Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 26% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 90th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (VA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences | $96,432 | $144,103 | +56% | #19 of 459 | #26 | $20,500 |
| Computer Engineering | $86,636 | $122,026 | +12% | #33 of 189 | #80 | $25,929 |
| Applied Mathematics | $82,275 | $117,990 | +29% | #8 of 45 | #8 | $20,000 |
| Industrial Engineering | $82,437 | $116,641 | +18% | #5 of 94 | #24 | $22,625 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $77,877 | $108,726 | +26% | #16 of 126 | #35 | $21,500 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $76,856 | $106,633 | +9% | #9 of 59 | #38 | $25,833 |
| Chemical Engineering | $82,382 | $106,011 | +8% | #25 of 158 | #87 | $24,875 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $83,364 | $104,839 | +4% | #63 of 258 | #188 | $23,562 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $66,601 | $102,902 | +23% | #38 of 452 | #81 | $21,500 |
| Construction Engineering | $82,627 | $102,699 | +6% | #5 of 13 | #10 | $26,349 |
| Engineering Mechanics | $81,735 | $101,509 | +9% | — | — | $27,500 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $70,303 | $99,528 | +31% | #54 of 796 | #117 | $18,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $78,280 | $96,376 | +5% | #70 of 318 | #233 | $22,500 |
| Real Estate | $68,078 | $95,576 | +13% | #7 of 25 | #11 | $26,529 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | — | $95,271 | +22% | #13 of 84 | #28 | — |
| Construction Management | $76,246 | $95,165 | +0% | #23 of 57 | #47 | $27,000 |
| Mining and Mineral Engineering | $74,793 | $94,397 | -7% | #5 of 7 | #7 | $20,907 |
| Statistics | $62,598 | $94,300 | +2% | #20 of 50 | #28 | $15,500 |
| Physics | $58,061 | $92,746 | +21% | #18 of 107 | #32 | $26,224 |
| Economics | $56,261 | $92,653 | +12% | #92 of 368 | #127 | $22,125 |
| Materials Engineering | $66,888 | $90,828 | -1% | #20 of 34 | #29 | $27,000 |
| Agricultural Engineering | $75,434 | $88,315 | +4% | #8 of 26 | #22 | $26,125 |
| Civil Engineering | $74,285 | $88,142 | +2% | #73 of 233 | #188 | $25,000 |
| Marketing | $56,417 | $86,338 | +25% | #43 of 516 | #89 | $22,500 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $56,513 | $81,618 | -9% | #30 of 33 | #32 | $23,750 |
| Food Science and Technology | $56,274 | $80,161 | +13% | #5 of 29 | #10 | $26,875 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $60,678 | $80,023 | +17% | #140 of 1176 | #299 | $22,017 |
| Political Science and Government | $42,114 | $75,687 | +20% | #59 of 565 | #128 | $23,500 |
| Architecture | $56,708 | $75,074 | +12% | #12 of 78 | #39 | $29,000 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $25,414 | $74,005 | +35% | #1 of 50 | #6 | $24,017 |
| Chemistry | $45,513 | $73,395 | +13% | #49 of 209 | #99 | $22,875 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $45,771 | $72,817 | +28% | #7 of 137 | #15 | $24,500 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $46,761 | $72,213 | +40% | #14 of 299 | #40 | $23,900 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $44,638 | $71,988 | +8% | #33 of 118 | #53 | $21,250 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $37,389 | $68,263 | +37% | #6 of 90 | #10 | $22,500 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | $43,494 | $67,892 | +11% | #5 of 16 | #9 | $23,250 |
| Mathematics | $55,731 | $67,763 | -3% | #181 of 309 | #226 | $22,375 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $35,927 | $67,621 | +3% | #46 of 110 | #74 | $24,000 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | — | $67,253 | +7% | #20 of 49 | #36 | $24,817 |
| Public Policy Analysis | — | $66,177 | -10% | #21 of 34 | #24 | $15,500 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $44,309 | $66,106 | +17% | #83 of 660 | #154 | $20,500 |
| Geography and Cartography | $39,328 | $65,259 | +13% | #30 of 117 | #62 | $19,500 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services | $43,603 | $65,248 | +0% | #4 of 8 | #4 | $22,450 |
| English Language and Literature | $39,155 | $64,225 | +32% | #30 of 576 | #52 | $21,625 |
| Forestry | $45,817 | $64,204 | +9% | #10 of 31 | #21 | $20,663 |
| Sociology | $38,768 | $63,654 | +21% | #46 of 462 | #92 | $22,562 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $48,557 | $62,398 | -6% | #49 of 77 | #63 | $22,999 |
| Biology | $28,239 | $61,703 | +8% | #285 of 841 | #501 | $20,164 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | — | $59,969 | +-0% | #76 of 138 | #106 | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $39,361 | $59,868 | +9% | #69 of 265 | #118 | $26,816 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Town Property Report
- Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 24141 (4.2% cap, Radford)
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🏆 Where Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $12,698 | $33,310 |
| Room | $6,520 | |
| Board | $5,998 | |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $37,252 | $58,468 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,536 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,891 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,660 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,533 |
| $110,001+ | $30,568 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
How much does it cost to attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
What is the graduation rate at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
Is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University a good school?
- Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (B+): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (B+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology