Admissions

Log in to the VCU Application Portal to review the following:

1. Admission status
2. VCU ID number (also known as your V-number)
3. The semester you are starting at VCU
4. Review your degree program and major
5. Residency status
6. Any admission conditions

Review all information and notify the VCU Office of Admissions of any inaccuracies or questions.

In the portal, please refer to the checklist to determine if there are any other documents, including final transcripts, that the Office of Admissions requires before enrollment.

If you were classified as a non-Virginia resident for tuition purposes and believe that this classification is inaccurate, you may request that your status be re-evaluated prior to Aug. 1 for fall semester entry or Dec. 1 for spring semester entry by contacting your application processor. You may be required to complete and submit the application for Virginia in-state tuition as well as provide other supporting documentation.

If you did not provide your SSN on your application, it is necessary for students who wish to be considered for financial aid to provide it to the university.  To provide your SSN, please upload Parts I and II of a W-9S or upload a legible copy of your Social Security card to our secure database. 

Be sure the number you provide to VCU matches the number you submitted on your FAFSA. Any mismatch of information will cause a delay in processing your financial aid. Please note that your SSN will not be used as your VCU student ID number in order to protect your privacy. 

While we cannot accept Social Security numbers over the phone, you may call our office at (800) 841-3638 or (804) 828-1222 and speak with an application processor should you have any questions or concerns about this process.

Your eID is your VCU login and the key to everything VCU! Visit the identity claim page to activate your eID and set up your account, which authorizes the use of VCU’s electronic services. It lets you do things like:

• Accept your offer
• Log in to your VCU email account
• Register for classes
• Use the myVCU portal

Note: You must obtain your eID before you can sign up for your virtual Orientation or access your VCU email account.

Say yes to VCU and become a Ram! Visit the VCU Application Portal to complete your Offer of Admission Response form and make it official! 

Response deadlines

• Spring admits: Respond within two weeks after your acceptance.
• Fall admits: Respond by June 1 if you were accepted to the university by May 1. If accepted after May 1, respond within two weeks after your acceptance.

Pay your tuition deposit online to finalize your acceptance

To pay your tuition deposit online, you will need your eID, password, and V-number. Follow these steps: 

1. Log in to eServices using your eID.
2. Click the "Applicants" tab at the top. 
3. Select “Pay tuition deposit” tile.
4. Click "Deposits" at the top of the screen on the purple banner. Follow prompts and enter the desired deposit amount.
• All students accepted into VCU Online undergraduate programs must pay a $100 tuition deposit.
5. Submit your deposit to reserve your spot at VCU.

Important: Both your response form and tuition deposit must be received in order for your account to reflect that you have accepted the offer of admission.

Requesting a tuition deposit waiver

Under certain circumstances, including having applied for financial aid or being awarded a scholarship, accepted students may request to have their tuition deposit waived. Please visit your accepted student portal where you will find the Offer of Admission Response Form to request a tuition deposit waiver.

Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) designating VCU (school code 003735) to determine your eligibility for financial aid. The 2025-2026 FAFSA is now open and the priority deadline to file is March 1, 2025. The earlier you complete the FAFSA, the sooner VCU can consider you for financial aid to help support your education. If you miss the priority deadline, you should still apply because you may still be eligible for some types of assistance.

Virginians who are not eligible to file the FAFSA or who have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status may file the Virginia Alternative State Aid Application (VASA) designating VCU (school code 003735) to determine your eligibility for state or institutional need-based aid (not federal financial aid). The VASA only allows one school code, if you completed the VASA with another code, email sfmc@vcu.edu.

Note for summer admits: If you are admitted for the Summer 2025 semester, you must also complete the 2024-2025 FAFSA in order to be eligible for a financial aid package.

Continue to check your VCU email account for award information, required documents to complete your file and additional information.

Have questions about financial aid?

Get in touch with a counselor from the Student Financial Management Center.

VCU email is now your official method of communication for all things VCU related. New students should check their VCU email daily to make sure you are completing your next steps.

Online Success Tip: Get your mobile workspace setup to make sure you aren't missing important emails! Set your mobile email access up here.

Note: VCU will no longer send communications to your personal email accounts once you have accepted your admission and are now an official VCU Ram!

Ready to get social? Follow us today! Instagram/Twitter/Facebook

Orientation is required for first-year students, transfer students, international students and is encouraged for students who are returning to VCU after being away for more than two years. Think of it as your formal introduction to VCU. 

Orientation for VCU Online students includes completion of the Ram Ready Online Modules and the Online Orientation in Canvas. Students need to register for Orientation to gain access to the Ram Ready Modules.

Orientation registration opens on the following dates:
Students accepted for the Fall: April 1
Students accepted for the Spring: Nov. 1

To learn more and find links to begin your Orientation registration, please visit the Orientation website or contact newrams@vcu.edu.

