Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA
School Background
2022 Undergraduate Enrollment: 29,699
Graduate Enrollment: 7,519
Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Highest degree awarded:
Graduate
Asian American/Native American/Pacific Islander institution
Religious Affiliation:
None
Campus Details
Small City (<100k)
Four-year, large, primarily residential
//
full-time, more selective, lower transfer-in
Applicant and Admittance Traits
2022 Admission Rate: 56.47%
Male/Female: 54% / 46% (2017)
First generation college students: 17.8% (2017)
Percentage of students who are married when enrolled: 0.7% (2017)
Percentage of students who are veterans: 0.2% (2012)
Test scores for admission: Considered but not required
Appliants applying to 2+ schools: 71.9% (2017)
Appliants applying to 3+ schools: 60.3% (2017)
Appliants applying to 4+ schools: 48.6% (2017)
Appliants applying to 5+ schools: 36.8% (2017)
Ethnicity Information
White: 61.3%
Black: 5.5%
Hispanic: 8.6%
Asian: 12.0%
American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.1%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.1%
2+ races: 5.2%
Non-resident alien: 4.9%
Unknown race: 2.4%
Black: 5.5%
Hispanic: 8.6%
Asian: 12.0%
American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.1%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.1%
2+ races: 5.2%
Non-resident alien: 4.9%
Unknown race: 2.4%
Costs & Fees
2022 Average Tuition & Fees (Room/Board/Books): $27,755
In-State tuition: $14,174Out-of-State tuition: $33,857
Estimated books and supplies: $1,100 (2022)
Estimated on-campus room & board: $10,110 (2022)
Estimated on-campus other fees: $3,250 (2022)
Estimated off-campus room & board: $11,580 (2022)
Estimated off-campus other fees: $3,250 (2022)
Average Family Income: $108,806 (2017)
Median Family Income: $89,378 (2017)
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Percentage of students receiving Pell Grant: 14.8%Percentage of students with Federal Loans: 35.3%
Median federal loan debt at graduation: $21,500 (2021)
Median federal loan payment: $228 (2021)
| Household Income | Net Cost |
|---|---|
| 0-$30k | $11,740 |
| $30k-48k | $13,739 |
| $48k-75k | $18,113 |
| $75k-110k | $24,065 |
| $110k+ | $26,726 |
Graduate Outcomes & Job Placements
4-year graduation rate: 68%6-year graduation rate: 87%
1 year post-graduation workforce participation: 95.9% (2020)
Loans
Median federal debt for graduates: $21,500 (2021)Median federal debt for non-graduates: $7,500 (2021)
Median federal debt for first-generation graduates: $18,844 (2021)
Median federal debt for Pell grant recipient graduates: $19,500 (2021)
Ability to Repay Loans
| Graduates, % of Loans in Repayment (Non-delinquent/default) |
Percentage |
|---|---|
| @1 Year | 82.8% (2015) |
| @3 year | 85.9% (2017) |
| @5 year | 89.2% (2017) |
1-year Graduate % of Loans being Repaid (Non-delinquent/default) - Pell Grant Recipients: 68.2% (2015)
1-year Graduate % of Loans being Repaid - 1st Generation Attendees: 72.1% (2015)
Earnings Power
Median earnings, 1 year post graduation: $57,372 (2020)Median earnings, 4 years post graduation: $70,429 (2020)
Popular Majors
| Type of Degree | Major | 2022 Graduates | Median Federal Debt | Median Monthly Payment | 1yr Median Earnings (monthly gross) | 4yr Median Earnings (monthly gross) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master's Degree | Philosophy. | 6 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Communication and Media Studies. | 227 | $20,613 | $217 | $38,079 ($3,173) | $55,850 ($4,654) |
| Master's Degree | Communication and Media Studies. | 9 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Graphic Communications. | 2 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. | 10 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 304 | $20,500 | $217 | $88,898 ($7,408) | $116,372 ($9,698) |
| Master's Degree | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 60 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 21 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | 4 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other. | 135 | $378 | $104,576 ($8,715) | $126,382 ($10,532) | |
| Master's Degree | Curriculum and Instruction. | 110 | $233 | $49,315 ($4,110) | $51,146 ($4,262) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Curriculum and Instruction. | 14 | $70,697 ($5,891) | |||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Curriculum and Instruction. | 1 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Educational Administration and Supervision. | 27 | $334 | $48,085 ($4,007) | $59,777 ($4,981) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Educational Administration and Supervision. | 15 | $700 | $82,180 ($6,848) | $92,977 ($7,748) | |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Educational Administration and Supervision. | 24 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research. | 9 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Student Counseling and Personnel Services. | 15 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Student Counseling and Personnel Services. | 6 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | 55 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | 171 | $25,849 | $250 | $77,322 ($6,444) | $92,354 ($7,696) |
| Master's Degree | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | 63 | $96,589 ($8,049) | |||
| Doctoral Degree | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | 36 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Engineering Mechanics. | 36 | $27,500 | $292 | $70,085 ($5,840) | $81,469 ($6,789) |
