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College · Catholic life on campus

Virginia State University

  • LocationPetersburg, VA
  • Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 5,190 students
Official website

Virginia State University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

The Diocese of Richmond lists Virginia State University among the colleges without a formal campus ministry and directs students to the closest parish, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Petersburg. The parish publishes weekday and weekend Mass times, weekly confession times, adult formation, and OCIA.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 6

  • Saturday5:00 PMSt. Joseph Catholic Church, 151 W. Washington St. · Saturday vigil.
  • Sunday8:30 AMSt. Joseph Catholic Church, 151 W. Washington St.
  • Sunday11:30 AMSt. Joseph Catholic Church, 151 W. Washington St.
  • Monday12:00 PMSt. Joseph Catholic Church, 151 W. Washington St.
  • Tuesday8:30 AMSt. Joseph Catholic Church, 151 W. Washington St.
  • Wednesday9:00 AMSt. Joseph Catholic Church, 151 W. Washington St.

Confession 2

  • Tuesday5:00 PMSt. Joseph Catholic Church, 151 W. Washington St. · Runs 5:00 to 6:00 PM.
  • Saturday3:30 PMSt. Joseph Catholic Church, 151 W. Washington St. · Runs 3:30 to 5:00 PM.

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 12, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. Mass Schedule | St. Joseph Catholic Churchsjcpetersburg.com/mass-schedule · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM”
    The parish offers a Saturday vigil Mass and two Sunday Masses.
    “Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM”
    The parish offers a Saturday vigil Mass and two Sunday Masses.
    “Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM”
    The parish offers a Saturday vigil Mass and two Sunday Masses.
    “Weekday Monday: 12:00 PM Tuesday: 8:30 AM Wednesday: 9:00 AM”
    The parish publishes weekday Masses on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
    “Weekday Monday: 12:00 PM Tuesday: 8:30 AM Wednesday: 9:00 AM”
    The parish publishes weekday Masses on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
    “Weekday Monday: 12:00 PM Tuesday: 8:30 AM Wednesday: 9:00 AM”
    The parish publishes weekday Masses on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
    “Confession Times Tuesday: 5:00 - 6:00 PM Saturday: 3:30 to 5:00 PM Sunday: 30 minutes prior to Mass”
    The parish publishes scheduled confession times each week.
    “Confession Times Tuesday: 5:00 - 6:00 PM Saturday: 3:30 to 5:00 PM Sunday: 30 minutes prior to Mass”
    The parish publishes scheduled confession times each week.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Virginia State University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 mi0.5 mi1 miSaint Joseph Catholic Church: 0.8 mi1St. Joseph Catholic Church (closest parish, per the diocese): 0.9 miVirginia State University (campus)N0.25 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. Saint Joseph Catholic Church — 0.8 mi · 151 West Washington Street, Petersburg

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

N/ACatholic life on campus: Not enough information. Official sources do not cover enough of this to grade it yet.

Catholic life on campus

Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.

  • No: the school does not offer this, so it earns no points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)No (The Diocese of Richmond lists Virginia State among colleges without a formal campus ministry and refers students to the closest parish, St. Joseph in Petersburg.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Find a Campus | Evangelize Richmond (Diocese of Richmond)evangelizerichmond.org/campus-ministry/find-a-campus · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “For colleges and universities that don't have a formal campus ministry, select your school to find the closest parish to campus”
      The Diocese of Richmond lists colleges without a formal campus ministry and directs students to the closest parish.
  • No: the school does not offer this, so it earns no points.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNo (The diocese lists Virginia State University among colleges without a formal campus ministry.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Find a Campus | Evangelize Richmond (Diocese of Richmond)evangelizerichmond.org/campus-ministry/find-a-campus · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “For colleges and universities that don't have a formal campus ministry, select your school to find the closest parish to campus”
      The Diocese of Richmond lists colleges without a formal campus ministry and directs students to the closest parish.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 1 mile of campusComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration6 to 11 times a week (8 weekly times documented: 6 Mass, 2 confession, 0 adoration.)Computed from the verified Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on this page (each day a time is offered counts once).

