by our College Data Analytics TeamWant the scoop on Virginia Commonwealth University? We have put together a comprehensive report on the school that covers what majors VCU offers, how the school ranks, how diverse it is, and much more.
Virginia Commonwealth University awards degrees and credentials ranging from certificates up to its highest offering, the doctor’s degree - research/scholarship and professional practice.
| Degree Level | Offered |
|---|---|
| Certificate | ✓ |
| Associate | — |
| Bachelor’s | ✓ |
| Master’s | ✓ |
| Doctorate | ✓ |
Completions: 9,888 undergraduate · 4,950 graduate (14,838 total)
Ranked by the number of degrees awarded, these are the most popular majors at Virginia Commonwealth University.
| Most Popular Majors | Graduates |
|---|---|
| Multi-Disciplinary Studies | 7,419 |
| Psychology, General. | 580 |
| Social Work. | 455 |
| Biology, General. | 373 |
| Design and Applied Arts. | 365 |
Among Virginia Commonwealth University programs with salary data, these majors lead on average graduate earnings.
| Highest-Paying Majors | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | $101,582 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $94,094 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $91,184 |
| Dentistry. | $87,586 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | $77,993 |
Browse every major at Virginia Commonwealth University, grouped into broad areas of study. Each area lists its majors and any specializations within them.
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Disciplinary Studies | 7,419 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. ↳ Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. · Nursing Practice. · Nurse Anesthetist. · Nursing Science. · Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing. · Family Practice Nurse/Nursing. |
360 | $91,184 |
| Medicine. | 175 | $57,175 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. ↳ Physical Therapy/Therapist. · Occupational Therapy/Therapist. · Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor. |
144 | $67,990 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. ↳ Pharmacy. · Pharmaceutical Sciences. |
118 | $101,582 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. ↳ Health/Health Care Administration/Management. · Health and Medical Administrative Services, Other. · Clinical Research Coordinator. · Healthcare Innovation. |
110 | $73,726 |
| Dentistry. | 105 | $87,586 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. ↳ Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer. |
38 | $56,687 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. ↳ Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist. |
35 | $54,497 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions. ↳ Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling. · Genetic Counseling/Counselor. · Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling. |
30 | $64,254 |
| Public Health. ↳ Public Health, General. · Public Health Education and Promotion. · Public Health, Other. |
30 | NA |
| Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences. ↳ Dental Clinical Sciences, General. · Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. |
19 | NA |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. ↳ Dental Hygiene/Hygienist. |
16 | $62,142 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other. | 5 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General. | 346 | $48,907 |
| Marketing. ↳ Marketing/Marketing Management, General. |
154 | $40,690 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. ↳ Business Administration and Management, General. · Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management. · Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management. |
124 | $94,094 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. ↳ Finance, General. · Finance and Financial Management Services, Other. |
85 | NA |
| Accounting and Related Services. ↳ Accounting. |
69 | $51,969 |
| Business/Managerial Economics. | 28 | $40,239 |
| Real Estate. | 22 | NA |
| Human Resources Management and Services. ↳ Human Resources Development. |
3 | NA |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. ↳ Management Science. |
2 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts. ↳ Illustration. · Fashion/Apparel Design. · Graphic Design. · Design and Applied Arts, Other. · Interior Design. · Design and Visual Communications, General. |
365 | $29,473 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts. ↳ Cinematography and Film/Video Production. · Photography. |
108 | $19,660 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. ↳ Painting. · Sculpture. · Fine Arts and Art Studies, Other. · Art History, Criticism and Conservation. |
92 | $22,465 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. ↳ Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General. |
66 | $22,092 |
| Music. ↳ Music Performance, General. |
41 | $22,973 |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry. | 27 | $24,463 |
| Dance. ↳ Dance, General. |
16 | $19,193 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. ↳ Health Teacher Education. · Art Teacher Education. · Physical Education Teaching and Coaching. · Reading Teacher Education. |
321 | $30,891 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. ↳ Educational Leadership and Administration, General. · Educational Administration and Supervision, Other. |
95 | $77,993 |
