54.8%
Acceptance Rate
$15,948
Avg Cost (In-State)
$37,764
Avg Cost (Out-of-State)
86.3%
Graduation Rate
30,923
Total Enrollment
What they weigh most
Source: Common Data Set
Popular programs
Application requirements
Regular Deadline
January 15
Early Deadline
November 1 (Early Decision)
Common App
Yes
Test Policy
Test Optional
Essays Required
1
Letters of Rec
1
Application Fee
$75
Interview
Not required
Essays: One personal essay required through Common Application (250-650 words)
Requirements are AI-generated from public data and may change. Always verify directly with the college.
Getting there
Graduate outcomes
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
$67,377
Median Earnings at 6 Years
median graduate salary 6 years after starting
$81,698
Median Earnings at 10 Years
median graduate salary 10 years after starting
86%
4-Year Graduation Rate
students completing degree within 4 years
Earnings data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures reflect federal aid recipients only — actual median earnings may be higher at schools where many students receive grants rather than loans.
Earnings by major
Median earnings 1 year after graduation, by bachelor's program. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard FieldOfStudy data.
| Program | Median earnings (1yr) | Earnings (4yr) | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | $77,877 | $108,726 | 370 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | $78,280 | $96,376 | 279 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $96,432 | $144,103 | 229 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | $66,601 | $102,902 | 203 |
| Civil Engineering. | $74,285 | $88,142 | 190 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | $44,309 | $66,106 | 178 |
| Biology, General. | $28,239 | $61,703 | 169 |
| Political Science and Government. | $42,114 | $75,687 | 153 |
Tracked through federal tax records. Programs with fewer than 30 graduates with reported earnings are privacy-suppressed. 4-year figure tracks the same cohort 3 years later.
What current students say
Write a review →Verified with .edu email. We moderate for spam/abuse, never for sentiment. Reviewer names stay private.
No verified reviews of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University yet.
Are you a current student here? Be the first to share what you wish you'd known before enrolling.
Verify with .edu and write oneWhat will you actually pay?
Personalized cost estimate based on your family's finances and academic profile
Calculate Your Cost at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Get a personalized estimate of what you'd pay to attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Tactics that apply here
Things you can do that most families don't know about.
Early Action priority deadlines unlock the biggest merit pools
~$15k valueAt many public universities, applying by the EA deadline (Nov 1) instead of regular (Feb 1) decides whether you're considered for the top merit awards.
Who it helps: Students with their applications ready by November of senior year, especially those targeting merit-rich publics.
How to use: List each target school's EA deadline (commonly Nov 1, sometimes Oct 15 or Dec 1). Submit complete applications + test scores by then. Confirm merit-scholarship deadlines separately — some require a different priority date or supplemental essay.
Source ↗File FAFSA the day it opens
~$5k valueMost schools award state and institutional aid first-come-first-served from a fixed pool. Filing FAFSA in October beats filing in February by thousands.
Who it helps: Every student applying for need-based aid, but especially families relying on state grants or institutional aid.
How to use: Set a calendar reminder for the FAFSA opening date (currently Oct 1 most years; Dec 1 in the 2024-25 transition year). Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to auto-fill tax info. Submit even if you have to estimate; corrections are easy.
Source ↗CSS Profile is required by 200+ private schools — separate from FAFSA
Most selective private colleges use the CSS Profile in addition to FAFSA. It costs $25 + $16/school and reaches deeper into family finances than FAFSA does.
Who it helps: Any student applying to a private 4-year with significant institutional aid needs.
How to use: Check the CSS Profile school list for each of your target colleges. Open the app at cssprofile.collegeboard.org as soon as it opens (early Oct). Submit ahead of each school's earliest priority date — often before the FAFSA deadline.
Source ↗Scholarships
Scholarships you may qualify for.
Federal Work-Study
Varies (hourly wages, typically $10–$20/hr)
federalStudents with financial need who want to earn money through part-time employment while enrolled.
