Virginia Union SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
850 to 885
Half of enrolled students at Virginia Union scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 885, and one quarter below 850.
- Average composite
- 850
- Acceptance rate
- 98.0%
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Richmond, VA
- Undergraduates
- 1,203
- School type
- Private nonprofit university
Virginia Union SAT Scores and Admissions
Virginia Union admits close to everyone who applies. The acceptance rate sits at 98.0%, so about 98 out of every 100 applicants get in. That reality shapes how you should read the Virginia Union SAT scores. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students land between 850 and 885, and the average score is 850. Those numbers describe who ends up on campus, not a wall you have to clear. With an admit rate this high, your score works more as a placement signal and a scholarship lever than as a gate.
Virginia Union University is a private nonprofit university in Richmond, VA, and it is a small place. Enrollment sits at 1,203 students, so class sizes and the feel of the campus run closer than they would at a large state school. The score range is narrow too. From the 25th percentile at 850 to the 75th at 885 is only 35 points, which tells you most admitted students cluster in a tight band. Land anywhere near 885 and you sit at the top of that group. Testing is optional here in the most recent federal data, so you can decide whether a score helps your case before you send it.
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Virginia Union SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Virginia Union, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 450 | 475 |
| Math | 400 | 410 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 850 | 885 |
The College Board reports section percentiles, not section averages, so an average is shown for the composite only.
Where this sits on the 400 to 1600 scale
850 to 885
Virginia Union Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Virginia Union, measured against real enrolled student data instead of a made up percentage.
No SAT score yet? Take the diagnostic and get a real number in about 25 minutes.
How this calculator works: your SAT is compared with Virginia Union's reported middle 50 percent range from the federal College Scorecard, your GPA is compared with the range admitted students at similarly selective schools typically present, and both are weighed against the school's real acceptance rate. We do not print a made up percent chance. No calculator can see your essays, your course rigor, or your recommendations, and at selective schools those decide close calls. Treat this as an honest read of your academic position, not a prediction.
Chances of Getting Into Virginia Union by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Virginia Union, based on its reported 850 to 885 middle 50 percent range. Find the row closest to your score, or use the calculator above for a read on your exact numbers. No made up percentages: each verdict is your real position in the enrolled class.
| SAT score | Where it lands | The honest read |
|---|---|---|
| 700 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 700 is well below the 850 to 885 range at Virginia Union. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 800 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 800 falls just short of Virginia Union's 25th percentile of 850. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 870 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 870 sits inside the 850 to 885 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 890 | At the 75th percentile | A 890 matches the 75th percentile at Virginia Union, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 920 | Above the 75th percentile | A 920 beats the 75th percentile at Virginia Union. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
What SAT Score Do You Need for Virginia Union?
Here is how to read your number against the range. Score below 850 and you sit under the 25th percentile, which does not rule you out given the 98.0% admit rate, but it also does nothing to strengthen your file. Score between 850 and 885 and you land inside the middle 50, right where most enrolled students fall. Break past 885 and you clear the 75th percentile, putting you above 3 out of 4 admitted students and into scholarship conversation territory.
The two sections do not carry equal weight here. Reading and Writing runs from 450 to 475, while Math runs lower, from 400 to 410. That means Reading and Writing sets the higher bar. If you want to move your total up, points come easier on the Reading and Writing side, where the admitted range already sits higher. A steady Math score paired with a stronger Reading and Writing result is the realistic path to the top of the 850 to 885 band.
Virginia Union GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Virginia Union typically present an unweighted GPA in the range of 3.0 to 3.5. Treat that as a working target, not a cutoff. Grades hold real weight in a file, but the number by itself does not tell the whole story. What you took to earn it counts just as much.
A B in a harder course can read stronger than an A in an easy one, so keep challenging classes on your schedule rather than dropping them to protect a number. If your GPA sits at the lower edge of that 3.0 to 3.5 band, a strong SAT is the fastest way to offset it. A score at or above the 885 mark shows the same academic readiness a higher GPA would, and it gives an admissions reader a clear reason to move your file forward. Since testing is optional, sending a score is a choice, and a strong one gives you a second piece of evidence when your transcript alone leaves room for doubt.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Virginia Union typically present a GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 range on an unweighted 4.0 scale. Steady grades in a reasonable course load are usually enough on the GPA side of the application.
If your GPA sits at or below this range, a strong SAT score is the fastest way to stay competitive, since grades are hard to move late in high school. See where your SAT score really stands and build the plan around the gap.
These are unweighted grades on a 4.0 scale. A school that weights GPA or reports a different scale will show a higher number.
Virginia Union SAT Testing Policy
Virginia Union considered scores without requiring them (test optional) in the most recent federal data. Testing policies change year to year, so confirm the current 2026-2027policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit scores.
Should you submit your score?
Submit your score when it is at or above 868, the middle of Virginia Union's range. If you are below 850, the 25th percentile, consider holding your score and letting your grades, essays, and activities carry the application.
Last verified July 15, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to Virginia Union?