| Education, General. | 71 | $53,368 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. ↳ Elementary Education and Teaching. · Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching. · Early Childhood Education and Teaching. |
61 | NA |
| Special Education and Teaching. ↳ Special Education and Teaching, General. · Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities. |
44 | $46,456 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services. ↳ Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services. |
37 | $46,698 |
| Curriculum and Instruction. | 7 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 580 | $29,652 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. ↳ Clinical Psychology. · Health/Medical Psychology. · Counseling Psychology. |
17 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work. | 455 | $43,017 |
| Public Administration. | 35 | $48,484 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Biology, General. ↳ Biology/Biological Sciences, General. · Biomedical Sciences, General. |
373 | $24,666 |
| Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology. ↳ Bioinformatics. · Biostatistics. |
60 | NA |
| Genetics. ↳ Human/Medical Genetics. |
11 | NA |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology. ↳ Pharmacology. |
11 | NA |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences. ↳ Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology. · Physiology, General. |
6 | NA |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. ↳ Biochemistry. |
4 | NA |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences. ↳ Anatomy. |
4 | NA |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. ↳ Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology. |
4 | NA |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences. ↳ Neuroscience. |
2 | NA |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology. ↳ Epidemiology. |
1 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. ↳ Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration. |
199 | $34,967 |
| Security Science and Technology. ↳ Forensic Science and Technology. |
95 | NA |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other. | 82 | $45,288 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 184 | $67,978 |
| Information Science/Studies. | 164 | $61,839 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government. ↳ Political Science and Government, General. |
157 | $32,107 |
| Sociology. ↳ Sociology, General. |
69 | $29,284 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs. | 55 | $32,639 |
| Anthropology. ↳ Anthropology, General. |
24 | $21,118 |
| Geography and Cartography. ↳ Geographic Information Science and Cartography. |
19 | NA |
| Social Sciences, Other. | 8 | NA |
| Economics. ↳ Econometrics and Quantitative Economics. |
5 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. ↳ Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. |
154 | $30,506 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences. | 73 | $28,313 |
| Data Analytics. ↳ Data Analytics, General. |
47 | NA |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES. ↳ Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies. |
29 | NA |
| Natural Sciences. | 20 | NA |
| Gerontology. | 5 | NA |
| Sustainability Studies. | 1 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering. | 82 | $62,311 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering. ↳ Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering. |
73 | $43,433 |
| Chemical Engineering. ↳ Chemical Engineering. · Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. |
39 | $67,147 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. ↳ Electrical and Electronics Engineering. |
25 | $70,920 |
| Computer Engineering. ↳ Computer Engineering, General. |
21 | $70,204 |
| Engineering, Other. | 15 | NA |
| Engineering, General. | 13 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Communication, General. ↳ Mass Communication/Media Studies. |
204 | $33,138 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry. ↳ Chemistry, General. · Chemistry, Other. |
119 | $31,701 |
| Physics. ↳ Physics, General. · Physics, Other. |
15 | $45,482 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General. | 103 | $24,182 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. ↳ Creative Writing. |
8 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. ↳ Women's Studies. · African-American/Black Studies. · Disability Studies. |
38 | $25,218 |
| Area Studies. ↳ Area Studies, Other. |
36 | $31,111 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| History. ↳ History, General. · Public/Applied History. |
72 | $28,141 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. ↳ Environmental Studies. |
61 | $29,136 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics. ↳ Mathematics, General. |
44 | $39,377 |
| Mathematics and Statistics, Other. | 10 | NA |
| Statistics. ↳ Statistics, General. |
2 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness. ↳ Sport and Fitness Administration/Management. |
47 | $38,805 |
| Outdoor Education. | 6 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy. | 27 | $16,953 |
| Religion/Religious Studies. | 5 | $23,285 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. ↳ Foreign Languages and Literatures, General. · Language Interpretation and Translation. |
17 | $25,501 |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. ↳ Adult Development and Aging. |
9 | NA |
| Major | Graduates | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Nanotechnology. | 6 | NA |
Footnotes
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.