| Master's Degree | Engineering Mechanics. | 5 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Engineering Mechanics. | 12 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering. | 17 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Materials Engineering | 78 | $27,000 | $286 | $60,233 ($5,019) | $80,173 ($6,681) |
| Master's Degree | Materials Engineering | 19 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Materials Engineering | 12 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Mechanical Engineering. | 384 | $23,000 | $239 | $72,250 ($6,021) | $85,281 ($7,107) |
| Master's Degree | Mechanical Engineering. | 50 | $85,249 ($7,104) | $94,024 ($7,835) | ||
| Doctoral Degree | Mechanical Engineering. | 26 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Mining and Mineral Engineering. | 28 | $20,907 | $222 | $74,990 ($6,249) | $84,815 ($7,068) |
| Master's Degree | Mining and Mineral Engineering. | 5 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Mining and Mineral Engineering. | 2 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. | 8 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. | 1 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Nuclear Engineering. | 3 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Nuclear Engineering. | 1 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Nuclear Engineering. | 3 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Systems Engineering. | 6 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Polymer/Plastics Engineering. | 3 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Polymer/Plastics Engineering. | 5 | ||||
| Master's Degree | English Language and Literature, General. | 13 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. | 8 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies. | 3 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Biology, General. | 218 | $20,500 | $214 | $27,896 ($2,325) | $47,097 ($3,925) |
| Master's Degree | Biology, General. | 7 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | 113 | $24,125 | $254 | $31,179 ($2,598) | $52,254 ($4,355) |
| Doctoral Degree | Botany/Plant Biology. | 5 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Microbiological Sciences and Immunology. | 26 | $24,135 | $263 | $37,789 ($3,149) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Zoology/Animal Biology. | 2 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology. | 6 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology. | 2 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Neurobiology and Neurosciences. | 131 | $23,000 | $236 | $25,702 ($2,142) | |
| Master's Degree | Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other. | 33 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other. | 18 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Mathematics. | 96 | $23,250 | $237 | $47,946 ($3,996) | $61,470 ($5,123) |
| Master's Degree | Mathematics. | 15 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Mathematics. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Applied Mathematics. | 90 | $20,500 | $212 | $76,951 ($6,413) | |
| Master's Degree | Applied Mathematics. | 5 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Community Organization and Advocacy. | 1 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Public Administration. | 26 | $66,895 ($5,575) | $103,346 ($8,612) | ||
| Doctoral Degree | Public Administration. | 9 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Public Administration. | 17 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Public Policy Analysis. | 16 | $15,468 | $164 | $55,179 ($4,598) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Economics. | 122 | $22,500 | $235 | $51,414 ($4,285) | $75,051 ($6,254) |
| Master's Degree | Economics. | 12 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Economics. | 5 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Economics. | 2 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Music. | 32 | $27,000 | $286 | $36,425 ($3,035) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Geography and Cartography. | 51 | $20,500 | $207 | $36,044 ($3,004) | $51,068 ($4,256) |
| Master's Degree | Geography and Cartography. | 9 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Geography and Cartography. | 5 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Geography and Cartography. | 10 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | International Relations and National Security Studies. | 108 | $21,500 | $225 | $42,726 ($3,561) | $63,338 ($5,278) |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | International Relations and National Security Studies. | 3 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Political Science and Government. | 192 | $24,250 | $249 | $41,277 ($3,440) | $64,526 ($5,377) |
| Master's Degree | Political Science and Government. | 15 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Political Science and Government. | 2 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Sociology. | 118 | $22,859 | $239 | $38,439 ($3,203) | $47,684 ($3,974) |
| Master's Degree | Sociology. | 5 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Sociology. | 7 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Urban Studies/Affairs. | 4 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Urban Studies/Affairs. | 7 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Urban Studies/Affairs. | 1 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Business Administration, Management and Operations. | 2 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Accounting and Related Services. | 184 | $18,500 | $196 | $63,091 ($5,258) | $82,394 ($6,866) |
