is nowhere like this and no one like us.
At VCU, we don’t just sit in classrooms. We take our ideas out into the world – to test them, to break them and to remake them. That’s how real breakthroughs happen. And whether it’s the Department of Biostatistics or the Department of Graphic Design, research happens in every discipline. No matter your major, it’s time to dive in, solve real-world problems and experience unbelievable success. Find out more about research at VCU.
We’re not interested in outdated traditions. We’re too busy focusing on what’s next. With pioneering research, trailblazing innovation, championship athletics and creativity that breaks every rule. Ignited by the energy of the city, we seek out the unexpected, the experimental, the never-been-tried. Success? At VCU, the possibilities are unlimited. Explore more about VCU.
At VCU, we don’t think the secret to success is textbook. In fact, award-winning entrepreneurial programs like the da Vinci Center Shift Retail Lab – recognized in 2023 by Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards – provide the opportunity for our students to get their unique ideas out of the classroom and into the real world. Now that’s success. Learn more about the VCU da Vinci Center.
In the words of Einstein, creativity is intelligence having fun. VCU is a hotbed of creativity in the urban playground of Richmond. Students from different hometowns, backgrounds and experiences come here for our vibrant, innovative culture. At VCU, you’ll find the programs and tools for thinking outside the box. Fun indeed. Explore for yourself how VCU is uncommon.
When it comes to making a difference in the world, VCU walks the talk. From our world-renowned arts and advertising programs to our top-ranked hospital and health science schools, we have more than 200 academic programs to choose from. And 25 of those are ranked in the top 50 nationally. Talk about making a world-class impact. Learn more about VCU’s impact.
VCU is where creative thinkers, doers, researchers and entrepreneurs come to have the time of their lives. Home to more than 1 million people, Richmond has Fortune 500 companies, theaters, museums, music venues and an unbeatable restaurant scene. Whether it’s interning with a global company or making waves in the local community, our students live and learn in a world unlike any other. Learn more about campus life.
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Ranked among the Top 20% of best global universities
VCU Medical Center is the region’s #1 hospital
$1 billion* awarded in student scholarships and grants, top among 4-year public universities in Virginia (*July 2019 - June 2024)
DRIVEN by innovation and creativity.
INSPIRED by our city and community.
If all the above sounds UNCOMMONLY EXCELLENT to you, welcome to VCU.