Virginia Commonwealth University
| Latin: Virginia rei Publicae Universitates | |
| Motto | Effice ut sit Realis (Latin) |
|---|---|
Motto in English | "Make it Real" |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | October 20, 1838 |
| Accreditation | SACS |
Academic affiliations | |
| Endowment | $2.72 billion (2021) |
| Budget | $4.7 billion |
| President | Michael Rao |
| Provost | Fotis Sotiropoulos |
| Rector | H. Benson Dendy III |
Academic staff | 3,279 |
Administrative staff | 11,252 |
| Students | 28,919 (2021-22) |
| Undergraduates | 21,707 (2021-22) |
| Postgraduates | 7,212 (2021-22) |
| Location | , , United States 37°32′48″N 77°27′12″W / 37.5466°N 77.4533°W |
| Campus | Midsize city, 150 acres (0.61 km2) |
| Newspaper | The Commonwealth Times |
| Colors | Black and gold |
| Nickname | Rams |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division I – A-10 |
| Mascot | Rodney the Ram |
| Website | vcu |
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a public research university in Richmond, Virginia, United States. VCU was founded in 1838 as the medical department of Hampden–Sydney College, becoming the Medical College of Virginia in 1854. In 1968, the Virginia General Assembly merged MCV with the Richmond Professional Institute, founded in 1917, to create Virginia Commonwealth University. In 2022, more than 28,000 students pursued 217 degree and certificate programs through VCU's 11 schools and three colleges. The VCU Health System supports health care education, research, and patient care. It was the only school in the South to have graduated a class every year during the American Civil War.
VCU had a record $506 million in sponsored research funding in the fiscal year 2024 and is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". VCU's athletic teams compete in NCAA Division I and are collectively known as the VCU Rams. They are members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. The VCU campus includes historic buildings such as the Ginter House, now used by the school's provost.