| Master's Degree | Accounting and Related Services. | 52 | $208 | $63,201 ($5,267) | $79,270 ($6,606) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Business/Managerial Economics. | 29 | $82,641 ($6,887) | |||
| Bachelor's Degree | Finance and Financial Management Services. | 325 | $22,500 | $228 | $63,194 ($5,266) | $85,837 ($7,153) |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Finance and Financial Management Services. | 8 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Hospitality Administration/Management. | 66 | $25,680 | $260 | $43,638 ($3,637) | $52,382 ($4,365) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | 381 | $21,700 | $228 | $72,322 ($6,027) | $95,280 ($7,940) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Marketing. | 198 | $22,500 | $239 | $51,422 ($4,285) | $70,724 ($5,894) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Real Estate. | 71 | $27,000 | $281 | $58,835 ($4,903) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Construction Management. | 106 | $27,000 | $286 | $71,853 ($5,988) | $83,044 ($6,920) |
| Master's Degree | Construction Management. | 9 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | 61 | $26,408 | $284 | $36,772 ($3,064) | $56,718 ($4,727) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Natural Resources Management and Policy. | 18 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Natural Resources Management and Policy. | 55 | $443 | $68,106 ($5,676) | $84,898 ($7,075) | |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Natural Resources Management and Policy. | 36 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management. | 8 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management. | 1 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Forestry. | 87 | $20,919 | $219 | $44,243 ($3,687) | $56,777 ($4,731) |
| Master's Degree | Forestry. | 21 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Forestry. | 7 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management. | 71 | $21,500 | $227 | $24,555 ($2,046) | $41,679 ($3,473) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Architecture. | 87 | $29,000 | $307 | $53,941 ($4,495) | $68,510 ($5,709) |
| Master's Degree | Architecture. | 64 | $509 | $64,168 ($5,347) | $79,049 ($6,587) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Architecture. | 6 | ||||
| Master's Degree | City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning. | 21 | $313 | $53,384 ($4,449) | $87,632 ($7,303) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Environmental Design. | 1 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Landscape Architecture. | 13 | $64,275 ($5,356) | |||
| Master's Degree | Landscape Architecture. | 4 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | 4 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | 16 | $46,649 ($3,887) | |||
| Doctoral Degree | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | 3 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. | 157 | $26,000 | $274 | $69,576 ($5,798) | $87,572 ($7,298) |
| Master's Degree | Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. | 26 | $89,422 ($7,452) | |||
| Bachelor's Degree | Agricultural Engineering. | 55 | $26,625 | $277 | $67,322 ($5,610) | $73,787 ($6,149) |
| Master's Degree | Agricultural Engineering. | 7 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Agricultural Engineering. | 6 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | 3 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | 12 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Chemical Engineering. | 102 | $25,350 | $264 | $77,661 ($6,472) | $89,909 ($7,492) |
| Master's Degree | Chemical Engineering. | 10 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Chemical Engineering. | 11 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Civil Engineering. | 217 | $25,760 | $265 | $68,293 ($5,691) | $76,247 ($6,354) |
| Master's Degree | Civil Engineering. | 108 | $217 | $72,721 ($6,060) | $87,964 ($7,330) | |
| Doctoral Degree | Civil Engineering. | 21 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Computer Engineering. | 183 | $26,000 | $275 | $80,033 ($6,669) | $107,350 ($8,946) |
| Master's Degree | Computer Engineering. | 57 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Computer Engineering. | 9 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Construction Engineering. | 50 | $26,698 | $279 | $73,851 ($6,154) | $91,140 ($7,595) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Industrial Engineering. | 184 | $22,870 | $240 | $76,575 ($6,381) | $92,826 ($7,736) |
| Master's Degree | Industrial Engineering. | 42 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Industrial Engineering. | 15 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Engineering, Other. | 6 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Engineering, Other. | 2 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Engineering-Related Fields. | 38 | $23,750 | $252 | $61,119 ($5,093) | $80,284 ($6,690) |
| Doctoral Degree | Biology, General. | 21 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. | 96 | $22,500 | $239 | $51,652 ($4,304) | |
| Master's Degree | Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services. | 13 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services. | 99 | $22,875 | $238 | $45,636 ($3,803) | $54,705 ($4,559) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services. | 269 | $25,000 | $255 | $24,222 ($2,019) | $58,692 ($4,891) |
