Virginia Tech: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, Virginia · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Action
- 57,755
- Applicants
- 31,515
- Admitted55%
- 7,133
- Enrolled
- 23%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Moderately selective55% admittedRanked #52 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #15 (tie), Business Programs #39 (tie), Computer Science #28 (tie), Economics #88 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (see the source), read on 2026-10-21. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Virginia Tech a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Virginia Tech against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Virginia Tech is a public university in Blacksburg, Virginia that admits about 55% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $24,953 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Computer and Information Sciences, General and Mechanical Engineering, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 86% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 1.1 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Virginia Tech is a public institution located in Blacksburg, Virginia with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Virginia Tech admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 55%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1364 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $24,953 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Virginia Tech?
75% of enrolled students at Virginia Tech had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.06, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare Virginia Tech with the other schools on your list
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What does Virginia Tech weight in admissions?
Virginia Tech reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
6- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Application essay
- First generation status
- Geographical residence
- State residency
Considered
6- Standardized test scores
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
6- Class rank
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Virginia Tech typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 640–740, with an EBRW midpoint near 650. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | n/a |
| 50th percentile | 1364 |
| 75th percentile | n/a |
| % submitting SAT | 42% |
| 25th percentile | 28 |
| 50th percentile | 30 |
| 75th percentile | 32 |
| % submitting ACT | 8% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional for students entering through Fall 2028.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Virginia Tech's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Virginia Tech actually cost?
Published tuition is $15,948 for in-state students and $37,764 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $16,550 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $24,953 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 15% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $13,548 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $35,408 |
| Room and board | $16,046 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $24,953 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 60% |
| Average need-based grant | $11,119 |
| Average merit award, no financial need97 first-year students received one | $31,033 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 46% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $36,320 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $60 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Virginia Tech
| Regular deadline | 01-15 |
| Notification date | 03-15 |
| Reply deadline | 05-01 |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from Virginia Tech?
These predict outcomes at Virginia Tech better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Virginia Tech
The most popular undergraduate programs at Virginia Tech, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Computer and Information Sciences, General and Mechanical Engineering. Across all programs, Virginia Tech confers roughly 2,380 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods program report a median income of about $109,446 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 444 | $109,446 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 366 | $135,082 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 319 | $97,664 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 294 | $101,795 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | 252 | $68,867 |
| Biology, General | 250 | $63,097 |
| Psychology, General | 236 | $58,977 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 219 | $65,239 |
Is Virginia Tech safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Virginia Tech disclosed 35 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 1.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 4 violent offenses and 10 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Virginia Tech?
About 33% of undergraduates at Virginia Tech live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Virginia parents ask about
- College of William and Mary34% acceptance
- James Madison University72% acceptance
- Old Dominion University90% acceptance
- George Mason University87% acceptance
- Virginia Commonwealth University93% acceptance
- Washington and Lee University14% acceptance
- University of Richmond22% acceptance
- Liberty University99% acceptance
Next steps for Virginia Tech
Common questions parents ask about Virginia Tech
What GPA do I need for Virginia Tech?
75% of enrolled students at Virginia Tech had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 4.06, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Virginia Tech typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 640–740, with an EBRW midpoint near 650. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 28–32.
How much does Virginia Tech actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Virginia Tech after grants and scholarships is $24,953 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $15,948 and $37,764 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is Virginia Tech realistic for my child?
Virginia Tech admits 55% of applicants, so 640–740 SAT Math is target range and below 640 is a reach. Then check the $24,953 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Virginia Tech?
Virginia Tech accepts about 55% of applicants out of roughly 57,755 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Virginia Tech test-optional?
Yes. Virginia Tech is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Virginia Tech?
About 86% of students at Virginia Tech graduate within six years, and 69% finish in four years. 95% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Virginia Tech look for in applicants?
Virginia Tech rates course rigor, GPA, the application essay and first-generation status as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Virginia Tech a public or private school, and where is it located?
Virginia Tech is a public institution located in Blacksburg, Virginia.
What are the most popular majors at Virginia Tech?
The largest undergraduate majors at Virginia Tech by annual graduates are Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Computer and Information Sciences, General and Mechanical Engineering. The school awards about 2,380 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Virginia Tech safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Virginia Tech reported 35 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 1.1 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Virginia Tech?
At Virginia Tech, 33% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers