How to apply to Virginia Commonwealth University for engineering: apply to the College of Engineering through the Common App, with automatic consideration for the undeclared major in Humanities and Sciences if not admitted directly, and admission routes and prerequisites for U.S., international (including Chinese) and transfer students

At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU, in Richmond), undergraduate engineering is offered by the College of Engineering. Here is what you need to know, based on official VCU information, for U.S. students, international students and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. It applies to fall 2027 entry.

1. Engineering majors and ABET accreditation

• Engineering BS degrees: biomedical engineering; chemical and life science engineering (chemical engineering and life science engineering concentrations); computer engineering; electrical engineering; and mechanical engineering (with a nuclear engineering concentration). The college also lists computer science (BS with cybersecurity, data science and software engineering concentrations, and a BA), which is covered in a separate guide. The college notes that the Department of Chemical & Life Science Engineering is now the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and that its website is still being updated.
• New major: the 2026-27 Bulletin lists a BS in Robotics and Autonomous Systems Engineering. It does not appear on the college’s five-department degree page or on the Bulletin’s accreditation page, so its ABET status is not published.
• ABET: the Bulletin’s accreditation page says the BS programs in biomedical engineering, chemical and life science engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering (including the nuclear concentration) are accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission, and computer science by the Computing Accreditation Commission.
• Credits: at least 131 for biomedical engineering; 130 for computer, electrical and mechanical engineering; 126 (chemical) or 127 (life science) for chemical and life science engineering; 120 for computer science.
• Every department offers accelerated bachelor’s-to-master’s programs (five years at a minimum), and the college lists dual degrees and minors.

2. Admission route

• First-years apply to VCU through the Common App and may apply to only one undergraduate degree program (stated on the international page). The college’s first-year page says applications are reviewed on academic performance at an accredited high school.
• If you are not admitted directly to the College of Engineering: the website says first-year applicants not accepted directly into the school are automatically considered for the undeclared major in the College of Humanities and Sciences. How to move into engineering afterward (GPA threshold, required courses, limits on places) is not on the pages we read; ask the engineering enrollment office (askengineering@vcu.edu).
• Competitive profile: the website says applicants should aim for at least a B average in high school; a college-preparatory curriculum with advanced coursework, especially in math and science, is preferred, and it says it pays extra attention to STEM courses and grades, with advanced classes helping only if you keep B’s or better.
• Guaranteed University Admission: first-year applicants with a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher (weighted if shown on the transcript) who submit the Common App and required materials by 15 January 2027, with no extra materials. The deadlines page says this applies to “most programs” and not the School of the Arts; it does not say whether engineering is included, and the college page says some applicants are not admitted directly, so how the two fit together is not published.
• Staying in the major (college undergraduate rules): in biomedical, chemical and life science, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering, a C or higher is needed in every major course. After 36 or more credits at VCU, a major GPA below 2.0 means in-college academic probation, and 2.0 must then be kept each semester. A student may attempt each required major course at most three times, is restricted from registering if the second attempt is below C, and is dismissed after any combination of three D or F grades in one required major course (one grade can be appealed).

3. Prerequisites and credit

• High school courses (first-year review page): successful engineering applicants typically have four units of college-prep math including at least one full credit beyond algebra II (calculus desirable but not required), at least three units of lab science including chemistry, physics and biology, four units of English and three of history or social science and government. The university overall requires at least 20 units, including 4 English, 3 math (algebra I and geometry or algebra II), 3 history/social science/government and 3 science (one lab).
• Placement: the college rules say some students must take foundation courses based on placement tests; credit for them does not count toward the bachelor’s degree.
• AP, IB and dual enrollment: credits with appropriate grades apply toward engineering degree requirements; an examination report or official college transcript is required, and the college strongly encourages taking the final AP or IB exams because credit cannot be granted without a result. It links an AP and IB equivalency page that we did not check course by course.