| Master's Degree | Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services. | 9 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services. | 9 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | 247 | $21,500 | $217 | $34,804 ($2,900) | $48,423 ($4,035) |
| Master's Degree | Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | 10 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services. | 5 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | English Language and Literature, General. | 97 | $21,625 | $229 | $27,707 ($2,309) | $48,910 ($4,076) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Statistics. | 38 | $15,500 | $164 | $82,965 ($6,914) | |
| Master's Degree | Statistics. | 12 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Statistics. | 7 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Gerontology. | 3 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Historic Preservation and Conservation. | 2 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Science, Technology and Society. | 9 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Science, Technology and Society. | 4 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | International/Global Studies. | 5 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Human Computer Interaction. | 5 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Philosophy. | 25 | $48,988 ($4,082) | |||
| Bachelor's Degree | Religion/Religious Studies. | 18 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. | 29 | $23,500 | $246 | $40,168 ($3,347) | $48,001 ($4,000) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Chemistry. | 45 | $26,497 | $243 | $38,934 ($3,245) | $51,790 ($4,316) |
| Master's Degree | Chemistry. | 9 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Chemistry. | 21 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | 17 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | 6 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | 5 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Physics. | 53 | $27,000 | $278 | $50,136 ($4,178) | $67,271 ($5,606) |
| Master's Degree | Physics. | 3 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Physics. | 15 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Physical Sciences, Other. | 15 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Psychology, General. | 207 | $22,151 | $228 | $31,053 ($2,588) | $47,097 ($3,925) |
| Master's Degree | Psychology, General. | 6 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Psychology, General. | 6 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Homeland Security. | 7 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Social Sciences, Other. | 6 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Design and Applied Arts. | 71 | $25,802 | $253 | $50,116 ($4,176) | $59,906 ($4,992) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | 21 | $24,637 | $267 | $37,372 ($3,114) | |
| Master's Degree | Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft. | 5 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Fine and Studio Arts. | 52 | $26,323 | $276 | $34,774 ($2,898) | $42,596 ($3,550) |
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | Health/Medical Preparatory Programs. | 10 | $63,443 ($5,287) | |||
| First Professional Degree | Medicine. | 37 | $2,865 | $60,649 ($5,054) | $72,205 ($6,017) | |
| Master's Degree | Public Health. | 28 | $60,518 ($5,043) | |||
| First Professional Degree | Veterinary Medicine. | 123 | ||||
| Master's Degree | Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences. | 5 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences. | 14 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Business/Commerce, General. | 8 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Business Administration, Management and Operations. | 176 | $22,535 | $233 | $55,928 ($4,661) | $60,297 ($5,025) |
| Master's Degree | Business Administration, Management and Operations. | 129 | $370 | $102,767 ($8,564) | $143,666 ($11,972) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | History. | 56 | $20,499 | $217 | $20,488 ($1,707) | $47,665 ($3,972) |
| Master's Degree | History. | 7 | ||||
| Graduate/Professional Certificate | History. | 4 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Agriculture, General. | 13 | $41,365 ($3,447) | |||
| Master's Degree | Agriculture, General. | 26 | $52,695 ($4,391) | |||
| Bachelor's Degree | Agricultural Business and Management. | 40 | $22,999 | $244 | $45,209 ($3,767) | $58,996 ($4,916) |
| Master's Degree | Agricultural Business and Management. | 4 | ||||
| Associate's Degree | Agricultural Production Operations. | 54 | $11,000 | $117 | $37,772 ($3,148) | $42,774 ($3,565) |
| Bachelor's Degree | Animal Sciences. | 154 | $22,631 | $236 | $26,501 ($2,208) | $43,343 ($3,612) |
| Master's Degree | Animal Sciences. | 8 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Animal Sciences. | 12 | ||||
| Bachelor's Degree | Food Science and Technology. | 42 | $26,875 | $285 | $48,408 ($4,034) | |
| Bachelor's Degree | Plant Sciences. | 46 | $20,687 | $201 | $35,054 ($2,921) | $45,166 ($3,764) |
| Master's Degree | Plant Sciences. | 12 | ||||
| Doctoral Degree | Plant Sciences. | 11 |
Campus Resources
Average faculty salary: $109,638Full time faculty: 98%
Undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio: 14.0
School's endowment start of year: $1,329,400,000 (2022)
School's endowment end of year: $1,680,300,000 (2022)