Deadline: Varies by school (apply via FAFSA)
Learn more ↗Federal Pell Grant
Up to $7,395/year
federalUndergraduate students with demonstrated financial need (determined by FAFSA EFC).
Deadline: June 30 (FAFSA deadline for current award year)
Learn more ↗Dell Scholars Program
$20,000 over 4 years + laptop + textbook credits
nationalStudents who have participated in an approved college-readiness program, demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum 2.4 GPA.
Deadline: December 1
Learn more ↗Coca-Cola Scholars Program
$20,000
nationalHigh school seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who demonstrate leadership and community service.
Deadline: October 31
Learn more ↗Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship
Up to $55,000/year
nationalHigh-achieving high school seniors with financial need (family income under $95,000). Minimum 3.5 GPA.
Deadline: November 18
Learn more ↗Siemens Competition (now part of Regeneron ISEF)
Up to $100,000
activityHigh school students who compete in regional and national ISEF-affiliated science fairs.
Deadline: Varies by regional fair
Learn more ↗Regeneron Science Talent Search
Up to $250,000 (top award)
activityHigh school seniors who complete an independent science, math, or engineering research project.
Deadline: November (registration opens in June)
Learn more ↗Gates Scholarship
Full cost of attendance (last-dollar funding)
nationalPell-eligible high school seniors who are Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, or Native American with a minimum 3.3 GPA.
Deadline: September 15
Learn more ↗Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
$1,000 – $10,000 (Gold Medal Portfolio awards)
activityStudents in grades 7–12 who submit original works of art or writing in 29 categories.
Deadline: December (varies by region)
Learn more ↗Round-by-round
Acceptance rates by application round.
The single overall 54.8% rate hides a 2–4x gap between ED and RD at most selective schools. Class of 2027 cycle.
Regular Decision
54.78%
acceptance
Bulk-imported from College Scorecard (admission_rate.overall). Deadline/notification dates are typical RD defaults; revise as needed.
Source ↗Class profile
Who actually goes here.
From the most recent Common Data Set and IPEDS.
15.3%
% Pell-eligible
Federal Pell grant recipients
17.8%
% first-generation
First in family to attend college
15.8%
% URM
Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native combined
93.1%
1st-to-2nd year retention
Freshmen who return as sophomores
86.2%
6-year grad rate
Graduate within 150% normal time
For transfer students
Transferring in to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
64%
Transfer admit rate
3.0
Min transfer GPA
VA GAA
State articulation
GAA partner; College of Engineering and Pamplin Business have higher effective GPA thresholds.
Peer colleges
Similar colleges to consider.
Similar selectivity
Florida International University
Miami, FL
54.7% acceptance
Both admit around 55% of applicants, with 40k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA
55.4% acceptance
Both admit around 55% of applicants, with 27k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY
53.8% acceptance
Both admit around 54% of applicants, with 16k undergrads and a u campus — a close selectivity match.
Cheaper alternatives
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide
Daytona Beach, FL
57.9% acceptance
Similar selectivity (58% vs 55%) but out-of-state cost runs $12k — meaningfully less than $38k.
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA
51.6% acceptance
Similar selectivity (52% vs 55%) but out-of-state cost runs $18k — meaningfully less than $38k.
Florida International University
Miami, FL
54.7% acceptance
Similar selectivity (55% vs 55%) but out-of-state cost runs $19k — meaningfully less than $38k.
Reaches above this college
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
24.2% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (24% vs 55%) — a stretch target if Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is already on your list.
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA
16.8% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (17% vs 55%) — a stretch target if Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is already on your list.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
16.8% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but more selective (17% vs 55%) — a stretch target if Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is already on your list.
Safer alternatives
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
68% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (68% vs 55%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN
69.1% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (69% vs 55%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
University of Delaware
Newark, DE
70.6% acceptance
Same c setting in the South, but higher admit rate (71% vs 55%) — a likelier admit with a similar feel.
Ready to dig deeper?
Get your personalized research report for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — scholarships, admissions strategy, costs, and a step-by-step playbook.