4. How and when to apply (fall 2027)

• Application: the Common App; an essay is required for all 2027 applicants, at least one recommendation is preferred, and an up-to-date high school transcript is required.
• Testing: the college says test scores are not required, and you may still submit them; the general page says all applicants, including those seeking scholarships, can apply test-optional. The college lists fall 2025 admitted-student data: weighted GPA 3.68 (25th percentile), 4.00 (median) and 4.30 (75th); SAT 1220 / 1340 / 1440 (ACT equivalent 25 / 29 / 32). These describe admitted students and are not cutoffs.
• Dates: 1 November 2026, first-year scholarship deadline (applicants who apply by then are considered for university-level scholarships); 15 January 2027, first-year regular decision deadline, with a decision guaranteed by 1 April for complete applications; reply by 1 May if admitted by 1 April.
• Application fee: $75 on the international page; the domestic fee was not on the pages we read.

5. U.S. students: costs and scholarships

• 2026-27 tuition and fees (15 credits per semester, 30 for the year): $17,963 for Virginia residents and $41,127 for non-residents; room (first-year double in Rhoads Hall) $9,259 and dining $6,630. Whether engineering carries a differential tuition is not stated on the pages we read.
• University-level scholarships (automatic if you apply by 1 November): the four-year Provost Scholarship covers tuition and fees up to $16,000 a year (about $64,000 in total); the four-year Deans’ Scholarship covers up to $8,000 a year (about $32,000). Selection is based on academic merit, and leadership and service may be considered; notifications arrive by early April. Renewal needs 28 credits a year and a 3.3 cumulative GPA. The page says merit scholarships cover in-state costs only. Submit the FAFSA.
• College of Engineering scholarships: the college page only points to VCU’s general scholarship page; its own scholarships are not published. The college’s home page cites an average of $16,770 in aid per student, which is its own figure.

6. Co-op (paid work experience)

• The Bulletin describes the co-op as an optional experiential learning program: an approved, full-time, paid position for two or more semesters starting in the sophomore or junior year, alternating with school or consecutive, depending on the employer. An approved co-op can substitute for a departmental internship requirement.
• Students first take ENGR 395, enroll in ENGR 398 during each work term, and enroll in ENGR 498 after the final term; the transcript then notes completion.

7. International students

• How to apply: first-years use the Common App; transfer students use VCU’s online application. The fee is $75 (state-required, paid online by credit card, non-refundable). Submit one application per term and apply to one undergraduate degree program only.
• Education: graduation from secondary school or equivalent (typically at least 12 years beyond kindergarten), with math, natural science, history or social science and English or a foreign language completed by the final year. The page asks for grades that “reflect superior ability and serious effort” but gives no GPA figure for international applicants.
• Testing: international applicants may apply test-optional. However, the international page says under additional requirements that “SAT or ACT scores are required for all mechanical engineering applicants”, which conflicts with the engineering college’s page saying scores are not required. We give both; confirm with the engineering enrollment office if you apply to mechanical engineering.
• Transcripts: originals or officially certified copies of all secondary school grade reports, diplomas, certificates and national or major exam results in the native language with an official English translation; notarized copies are not accepted. Records must show dates of attendance, all courses and grades (with weeks and hours per week), diplomas, and the exams passed with grades and minimum/maximum scores. Official transcripts and scores are mailed to International Admissions. Courses from non-U.S. institutions need an external course-by-course evaluation.
• English: waivers include an IB English Language and Literature grade of 5+; grades 9 to 12 at a U.S. or U.S.-accredited high school with an average of C or better in English; GCSE or O-Level English; an American high school abroad or an IB or A-level school with a C or better in English; high school in a listed country (including Canada except Quebec, the UK, Ireland, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand; China is not listed); six semester hours of college English composition with a C or better; or VCU’s English Language Program. Tests: TOEFL iBT 4.0 (taken on or after 21 January 2026) or 70 (before); IELTS 6.0; PTE 53; SAT Reading and Writing 500; ACT English 16; Duolingo 105; Gaokao English 125/150; CBSE English 80%; CET-6 500. Scores are valid for two years; VCU’s TOEFL code is 5570.
• Financial proof and I-20: the page links an I-20 request form but gives no financial documentation amounts or formats, so those are not published there; contact the Global Education Office immigration services (GEOIS@vcu.edu). F-1 students may not take more than 25% of a semester’s load in online, distance or hybrid classes.
• Costs: the website does not list a separate international cost, and which tuition rate applies is not stated. In the general table, non-Virginia residents pay $41,127 in 2026-27 tuition and fees plus room $9,259 and dining $6,630, for $57,016. The out-of-state scholarship page groups “out-of-state or international” students together.
• Scholarships: international first-years who apply by 1 November are considered for the university-level first-year scholarships; out-of-state (including international) first-year students with a high school GPA of 3.0+ applying for fall are considered automatically for $10,000 (3.00), $11,000 (3.25), $12,000 (3.50), $14,000 (3.75) or $15,000 (4.00) a year, renewable for up to three more years. No separate application is needed.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the international English table lists Gaokao English (125/150) and CET-6 (500); whether and how the overall Gaokao score is used is not published.
• Transcripts and graduation records: follow the general requirements above (originals or sealed copies of all grade reports, diplomas and national exam results with official English translations). Any China-specific requirements (academic proficiency exams, credential evaluators, interviews) are not published; the international page has no country pages and mentions no interview.
• Prerequisites: see section 3: math beyond algebra II and lab sciences including chemistry, physics and biology.
• Mechanical engineering: the international page says SAT or ACT scores are required for mechanical engineering (which conflicts with the college page), so verify before applying.

