Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public · 20,797 students · Visit Website

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) offers various programs that provide hands-on training and connections for skilled careers. VCU's Facilities Management Apprenticeship Program trains individuals to become certified HVAC technicians, electricians, locksmiths, and plumbers through a four-year program with on-the-job training and classroom instruction. Additionally, VCU Health has "Pathways" programs that provide workforce training for entry-level healthcare positions, with a focus on job readiness, shadowing, and connections to full-time employment within VCU Health. The university also provides specialized facilities like the College of Engineering Makerspaces, which offer advanced manufacturing capabilities and training in areas such as 3D printing, laser cutting, and metal fabrication.

Programs Analyzed

1

Avg Grad Earnings

$28,747/yr

Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score

59/100

Tuition (In-State)

$16,458/yr
Out-of-state: $39,042/yr

All Programs at Virginia Commonwealth University

1 trade program at Virginia Commonwealth University, ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score (combines earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size). Use the “compare” links to see how this school’s programs stack up against others nationally.

Program Score Earnings Debt 10yr ROI AI Risk Job Market
Business
Business/Commerce, General
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59 $28,747/yr $23,250 16.5x High Very Large
832 openings/yr

Reading the table: Score combines earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size on a 0–100 scale. Earnings = median first-year salary from College Scorecard. Debt = median federal debt at graduation (blank where Scorecard suppresses small samples). 10yr ROI = projected 10-year earnings ÷ in-state tuition. AI Risk reflects task-level AI exposure across mapped occupations. Job Market = annual openings nationwide for connected occupations.

More Trade Schools in Virginia

Top-scored trade schools elsewhere in Virginia, ranked by average TradeSchoolOutlook Score across their programs.

View all trade schools in Virginia →

Apprenticeship Pathways in Virginia

Earn-while-you-learn alternatives in Virginia. Registered apprenticeships skip tuition and pay you during training, though training periods are typically longer.

Browse all apprenticeship trades →

Trade Schools Near Richmond

Other cities in Virginia with multiple trade schools, sorted by distance from Richmond.

About This Data

TradeSchoolOutlook analyzes 1 trade and vocational programs at Virginia Commonwealth University using earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024–2034).

The TradeSchoolOutlook Score (0–100) combines graduate earnings, return on investment, AI resilience, and job market size. AI Risk reflects task-level exposure for the occupations each program feeds into. Job Market shows the size of the national hiring pool. Programs without published debt figures had small reporting samples that the College Scorecard suppresses for privacy.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections). Last updated 2026.