National university
#7 Best colleges in VirginiaVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · Public · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $24,953 a year
Median debt at graduation: $21,500 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for accounting in America#42 of 1,132
- Best colleges for marketing in America#33 of 834
- Best colleges for finance in America#35 of 744
- Best colleges for business in America#82 of 1,563
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#69 of 1,238
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#115 of 1,829
Show 18 more
- Best colleges in America#134 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#112 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#120 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#114 of 1,358
- Best colleges for English in America#114 of 1,283
- Best colleges for history in America#117 of 1,247
- Best colleges for art and design in America#113 of 1,187
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#118 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#117 of 1,162
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#117 of 1,116
- Best colleges for music in America#112 of 1,063
- Best colleges for engineering in America#87 of 749
- Best large colleges in America#34 of 256
- Best colleges for economics in America#115 of 788
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in America#97 of 598
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in America#117 of 693
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in America#63 of 367
- Colleges with the best earnings for the price in America#154 of 681
In Virginia
- Best colleges for marketing in Virginia#1 of 15
- Best colleges for finance in Virginia#1 of 10
- Best colleges for accounting in Virginia#3 of 27
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Virginia#4 of 34
- Best colleges for psychology in Virginia#5 of 41
- Best colleges for history in Virginia#5 of 40
Show 17 more
- Best colleges for business in Virginia#6 of 47
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Virginia#5 of 38
- Best colleges for English in Virginia#5 of 38
- Best colleges for mathematics in Virginia#5 of 38
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Virginia#5 of 38
- Best colleges for engineering in Virginia#3 of 22
- Best colleges in Virginia#7 of 51
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Virginia#7 of 51
- Best colleges for chemistry in Virginia#5 of 36
- Best colleges for music in Virginia#5 of 34
- Best colleges for art and design in Virginia#5 of 33
- Best test-optional colleges in Virginia#7 of 43
- Best colleges for economics in Virginia#5 of 27
- Best large colleges in Virginia#2 of 8
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in Virginia#5 of 20
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Virginia#5 of 19
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Virginia#4 of 14
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.86%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.93%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,364 · ACT 30
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.17 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$15,632
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))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $36,951 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 30,504 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 57% · Women 43% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 18% |
| First-year students from another state IPEDS, fall 2023 | 35% |
| Total students | 38,294 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $24,953 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $36,951 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 86% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 79% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 79% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 81% |
| First-year retention | 93% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $81,698 |
| Admission rate | 55% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $60 |
| Early action deadline College website, 2026-27 | November 15 |
| Typical rent HUD fair market rent, FY2026 | About $993 a month for a one-bedroom |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 15% |
| Average SAT | 1364 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 640–710 |
| SAT math | 640–740 |
| ACT composite | 28–32 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Very good · Top 29% (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.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computing and information science | |
| Computer engineering | |
| Applied mathematics | |
| Industrial Engineering | |
| Management science | |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | |
| Chemical Engineering | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Finance | |
| Construction Engineering | |
| Engineering Mechanics | |
| Accounting | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Real Estate | |
| Managerial economics | |
| Construction Management | |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | |
| Statistics | |
| Physics | |
| Economics | |
| Materials Engineering | |
| Agricultural Engineering | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Marketing | |
| Engineering-Related Fields | |
| Food Science and Technology | |
| Business administration | |
| Political science | |
| Architecture | |
| Foods, Nutrition, | |
| Chemistry | |
| Hospitality management | |
| Design | |
| International relations | |
| Linguistics | |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | |
| Mathematics | |
| Biochemistry | |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | |
| Public Policy Analysis | |
| Communication studies | |
| Geography | |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services | |
| English | |
| Forestry | |
| Sociology | |
| Agricultural business | |
| Biology | |
| Geology and earth science | |
| Natural resources and conservation | |
| History | |
| Neuroscience | |
| Fine arts | |
| Family and human development | |
| Plant Sciences | |
| Psychology | |
| Agriculture | |
| Music | |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | |
| Animal Sciences |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): Architectural Sciences and Technology, Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Biomedical/Medical Engineering, Data Science, Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Landscape Architecture, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Other physical sciences, Philosophy, Public health, Religious studies, Theatre.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Engineering | |
| Biology | |
| Social sciences | |
| Computer and information sciences |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 3% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 2% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $16,550 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Atlantic Coast Conference |
| ROTC | Army · Navy · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 17 to 1 |
| Undergraduates registered with the disability office | About 10%IPEDS, 2023–24 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 99%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $51,771IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 33% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA)About 26 miles away · about 1 hour by car |
| Nearest major airport | Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)About 130 miles away |
| Town population | 45,446Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | Winston-SalemAbout 78 miles away · about 2 hours 25 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 32°F in January · 72°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Blacksburg Nwso, VA |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.01 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.01 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.02 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A). It ranks in the top 8% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $24,953 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University admitted 55% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s graduates do?
- 86% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $81,698; the median federal debt at graduation is $21,500.
Ask the school
Something you want to know that isn’t on this page? Ask it here. We send it to the school, and their answer appears on this page. Your name is never shared.
Reviews
Personal experiences from signed-in readers. Reviews are moderated automatically and never change a school’s grades.
No reviews yet.
Sign in to write a review.
My rating and notes
Sign in or create a free account to rate this school privately, keep notes, and save it to your list.
About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 233921
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (very high research)
- 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
Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
Compare side by side: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State vs University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State vs Auburn · Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State vs University of Connecticut · Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State vs Rutgers University-New Brunswick
More in Virginia · Virginia rankings