Navigate

Download Navigate, our student app, to get timely reminders about financial aid deadlines, registration dates and important campus events. You can also use the app to make an appointment with your financial counselor now, and can make an appointment with your academic advisor after Nov. 15 if you’re starting in the spring and May 15 if you’re starting in the fall semester.

VCU Mobile

We also encourage students and VCU community members to download the VCU Mobile app to access maps, schedules for orientation and more.

Apply for financial aid, scholarships and learn how to pay your bill:

• If you haven’t already, be sure to submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Students admitted for the Fall 2025 semester should complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA.  The priority deadline is March 1.  If you miss the priority deadline, you should still apply because you may still be eligible for other types of assistance. Virginians who are not eligible to file the FAFSA or who have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status may file the Virginia Alternative State Aid Application (VASA) designating VCU (school code 003735) to determine your eligibility for state or institutional need-based aid (not federal financial aid). The VASA only allows one school code, if you completed the VASA with another code, email sfmc@vcu.edu.
• Check your VCU email account for award information, required documents to complete your file and additional information.
• Any scholarships or tuition assistance from outside of VCU should be sent to the Student Accounting Department. Detailed instructions are provided here and you can explore additional VCU scholarship opportunities here. 
• If you plan to use military benefits to pay your bill, please connect with Military Student Services (MSS).
• Review VCU tuition & fees and all of your payment options, including our Installment Payment Plan.

Have questions about financial aid?

All admitted VCU students have an assigned financial counselor as part of their student success care team. For more information about making an appointment with your counselor, visit the Student Financial Management Center.

Review the following information to understand which placement tests you may be required to take as a transfer student. This chart will help you determine which tests are required for your major.

Math

As a transfer student, you are only required to take the math placement test if you have not completed a math course within three years or if your math transfer credit is not at least equivalent to MATH-141 Algebra with Applications (college algebra) at VCU. Please be sure to set aside dedicated time to complete this important test as it will determine where you begin in your math sequence. If you take the placement test and are not satisfied with your current math course placement, you have an option to place one course level higher by completing the appropriate ALEKS prep and learning module.

Foreign language

Students enrolled in online programs requiring the foreign language placement test and plan to continue studying a foreign language that they studied in high school must take the language placement test to determine the appropriate language class. Only students with transfer credit from other educational institutions are eligible to enroll in the next course within their language sequence.

The foreign language placement test must be taken either before or during Orientation. Learn more about foreign language placement testing, including when and where tests are administered.

Complete the Advising and Registration Survey to tell us about your goals, interests and educational background. Your advisor will use that information to help you register for your first semester of classes and support you in creating and navigating your own personalized route to graduation. It will take just over 20 minutes for you to complete.

Survey open dates:
Students accepted for Fall: March 15
Students accepted for Spring: November 1

Take the Online Transfer Advising and Registration Survey

Transfer students can schedule their advising appointment using Navigate.

Below are the dates that you can begin scheduling your appointment:

Students accepted for Fall:
Schedule your advising appointment beginning:  May 15

Students accepted for Spring:
Schedule your advising appointment beginning: Nov. 15
*Note: Dates are subject to change.

Make sure to complete your VCU Advising and Registration Survey before you schedule a "New Transfer Advising" appointment with your new advisor. This advising meeting is held online. During this appointment, you will confirm your transferred credits and be introduced to your Major Map and even set up your first follow-up appointment where you will make your full graduation plan.

To prepare for your advising appointment, please review any instructions or welcome information that you receive from your program of study, then:

• Review your transfer credits on DegreeWorks
• Take a look at your Major Map, which has links to a suggested plan of study
• Make a list of what classes you think you want to take
• See what courses are available on the Schedule of Classes
• Watch this video to learn how to register for classes at VCU, written instructions are also available here.
• Register for some or all of your classes

Bring your proposed schedule and any questions to your advising appointment

Using these helpful guides, register yourself for classes in eServices as early as May 1 for fall and December 1 for spring. We encourage you to register for classes as early as possible. 

Need more help? Please join us on Zoom at one of our upcoming 30-minute virtual info sessions to learn how to register for classes on eServices, how to view your degree requirements on DegreeWorks, and how to create your graduation plan. Here are the session dates and times (all are Eastern Standard Time):

Monday, November 25: 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Thursday, December 12: 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Wednesday, December 18: 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Friday, January 10: 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

Tuesday, January 14: 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Make sure to write down any questions that you have after registering so that you can bring them to your advising appointment.  

Note: Your class schedule is not confirmed until you attend your virtual orientation, so make sure to register for and attend orientation!

We’ll need your final transcripts to confirm your enrollment.

VCU Financial Aid will not be able to disburse any of your awarded funds until VCU has received your final transcripts. Request that your college registrar’s office send your final college transcripts to the VCU Office of Admissions as soon as possible before classes start.