9. Transfer students

• College of Engineering transfer requirements: college math through Calculus 1 (equivalent to VCU MATH 200) or higher; credit for at least one laboratory science course; and a GPA of 2.7 or higher on all college work, with emphasis on math and science. The same page also says most successful transfer applicants have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above with stronger grades in math, science and engineering, and that review is individualized, so the GPAs are only rough guidelines (both figures appear).
• Ideal lab science courses (VCU equivalents): biomedical engineering, BIOL 151, CHEM 101 + CHEZ 101 and PHYS 207; chemical and biomolecular engineering, CHEM 101 + CHEZ 101, BIOL 151 and PHYS 207; electrical and computer engineering and mechanical and nuclear engineering, CHEM 101 + CHEZ 101, PHYS 207 and PHYS 208.
• Credit: credit is accepted only from colleges accredited by one of the seven U.S. regional accreditors (non-U.S. institutions case by case); you may need to provide course descriptions; courses can be challenged with faculty permission; official CLEP, AP or IB results are required. VCCS and Richard Bland College equivalencies have been set by agreement, and the college offers transfer maps. An associate degree meets VCU’s core requirements, but engineering core courses may remain and finishing may take more than two years.
• Guaranteed admission: the college has a guaranteed admission agreement with the Virginia Community College System.
• Dates: for fall 2027 the transfer deadline is 15 March; complete applications get a decision by 1 May; reply by 1 June.
• International transfers: use VCU’s online application; admission is based on U.S. records only if you completed more than one year of full-time study in the U.S.; courses from outside the U.S. need an external course-by-course evaluation. We did not read the transfer scholarship page.

Checklist

U.S. students:

• Common App and transcript by 1 November 2026 (scholarships); regular deadline 15 January 2027; essay required
• At least a B average; math beyond algebra II and three lab sciences (chemistry, physics, biology); SAT/ACT optional

International students (including applicants from China):

• Common App, $75 fee, one program only; transcripts with official English translations; English proof (IELTS 6.0, new-scale TOEFL 4.0, Gaokao English 125/150, etc.)
• How the Gaokao is used is not published; the two pages conflict on whether mechanical engineering needs SAT/ACT, so confirm

Transfer students:

• Apply by 15 March; Calculus 1 or higher, one lab science, a GPA of 2.7 (successful applicants often 2.5+); official transcripts

Sources: Virginia Commonwealth University, College of Engineering first-year review; College of Engineering transfer review; College of Engineering undergraduate degrees; Bulletin: engineering undergraduate information; Bulletin: accreditation; Bulletin: co-op education program; Bulletin: Robotics and Autonomous Systems Engineering; First-year requirements; Guaranteed University Admission; Deadlines; International undergraduate applicants; Tuition and fees; First-year scholarships; Out-of-state scholarships. The Bulletin is the 2026-27 edition, dates are for fall 2027 entry and costs are for 2026-27. Check VCU’s website for the latest.