Virginia Union was test optional in the most recent federal data, which turns your score into a strategic choice. The folk theory that applying without scores signals weakness is overstated, but the math of what helps is simple: a score that lands inside or above the admitted range works for you, and a score well below it does not.
870+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
850 to 870
Lean submit
Inside the range, most counselors say send it: you are within the profile of enrolled students, and holding it back leaves the reader guessing.
Below 850
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Virginia Union. Apply without it, or better, close the gap first. Scores can still matter for merit scholarships elsewhere on your list.
Policy as reported for the 2024-2025 cycle. We verified it against Virginia Union's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
How to Get Into Virginia Union
Set your targets against the actual range. Hitting 850 or above puts you at or beyond the 25th percentile, which keeps you inside the range of enrolled students. Reaching 885 or above pushes you past the 75th percentile and into the top quarter, the zone where merit money is most likely to enter the picture. On the sections, aim for the upper end of 475 in Reading and Writing and hold 410 in Math, since Reading and Writing carries the higher bar and rewards focused work.
Start by mapping where you stand now with a short diagnostic, which shows you the gap between your current total and that 885 mark. From there, turn the gap into weekly targets with our score plans so each study block points at a specific section. Your next step is simple: take the diagnostic this week, then decide whether your score is strong enough to send, given that testing here is optional.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Virginia Union?
Virginia Union admits about 980 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 1,203. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 20 of every 1,000 people who apply, the students who get in cluster at the top of every measurable scale.
For perspective against the country as a whole: Virginia Union's 25th percentile score of 850 already beats roughly 15% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 885 sits around the 20th percentile. A score that feels middling on this page is an excellent score almost anywhere else, which is worth remembering when you build the rest of your list.
Colleges Similar to Virginia Union: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Virginia Union, ordered by acceptance rate. Odds are compared on acceptance rate first, because a school with a lower SAT average can still be far harder to get into.
| School | SAT middle 50 percent | Acceptance rate | Odds vs Virginia Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Union | 850 to 885 | 98.0% | This page |
| Virginia's College at Wise | 945 to 1120 | 28.5% | Harder to get into than Virginia UnionSAT about 165 higher |
| Averett | 926 to 1143 | 56.6% | Harder to get into than Virginia UnionSAT about 167 higher |
| Hampton | 790 to 1090 | 62.3% | Harder to get into than Virginia UnionSAT about 73 higher |
| Lincoln | 820 to 960 | 65.7% | Harder to get into than Virginia UnionSAT about 23 higher |
| Norfolk State | 823 to 1030 | 87.8% | Similar oddsSAT about 59 higher |
| Avila | 800 to 960 | 87.8% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
How Recent Are These Virginia Union SAT Scores?
Every score, rate, and enrollment figure on this page comes from the US Department of Education College Scorecard, 2024-2025 release, the same federal dataset colleges report into. Testing policy reflects the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. This page was last reviewed July 15, 2026.
Score ranges quoted around the web for Virginia Union disagree with each other more than you would expect, usually because a site is quoting an older class or an unlabeled estimate. We publish the reported number, label the vintage, and update when the source updates. We also cross checked Virginia Union's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Virginia Union SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Virginia Union?
Virginia Union's middle 50 percent SAT range is 850 to 885. Aim for at least 850 to be competitive, and 885 or higher to be a strong applicant. There is no hard cutoff, but a score in or above this range keeps your application in contention.
Is a 850 a good SAT score for Virginia Union?
A 850 sits at Virginia Union's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 850 to 885. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 885 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Virginia Union?
The average composite SAT score at Virginia Union is 850. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 850 and 885.
Does Virginia Union require SAT scores?
No. Virginia Union was test optional in the most recent federal data, so you can apply without SAT scores. Confirm the current 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit.
Is Virginia Union test optional for 2026-2027?
Virginia Union was test optional in the most recent federal data, meaning you could apply without scores. Policies change year to year, so verify the 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site.
What GPA do you need to get into Virginia Union?
Admitted students at Virginia Union typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 range on the 4.0 scale, based on schools with a comparable acceptance rate. Grades earned in rigorous courses matter as much as the number itself, and a strong SAT score is the fastest way to offset a GPA at the lower edge of that range.
What is Virginia Union's acceptance rate?
Virginia Union admits about 98.0% of applicants, which makes it less selective. A strong SAT score still helps your application stand out, especially for selective majors, honors programs, and merit scholarships.
What are my chances of getting into Virginia Union?
Virginia Union admits about 98.0% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 850 to 885 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 885 puts you in the strongest quarter of the class on testing. Use the admissions calculator on this page to check your own SAT and GPA against Virginia Union's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Virginia Union?
Focus your prep on the section costing you the most points, then follow a study plan built for your target score range. Cheetah Prep has step by step score plans for specific point jumps and unlimited practice questions with worked solutions.
Does Virginia Union superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Virginia Union does not report this in the federal data. Check the school's admissions site for its current superscore policy, which tells you whether it combines your best section scores across test dates.
About this page: written and reviewed by the Cheetah Prep team. Last reviewed July 15, 2026.
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