Virginia State University

Petersburg, VA

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Virginia State University - Petersburg, VA Area Guide

Embrace opportunity at VSU

Historic • Land-Grant • Public • Suburban • Top-Ranking • Trojans •

Founded in 1882, Virginia State University is one of only two land-grant universities in the state and one of the top 12 historically black colleges in the country. VSU is located on 231 acres along the Appomattox River, roughly a mile northwest of Downtown Petersburg. The university offers an award-winning Fine Arts Program and a top-ranking Criminal Justice program. In all, VSU offers 31 undergraduate, 17 graduate, and two doctoral programs. The VSU Trojans participate in NCAA Division II as part of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Sports teams include basketball, football, and baseball. With a history dating back to the 1600s, Petersburg is a fascinating city with a rich history. The Old Town Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, features beautiful architecture housing a variety of shops and restaurants. Downtown Petersburg is also known for its arts scene. Catch a live performance at Sycamore Rouge or attend the monthly "Friday of the Arts" event, which features live music and local artists. VSU is located in the village of Ettrick, settled around 1765. The name was given to the area by a Scottish merchant who saw similarities to his hometown of Ettrick in Selkirk, Scotland. Look along East River Road for rentals near VSU, or along Main Street if you prefer to be closer to the river. With downtown less than four minutes away, living downtown and commuting to campus is also a terrific option.

Rent Trends

As of April 2026, the average apartment rent in Petersburg, VA is $998 for a studio, $1,097 for one bedroom, $1,262 for two bedrooms, and $1,781 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Petersburg has increased by 1.8% in the past year.

  • Studio

  • 443 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $998/month

    Average Rent

  • 1 BR

  • 674 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,097/month

    Average Rent

  • 2 BR

  • 953 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,262/month

    Average Rent

  • 3 BR

  • 1,313 sq ft

    Average Sq Ft

  • $1,781/month

    Average Rent

Getting Around

Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Virginia State University - Petersburg, VA (University) is for everyday living.

Fairly Walkable

Walkability

40 / 100

Limited Public Transit

Transit

30 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

90 / 100

Somewhat Bikeable

Bikeability

30 / 100

Daily Essentials

Essentials are more spread out in Virginia State University - Petersburg, VA (University), so everyday errands require more planning.

Supermarket Within a 30 Minute Walk

Groceries

30 / 100

Fair Restaurant Variety Nearby

Restaurants

40 / 100

Few to No Café Options Nearby

Cafes

10 / 100

Fair Variety of Shops Nearby

Shopping

50 / 100

Recreation

Recreation options in Virginia State University - Petersburg, VA (University) are limited, so staying active may require more planning.

Large Amount of Park Space Nearby

Parks

60 / 100

Limited Wellness Amenity Variety Nearby

Wellness

20 / 100

Local Vibe

Get a sense of what it’s like to live in Virginia State University - Petersburg, VA (University) from everyday activity to noise and nightlife.

Mostly Calm Atmosphere

Vibrancy

20 / 100

Few to No Nightlife Options Nearby

Nightlife

10 / 100

Not Noisy

Quiet Score

100 / 100
Scores provided by

Schools

Walnut Hill Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

515 Students

2/10

Pleasants Lane elementary

Public

Grades K-5

540 Students

1/10

Cool Spring Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

530 Students

1/10

Lakemont Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

349 Students

1/10

Appomattox Regional Gov. School

Public

Grades K-12

/10

Vernon Johns Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

921 Students

3/10

Vernon Johns Jr. High School

Public

Grades 8-9

570 Students

Southside Va Training Center

Public

Grades PK-12

/10

Central St. Hosp. Ed. Pr.

Public

Grades PK-12

/10

Appomattox Regional Gov. School

Public

Grades K-12

/10

Petersburg High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,080 Students

2/10

Appomattox Regional Gov. School

Public

Grades K-12

/10

Central St. Hosp. Ed. Pr.

Public

Grades PK-12

/10

Southside Va Training Center

Public

Grades PK-12

/10
School data provided by http://www.greatschools.org The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology Data provided by GreatSchools.org © 2026. All rights reserved.

Points of Interest

Top Apartments Near Virginia State University

High Street Lofts

High Street Lofts

420 High St,
Petersburg, VA 23803

$1,107 - $2,100 Plus Fees

Studio - 3 Beds

The Bosco

The Bosco

219 E Bank St,
Petersburg, VA 23803

$1,100 - $1,310 Plus Fees

1 Bed

Aubrey Apartments

Aubrey Apartments

1800 Boydton Plank Rd,
Petersburg, VA 23805

$900 - $1,399 Plus Fees

1-3 Beds | 12 Month Lease

Clearfield Apartments

Clearfield Apartments

100 Clearfield Cir,
Colonial Heights, VA 23834

$1,412 Plus Fees

2-3 Beds | 12 Month Lease

Petersburg ArtistSpace Lofts

Petersburg ArtistSpace Lofts

120 Perry St,
Petersburg, VA 23803

$1,011 - $2,118 Total Monthly Price

Studio - 2 Beds | 12 Month Lease

Mayton Transfer Lofts

Mayton Transfer Lofts

250-316 E Bank St,
Petersburg, VA 23803

$1,046 - $2,727 Plus Fees

Studio - 3 Beds

Summit Pointe Apartments

Summit Pointe Apartments

523 Summit St,
Petersburg, VA 23803

$799 - $975 Plus Fees

1-2 Beds

Lakeview Terrace Townhomes

Lakeview Terrace Townhomes

100-141 Lakeview Park Rd,
Colonial Heights, VA 23834

$1,075 - $1,950 Plus Fees

1-3 Beds | 12 Month Lease

TANGLEWOOD APARTMENTS

TANGLEWOOD APARTMENTS

1700 Johnson Rd,
Petersburg, VA 23805

$975 - $1,649 Plus Fees

1-3 Beds

Houses Near Virginia State University

21507 Court St

21507 Court St,
Ettrick, VA 23803

$1,595 Plus Fees

3 Beds | 1 Bath

315 St Mark St

315 St Mark St,
Petersburg, VA 23803

$2,500 Plus Fees

5 Beds | 2 Baths

118 Virginia Ave

118 Virginia Ave,
Petersburg, VA 23803

$1,495 Plus Fees

4 Beds | 2 Baths

2212 Ferndale Ave

2212 Ferndale Ave,
Petersburg, VA 23803

$1,195 Plus Fees

3 Beds | 1 Bath

148 Swift Creek Ln

148 Swift Creek Ln,
Colonial Heights, VA 23834

$1,000 Plus Fees

1 Bed | 1 Bath

1814 East Blvd

1814 East Blvd,
Petersburg, VA 23805

$1,275 Plus Fees

2 Beds | 1 Bath

View More Houses for Rent Near Virginia State University

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.