Virginia State University

Location and Contact Information

The campus is in a large suburb.

Overview

Virginia State University was established in 1882 as the Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute. VSU is completely state-supported, historically black university. As a result of the 1890 Amendments to the Morrill Act, VSU became a land grant college in Virginia. VSU's main campus is spread across more than 200 acres and has more than 50 buildings, including 16 classroom buildings and 15 dormitories, along with an agricultural research facility.

Virginia State University provides more than 50 baccalaureates and masters degree programs. Advanced Study certification is offered through 5 schools:

• The School of Agriculture
• The School of Business
• School of Engineering, Science and Technology
• The School of Graduate Studies, Research and Outreach
• The School of Liberal Arts and Education

Highlights (vs. Other Schools)

• Historically black college.
• Many students concentrating in computer science and engineering, media, and security and law enforcement.
• Racially diverse student body.
• Superior share of faculty on tenure track.
• Number of dorm rooms for students.
• High percentage of students are from out-of-state.
• Large number of students.
• Affordable tuition & fees.
• Large number of programs of study offered.

School characteristics:

• The school is public.
• Academic calender: Semester.
• Carnegie classification: Masters Colleges and Universities I.

Features of note:

• The school offers a faculty tenure system.
• There are one or more libraries on-campus.
• Campus housing is available.
• Students have meal (board) plans.
• Students may study abroad.
• Distance learning is available.
• Weekend study is an option.
• Part-time classes are available.
• ROTC.
• Athlete financial aid is awarded.

Tuition and Financial Aid (2009-2010)

Financial Aid

Virginia State participates in US Title IV financial assistance programs.

In 2009-2010, 90% of students received financial aid of some sort.

(Please refer to BrainTrack's financial aid articles section for background information.)

Similar Schools

Based on proprietary BrainTrack computer comparisons against all other US colleges, these schools appear to be most similar to Virginia State University:

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Degrees Awarded (in 2009-2010)

Faculty

Tenure (2009-2010):

Students

Virginia State is a historically black college.

Student enrollment was 5,042 in 2009-2010 (5,045 full-time equivalent).

.

Undergrads are 88% of enrolled students and graduate students are 12%.

Students under 25 years old represent 86% of the student body. About 4% of the school is at least 40 years of age.

Among freshmen students, 97% are full-time and 3% are part-time.

Admissions Summary (2009-2010)

SAT Test Scores:

Room and Board

Virginia State provides on-campus housing for 2,988 of its 5,045 (full-time) students (as of 2009-2010). The school requires freshmen to live on campus.

Students may purchase a meal plan which includes 19 meals weekly.

Athletics

School sports include football, basketball, baseball, and track. The school is in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association for major sports.

The school offers financial aid for athletes. Of students receiving athletic financial aid, 83 male students received the aid (men were 65% of those receiving aid) and 45 women were awarded financial aid based on athletics (representing 35% of students receiving such aid) .

Graduate School Focus

Virginia State offers graduate (post-Bachelor) studies. The highest degree offered is the Doctorate (Research/Scholarship).

The school's Graduate School Carnegie Classification is Postbaccalaureate Comprehensive.

Programs of Study

(Number of degrees in 2009-2010 in parentheses)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT (8 awarded)

• Agriculture

ART STUDIES (10 awarded)

• Visual and Performing Arts

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (115 awarded)

• Accounting
• Business Administration and Management
• Business/Managerial Economics
• Marketing/Marketing Management

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (50 awarded)

• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Information Technology

EDUCATION AND TEACHING (129 awarded)

• Business Teacher Education
• Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
• Curriculum and Instruction
• Educational Leadership and Administration
• Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
• Trade and Industrial Teacher Education

ENGINEERING (3 awarded)

• Manufacturing Engineering

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN (7 awarded)

• Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
• Engineering Technologies/Technicians
• Industrial Technology/Technician
• Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK (26 awarded)

• Family and Consumer Economics and Related Services
• Public Administration
• Social Work

HOSPITALITY (13 awarded)

• Hospitality Administration/Management

LANDSCAPING AND HORTICULTURE (0 awarded)

• Plant Sciences

LIBERAL ARTS (122 awarded)

• English Language and Literature
• History
• Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
• Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
• Political Science and Government
• Sociology

MATHEMATICS (1 awarded)

• Mathematics

MEDIA (56 awarded)

• Mass Communication/Media Studies
• Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

MUSIC (3 awarded)

• Music Performance

NURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE (8 awarded)

• Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)

NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY (11 awarded)

• Dietetics/Dietitian (RD)
• Sport and Fitness Administration/Management

SCIENCE (31 awarded)

• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Physics

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (62 awarded)

• Corrections and Criminal Justice
• Criminal Justice/Safety Studies

THERAPY AND COUNSELING (64 awarded)

• Health/Medical Psychology
• Psychology