Check the academic calendar to verify when classes start for the semester in which you’ll be enrolling.

Your college can send your transcripts in one of the following methods:

• Official transcripts can be submitted through a secured electronic system, such as Parchment Exchange or National Clearinghouse, directly to the VCU Office of Admissions.
• Via U.S. postal mail to:
  Virginia Commonwealth University
  Office of Admissions
  Box 842526
  Richmond, VA 23284

Please be sure your transcripts include final grades through the spring or fall term immediately prior to your enrollment.  If you are earning a degree, make sure it has been awarded before sending your final transcript.

Note: VCU reserves the right to revoke your admission acceptance if your final transcript indicates that you do not meet the criteria for acceptance.

All online students enrolled in 12 or more credits must upload a copy of their vaccine records. Students enrolling in degree programs on the Monroe Park Campus for Fall should submit these forms by Aug. 1 and for spring by Jan. 15.

VCU is committed to providing equal access for all students. Students seeking accommodation or disability-related support for programs based on the Monroe Park Campus should visit the Getting Started page with Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity (SAEO).  Students enrolling in Nursing or Health Services should register with the Division of Academic Success.

VCU issues billing statements electronically, and payment is due at the start of the semester, according to the billing schedule. Students will be notified at their VCU email address when their eStatement is available in eServices. For students starting in Fall, the first billing statement is sent the last week in July. For students starting in Spring, this bill is typically available in mid-December. To access the portal, students should select the “Make a Payment” tile under the Students - “Accounts” tab in eServices. 

VCU’s Installment Payment Plan offers a convenient method for planning and budgeting educational costs. The plan allows students to divide the cost into four installment payments throughout the semester. IPP is only available in the fall and spring semesters. There is a one-time $25 administrative fee due with the first installment.

• Monday, January 13 is the first day of class for the spring 2025 semester
• Tuesday, August 19 is the first day of class for the fall 2025 semester

Health Sciences students must follow their departmental schedules

Call Me By My Name is an initiative that allows VCU to recognize you by the name, gender and pronoun by which you identify.

Please also confirm that VCU has your most up-to-date emergency contact information, physical address, phone number and mailing address. Changes can be submitted via eServices.

Every Ram is responsible for taking care of themselves and looking out for fellow Rams. Completing required training will give you the resources you need to be a responsible member of our community.

• AlcoholEdu helps you reflect on your drinking behaviors and encourages safe decision-making.
• Sexual Assault Prevention helps you understand the forms and definitions of violence, identify helpful resources, and learn ways to intervene to prevent violence.
• Active shooter training is a new requirement for all Virginia public institutions and must be completed in your first semester at VCU.

You must complete all of these training modules before classes begin! These trainings are required for all online students.

After you have registered for classes, you can determine what textbooks, software programs, or platforms are needed for each of your classes. VCU’s online bookstore offers a tool to search for needed course materials, such as textbooks, computers, and electronics to meet your needs. Note: Your course materials may not be uploaded until closer to the start of the semester.

All VCU online students are required to have a personal computer.  You can also review the suggested computer list for your college or school.

VCU faculty, staff and students are automatically signed up for VCU Alert text messages. Please ensure you have the most up-to-date Mobile or Cell Phone Number (Primary) field on your personal information page of the eServices/ VCU Self Services website.

If you do not have a phone number listed, please add one by selecting “Add New” in the Phone Number field. Make sure it is listed as a Mobile or Cell Phone Number and the checkbox for “Primary” is checked.

As an incoming VCU student, there are several ways you can get a head start on your VCU education:

• Students who are admitted for the fall semester are eligible to enroll in Summer Studies courses.
• Students who are admitted for the spring semester are eligible to enroll in Intersession or J-Term classes, as available, which take place during winter break and are billed as part of your spring tuition.

Speak with your online student success advisor for more information about each of these opportunities.

Family members of new first-year and transfer students are strongly encouraged to complete the Ram Ready modules. These self-paced online modules cover important topics and resources that are available to students and families. Families can login as a guest and select the “parent/family” view to see the student modules and view bonus content just for families!

Family members can connect and join various communities on the RAMily Connection Portal and sign up for our monthly Ram Family Update. The Ram Family Update is a monthly e-newsletter for families and supporters to keep up-to-date with ways to support you and important deadlines. This portal is our all-in-one family engagement platform that helps us share personalized, timely content with families.

There are several kinds of access you can give your family when it comes to your student records. Authorized user access permits them to see and pay your bill. Proxy access allows you to share with them your class schedule, registration holds, midterm and final grades (you can choose what to share). Completing a FERPA waiver allows them to reach out to VCU with questions about your academic record including your bill, schedule, grades, and conduct. A Medical Release gives them access to medical records you choose to share with them. You may change their level of access to any of these things at any time.