Auburn vs Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
What each college publishes, side by side. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt come from federal data.
ACompass Score: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.Auburn UniversityAuburn, ALCompass Score: Exceptional · Top 9%ACompass Score: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VACompass Score: Exceptional · Top 8%
At a glance
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State has the higher graduation rate: 86% against 82% at Auburn.
- For families earning up to $30,000, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State has the lower price after aid: $11,689 a year, against $16,681 at Auburn.
- Median earnings ten years after entry are higher at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State: $81,698, against $65,337 at Auburn.
Scores
Compass Score
ACompass Score: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 9%
ACompass Score: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 8%
Academic Excellence
A-Academic Excellence: Excellent (grade A-): the top 20% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 15%
AAcademic Excellence: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 9%
Value
BValue: Good (grade B): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 39%
B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 29%
The college
Category
National universities
National universities
Location
Auburn, AL
Blacksburg, VA
Setting
City
City
Students
33,015
38,294
Sports
NCAA Division I · Southeastern Conference
NCAA Division I · Atlantic Coast Conference
Admission
Admission rate
46%
55%
Average SAT
1345
1364
ACT middle 50%
26–31
28–32
Outcomes
Graduation rate
82%
86%
First-year retention
95%
93%
Median earnings 10 years after entry
$65,337
$81,698
Median debt
$21,000
$21,500
Cost
Average price after aid
About $24,000
About $25,000
Price after aid, by family income
Up to $30,000
About $17,000
About $12,000
$30,001–$48,000
About $18,000
About $12,000
$48,001–$75,000
About $21,000
About $18,000
$75,001–$110,000
About $26,000
About $26,000
Over $110,000
About $30,000
About $34,000
Top majors by graduate earnings
Bachelor's majors
- Computer engineering $110,927
- Chemical Engineering $106,726
- Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering $102,756
- Electrical engineering $99,799
- Industrial Engineering $99,441
- Computing and information science $144,103
- Computer engineering $122,026
- Applied mathematics $117,990
- Industrial Engineering $116,641
- Management science $108,726
Compare with another college
Auburn University · Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The Compass Score and grades are College Compass Guide’s own ratings. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt are federal data. This comparison doesn’t rank the two colleges; the figures are shown as published.