Admissions

Log in to the VCU Application Portal to view your admission status, VCU ID number (also known as your V-number), the semester you are starting at VCU, degree program, residency status and 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
• Use VCU’s wifi

Note: You must obtain your eID before you can make a reservation to attend Orientation, apply for housing 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! 

Please note, 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. Continue to the next step to pay your tuition deposit.

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 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 undergraduate programs, except those accepted into programs in the School of the Arts, must pay a $100 tuition deposit.
   • The tuition deposit for the School of the Arts is $300.
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. After your account is updated, it will take approximately 3 business days for you to be able to make an advising appointment.

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 new 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.

Please 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!

Orientation is required for first-year students, transfer students and adult learners, 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. 

Students are encouraged to register a family member or supporter to participate in VCU Orientation as well.

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. Note: some schools or colleges may have additional events for you to attend, so please check your VCU email for additional information from your program of study.

Note: You can typically access the Orientation registration within 2-3 business days of VCU processing your tuition deposit.

For students who choose to live off campus, visit the Off-Campus Housing website to explore your options and reach out to the Office of Student Advocacy for help.

Learn more about and apply for on-campus housing at Residential Life and Housing based on availability. The online application for on-campus housing becomes available in November for students starting in the spring semester, and in April for students starting in the fall. Students must be registered for Orientation in order to receive an on-campus housing assignment. To learn more about our on-campus housing options please visit our virtual tour. 

VCU Dine has many on-campus dining options for transfer students including swipes, dining dollars, and Ram Bucks, all conveniently placed on your VCU card.

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

• The 2025-2026 FAFSA is now open, with March 1, 2025 as the priority deadline to file. The earlier you complete the FAFSA, the sooner VCU can consider you for financial aid to help support your education. 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) by March 1, 2025. If you miss the priority deadline, you should still apply because you may still be eligible for other types of assistance.
• Check your new 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 or delivered in person to the Student Financial Management Center. 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. A helpful tool is our Financial Planning Worksheet which can assist you in determining if you will owe a “gap balance.” Please note that your final bill will not be available until after you register for classes.

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 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.

Chemistry

The chemistry placement test is an online test used to place students into an appropriate general chemistry course based on their background knowledge. All students, current or incoming, planning on registering for General Chemistry I (CHEM 101) are required to take the test. This includes first-year students who have taken AP Chemistry. The Chemistry Placement Test is a prerequisite for CHEM 101.

Those earning a passing score on the test will be eligible to register for CHEM 101. Those not earning a passing score have two options:

1. Complete the ALEKS online unit. After successfully completing one of these options students are eligible to register for CHEM 101. ALEKS must be completed by no later than July 31 (for fall semester) or Jan. 10 (for spring semester).
2. Enroll in CHEM 100 – Introductory Chemistry and earn a B or better.

Foreign language

Students who 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 in person 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 academic 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 Transfer Advising and Registration Survey

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.

Note: You can download Navigate two business days after VCU processes your tuition deposit.

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

Make sure to complete your VCU Advising and Registration Survey before you schedule a "New Transfer Advising" appointment with your new academic advisor. For your convenience, this advising meeting can be held online, in-person or over the phone. 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
• 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 for the best course days and times. 

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):

May 2, 2025: 3 - 3:30 p.m.
May 7, 2025: 3 - 3:30 p.m.
May 19, 2025: 3 - 3:30 p.m.
May 23, 2025: 3 - 3:30 p.m.
June 4, 2025: 3 - 3:30 p.m.
June 6, 2025: 9:30 - 10 a.m.
June 11, 2025: 7 - 7:30 p.m.
June 13, 2025: 1 - 1:30 p.m.
June 16, 2025: 7 - 7:30 p.m.
June 20, 2025: 2 - 2:30 p.m.
June 26, 2025: 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
June 30, 2025: 1:30 - 2 p.m.
July 16, 2025: 3 - 3:30 p.m.
July 24, 2025: 4:30 - 5 p.m.
Aug. 5, 2025: 2 - 2:30 p.m.
Aug. 13, 2025: 10 - 10:30 a.m.

Incoming transfer students may also register for classes this summer upon request and approval. Please visit the Summer Studies website here for additional details and to access the registration form.

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

Note: Your class schedule is not confirmed until you attend 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. Students on the MCV campus should follow their departmental schedules.

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.

You must upload a copy of your 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. If you are enrolled in a health sciences program, you must submit the VCU Health Sciences Certificate of Immunization according to the deadlines set by your program.

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 of tuition, fees, and room and dining plans 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, Jan. 13 is the first day of class for the spring 2025 semester
• Tuesday, Aug. 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.

Students have many options when choosing where to park on campus. VCU parking facilities offer parking passes by the semester and some facilities offer daily/hourly options. Think about how often you will be on campus and where your classes will be when considering your parking needs before buying a parking pass. Street parking is managed by the City of Richmond and is paid and time-limited in many places.

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 and an effective bystander.

Here’s what each training covers:

• AlcoholEdu: Helps you reflect on your drinking behaviors and encourages safe decision-making.
• Sexual Assault Prevention: Teaches you to understand the forms and definitions of violence, identify helpful resources, and learn ways to intervene to prevent violence.
• Active Shooter Training: Prepares you to understand what to do in an emergency situation.

These training modules will be available in early August. You must complete them all by Sept. 8.

These trainings are required for students taking classes both in-person and online. Access the trainings and learn more about required trainings for new students.

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 (including pre-Nursing and pre-Health) should visit the Getting Started page with Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity (SAEO).  Students enrolling in the College of Health Professions, Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy should register with the Division of Academic Success.

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

All VCU 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.

Email VCU Special Programs at summer@vcu.edu for more information about each of these opportunities.

Family members of transfer students are strongly encouraged to participate in Orientation. As important partners in your success, we have designed Orientation programs just for your family and supporters that will happen in tandem with your student Orientation experience. We would love to connect them with the faculty, staff, and fellow students you will be supported by throughout your VCU journey.

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 events, 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. This is also where families can learn about and register for major family events like Family Weekend! 

And don’t forget to have your family members join our VCU Families Facebook page and VCU Families Instagram page!

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.