Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
#1 Best Engineering Colleges in Virginia- Graduation Rate
- 86% A
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $81,698 A
- Top 4% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $24,953 D
- 46% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 55% B+
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.8 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Engineering Colleges in Virginia.
Every $1 spent returns $20.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,977,223.
What The Data Says
-
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 100% more than the national college median.
-
A 86% graduation rate — 51% above the national average.
-
Inventor rate in the top 19% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
-
Every $1 invested returns $20.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 1.3%
- Top 19%
- Patents
- 499
- Linked to graduates
- World Rank
- #251-275
- Times Higher Education
- Patent Citations
- 666
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 40/100
- Times Higher Education
Why Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Matters
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a public research university in Blacksburg, VA ranked #251-275 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 4% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 30,923
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Engineering, Social Sciences, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 55% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1280–1450. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $24,953 a year after grants and scholarships — 46% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $81,698 ten years after enrolling — 100% above the typical college, against $21,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 56% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.76 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of over 30,000 students, Virginia Tech stands out as a vibrant community for those interested in fields like Business and Marketing, Engineering, and Computer Science. The acceptance rate of 55% means that while it's competitive, many students can find a place here. The strong graduation rate of 86% indicates that students are not just getting in, but also succeeding in completing their degrees, which is a big deal when you think about the investment in time and resources.
For graduates, the financial payoff is significant. On average, alumni earn about $81,698 a decade after finishing their degrees. This level of earnings suggests that the education received here translates well into the job market. While the net price after aid is $24,953, the relatively low median debt of $21,500 means that most students don’t leave with an overwhelming financial burden, making the prospect of repayment more manageable.
When it comes to who thrives at Virginia Tech, students who are practical, focused, and drawn to STEM or business disciplines often find their niche. The campus is supportive and encourages collaboration, which is beneficial for those looking to build networks. With a Pell Grant rate of 15%, it’s clear that some financial aid is available, but it’s important to consider how this fits into your overall financial picture. Ultimately, students who are proactive and engaged with their education here tend to do well both during their studies and as they transition into their careers.
Rankings
- #1 Best Engineering Colleges in Virginia
- #2 Best MBA Programs in Virginia
- #3 Best Bachelor's Programs in Virginia
- #3 Best Master's Programs in Virginia
- #3 Best Online Colleges in Virginia
- #3 Best Business Colleges in Virginia
- #3 Best Biology Colleges in Virginia
- #3 Best Communications Colleges in Virginia
Can I Get In?
How selective Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, located in Blacksburg, Virginia, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,364. The graduation rate is roughly 86%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Retention Rate
- 93%
- SAT Average
- 1364
- ACT Midpoint
- 29
- SAT Range
- 1280–1450
- ACT Range
- 28–32
- Full-Time Faculty
- 99%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $14,162
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.64
- First-Gen Students
- 18%
- Applicants
- 45,321
- Admitted
- 25,825
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 25% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school many admits weigh against other offers.
- Yield Rate
- 25%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 41%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 9%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 50% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is $37,764, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $24,953. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,689 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $15,948
- Out-of-State
- $37,764
- Avg Net Price
- $24,953
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 15%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 34%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,689
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,670
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $17,894
- Family Income $110K+
- $34,201
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University earn a median of $81,698, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $67,377
- 8 Years
- $75,717
- 10 Years
- $81,698
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 82%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (3,491)
- 65%
- 100% (3,491)
- 65%
- 100% (3,491)
- 65%
- 100% (3,491)
- 65%
How Virginia Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $24,953/year ($99,812 total). Graduates earn $81,698 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,077,035 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,977,223 (20.8× your investment). The median debt is $21,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 86% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $99,812
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,077,035
- Net Return
- $1,977,223
- ROI Multiple
- 20.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $24,953
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 86%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.35%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 2.8% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 47.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $123,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.35%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 47.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 2.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $167,522
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University produces inventors at an above-average rate (top 19% nationally), with 499 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 40/100 research score.
- Inventor Rate
- 1.32%
- Top 19% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 499
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 666
- Downstream influence
- Research Score
- 40/100
- Times Higher Ed
- Academic Influence
- 30/100
- Citation impact (THE)
- Industry Engagement
- 24/100
- Knowledge transfer (THE)
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 1.12%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 24% $83,981 early-career
- Engineering 20% $93,259 early-career
- Social Sciences 8% $57,268 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 7% $45,495 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $105,366 early-career
- Communications 4% $49,450 early-career
- Psychology 3% $34,410 early-career
- Physical Sciences 3% $45,495 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, located in Blacksburg, Virginia, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,364. The graduation rate is roughly 86%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is $37,764, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $24,953. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,689 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,500 in federal student loans.
Is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University earn a median of $81,698, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.35%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 2.8% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 47.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $123,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
How Research-Intensive Is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations
Times Higher Education places Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University at #251-275 worldwide. Its profile spans a research score of 40/100, teaching at 37/100, and citation impact of 30/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.
Does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University offer Early Decision?
No. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 50% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
About 25% of admitted students choose to enroll at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
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Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
- Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ · Close peer84% grad $74,479 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD · Close peer89% grad $82,860 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of California-DavisDavis, CA · Close peer85% grad $80,838 earn 42% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT · Close peer84% grad $73,997 earn 52% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL · Close peer85% grad $81,054 earn 42% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, MA · Close peer83% grad $71,631 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note