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • Three weekend Masses are published, including a Saturday vigil.
    Sources (1)
    1. Mass Schedule | St. Joseph Catholic Churchsjcpetersburg.com/mass-schedule · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM Sunday: 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM”
      The parish offers a Saturday vigil Mass and two Sunday Masses.
  • Confession is scheduled each week on Tuesday, Saturday and before Sunday Masses.
    Sources (1)
    1. Mass Schedule | St. Joseph Catholic Churchsjcpetersburg.com/mass-schedule · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Confession Times Tuesday: 5:00 - 6:00 PM Saturday: 3:30 to 5:00 PM Sunday: 30 minutes prior to Mass”
      The parish publishes scheduled confession times each week.

Concerns

  • The diocese lists Virginia State University among colleges without a formal campus ministry, and the named priest is the parish pastor rather than a campus chaplain.
    Sources (2)
    1. Find a Campus | Evangelize Richmond (Diocese of Richmond)evangelizerichmond.org/campus-ministry/find-a-campus · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “For colleges and universities that don't have a formal campus ministry, select your school to find the closest parish to campus”
      The Diocese of Richmond lists colleges without a formal campus ministry and directs students to the closest parish.
    2. Our Staff | St. Joseph Catholic Churchsjcpetersburg.com/our-staff · verified Oct. 12, 2026
      “Father Gino Rossi Pastor”
      Fr. Gino Rossi is the pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

St. Joseph Catholic Church (closest parish, per the diocese)

  • Address: 151 W. Washington St., Petersburg, VA 23803
  • Distance from campus: 0.9 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)

View on map ↗

Source: sjcpetersburg.com, verified Oct. 12, 2026, sjcpetersburg.com, verified Oct. 12, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

4 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 4 off campus

Faith formation 2

  • Adult Formation (Sunday)Off campus
    Sundays 9:45 AM
    Sunday adult formation at the parish school cafeteria.
    sjcpetersburg.com
  • OCIA (Exploring Catholicism)Off campus
    Tuesday nights 6:30 PM
    Parish program for adults entering the Catholic Church or completing initiation.
    sjcpetersburg.com

Liturgy and prayer 2

  • Tuesday Adoration with ConfessionOff campus
    Tuesdays (time not stated)
    Eucharistic adoration with confession at the parish.
    sjcpetersburg.com
  • Friday AdorationOff campus
    Fridays (time not stated)
    Eucharistic adoration at the parish.
    sjcpetersburg.com

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (3)
  1. Find a Campus | Evangelize Richmond (Diocese of Richmond)evangelizerichmond.org/campus-ministry/find-a-campus · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “For colleges and universities that don't have a formal campus ministry, select your school to find the closest parish to campus”
    The Diocese of Richmond lists colleges without a formal campus ministry and directs students to the closest parish.
  2. Home | St. Joseph Catholic Churchsjcpetersburg.com · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Welcome to St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish Community”
    The parish's own site identifies it as St. Joseph Catholic Church in Petersburg.
    “Welcome to St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish Community”
    The parish's own site identifies it as St. Joseph Catholic Church in Petersburg.
  3. Mass Schedule | St. Joseph Catholic Churchsjcpetersburg.com/mass-schedule · verified Oct. 12, 2026
    “Our Location 151 W. Washington St. Petersburg, VA 23803”
    The parish's published location is 151 W. Washington St., Petersburg, VA 23803.

Reach out

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Academic Excellence

DAcademic Excellence: Limited (grade D): 40 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
52 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.39%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.69%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 948 · ACT 17
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.13 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$15,660

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
4,829
Total students5,190
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$15,840
Cost of attendance (per year)$27,661
Median federal debt at graduation$26,500
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
39%
First-year retention69%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$45,543
Admission rate89%
Students receiving Pell grants72%
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT948
SAT reading & writing440–550
SAT math400–520
ACT composite14–20
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 38 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Diocese of Richmond

The Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout, Bishop of Richmond

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: richmonddiocese.org, richmonddiocese.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

  • IPEDS unit ID 234155
  • Carnegie classification: Master's university (medium programs)
  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges d.b.a. Commission on Colleges and Universities (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
  • Report an error or a newer source
  • Respond as this school

Questions families ask

Is Virginia State University a Catholic college?
No. Virginia State University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by St. Joseph Catholic Church (Petersburg).
Where is Mass celebrated at Virginia State University?
Mass is listed at St. Joseph Catholic Church and 151 W. Washington St.. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.

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