First-year requirements

Review application requirements and materials you must submit in your Common Application to VCU.

Application requirements

To apply to VCU as an incoming first-year student, you must use the Common App.

VCU applications for admissions and scholarship consideration will be reviewed based on academic performance at an accredited high school or on GED scores. The college preparatory curriculum is highly preferred. Extracurricular activities and employment experience may strengthen an application.

Required units

A minimum of 20 units is required for admission to programs on the Monroe Park Campus. Competitive applicants should present a minimum of:

  • 4 units of English
  • 3 units of mathematics (including algebra I and either geometry or algebra II)
  • 3 units of history, social studies or government
  • 3 units of science (at least one laboratory)
  • 3 units of one foreign language or 2 units of two foreign languages are strongly recommended

Test-optional details

Applicants (including those seeking scholarships) do not need to submit test scores unless applying to the Honors College guaranteed admissions programs. Those students should contact the Honors College if they are unable to test. Any applicant who has test scores and would like them to be considered may still submit them.

Application materials

Learn about the materials you'll need to prepare and submit with your application.

Supplemental materials by department

School of the Arts applicants

In addition to the university Application for Undergraduate Admission, all applicants to the School of the Arts must submit supplemental materials as described on the School of the Arts website. The school’s application review committee reviews all applications to its programs. For more information, call the school at (804) 828-2787.

College of Engineering applicants

To be competitive for admission to the College of Engineering, first-year applicants should present a minimum GPA of 3.4 (on a 4.0 scale).

First-year applicants to the College of Engineering who are not accepted directly into the school will automatically be considered for the undeclared major in the College of Humanities and Sciences. Learn more about the school’s first-year admissions. For more information, contact the school at (804) 828-2129 or askengineering@vcu.edu.

VCU Honors College applicants

To be competitive for admission to the Honors College, first-year applicants should present a minimum GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) and either a combined SAT score of at least 1330 on the critical reading and math sections of the test or an ACT composite score of at least 29.

In addition to the application for undergraduate admission, all applicants to the VCU Honors College must submit an additional application and meet specific criteria as described on the VCU Honors College website. For more information contact the school at (804) 828-1803 or honors@vcu.edu.

Guaranteed Admission Programs applicants

The VCU Honors College offers a variety of Guaranteed Admission Programs that allow highly qualified students to enter medical school and several other health sciences programs at VCU without competing via general admission at a later date. Application procedures and requirements vary depending on the program, but all applications are due Nov. 1. For more details, see the VCU Honors College website or contact the college at (804) 828-1803 or honors@vcu.edu.

Find answers in our FAQs

Have questions about the application process? Explore our frequently asked questions.

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