Virginia Tech: the complete school report for parents
Virginia Tech rates 6 of the 18 admission factors Very Important, among them course rigor, GPA and the essay. It does not consider legacy, demonstrated interest and the interview, so campus visits and emails will not move the decision. With a 54.6% admit rate and 75% of enrolled students at a 4.0 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and scores are optional but help when they are strong. Major matters more than the name on the diploma here: five years out, Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates earn a median $135,082 against $35,675 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Virginia Tech is officially Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, also known as Vt. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-10-21.
Is Virginia Tech a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Virginia Tech against the figures above. No account needed.
What does Virginia Tech actually weigh in admissions?
Virginia Tech rates 6 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, the essay, first-generation status, geography, state residency. It does not consider 6 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is Virginia Tech's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How Virginia Tech rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Considered |
| the essay | Very Important |
| extracurricular activities | Considered |
| recommendations | Not Considered |
| personal qualities | Considered |
| talent | Considered |
| class rank | Not Considered |
| demonstrated interest | Not Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Not Considered |
| first-generation status | Very Important |
| geography | Very Important |
| state residency | Very Important |
| volunteer work | Considered |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does Virginia Tech consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does Virginia Tech consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does Virginia Tech consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Virginia Tech consider the application essay?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The essay is doing as much work as the transcript.
Does Virginia Tech consider extracurricular activities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Virginia Tech consider recommendation letters?
No. Virginia Tech does not consider it.
Does Virginia Tech consider character and personal qualities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Virginia Tech consider a special talent or ability?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Virginia Tech consider class rank?
No. Virginia Tech does not consider it. A school that does not rank its students is not a disadvantage.
Does Virginia Tech consider demonstrated interest?
No. Virginia Tech does not consider it. Campus visits, emails and info sessions do not move the decision.
Does Virginia Tech consider an interview?
No. Virginia Tech does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does Virginia Tech consider legacy status?
No. Virginia Tech does not consider it. A parent or grandparent who attended gives no advantage.
Does Virginia Tech consider being first-generation?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does Virginia Tech consider where we live?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does Virginia Tech consider state residency?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. Residency changes the odds materially.
Does Virginia Tech consider volunteer work?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Virginia Tech consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does Virginia Tech consider religious affiliation?
No. Virginia Tech does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
75% of enrolled students had a 4.0 GPA or above. The average was 4.06 on a 4 scale, reported for 97% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 75% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 14% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 7% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 3% |
| 3.00–3.24 | Not reported |
| 2.50–2.99 | 1% |
| 2.00–2.49 | Not reported |
What is the Virginia Tech waitlist really like?
Virginia Tech offered a place on its waiting list to 22,526 applicants and 13,380 accepted one. 4,295 were ultimately admitted. That is 32.1% of those who waited.
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
Virginia Tech admitted 50.2% of 3,824 transfer applicants, against 54.6% of first-year applicants. The two routes are similarly competitive here.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
Virginia Tech reports its early rounds below.
| Regular application deadline | January 15 |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | March 15 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | No |
| Early Action offered | Yes |
| Early Action deadline | November 1 |
| Application fee | $60 |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | Yes |
What does my child need to take in high school?
Virginia Tech requires 18 academic units. A college-preparatory program is recommended.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 years | Not stated |
| Mathematics | 3 years | 4 years |
| Science | 2 years | 3 years |
| of which lab science | 2 years | Not stated |
| Foreign language | Not stated | 3 years |
| History | 1 year | Not stated |
What will Virginia Tech actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $24,953 a year at Virginia Tech after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $13,548. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 60.32% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 97 merit awards averaging $31,033 to first-years with no demonstrated need.
What families at each income level actually paid:
| Family income | Average net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $11,689 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $11,670 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $17,894 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $25,835 |
| Over $110,000 | $34,201 |
46% of Virginia Tech graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $36,320 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $228 a month in repayment. Virginia Tech’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from Virginia Tech pay off?
Graduates earn a median $81,698 ten years after entering, and $67,377 at six years. 91% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 81% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:
| Family income | Four-year net cost | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $46,756 | 1.2 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $46,680 | 1.2 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $71,576 | 1.9 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $103,340 | 2.7 |
| Over $110,000 | $136,804 | 3.6 |
A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.
$135,082 to $35,675, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at Virginia Tech:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $135,082 | 366 |
| Computer Engineering | $123,589 | 184 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $109,446 | 444 |
| Industrial Engineering | $103,958 | 191 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $101,795 | 294 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $100,423 | 198 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $97,664 | 319 |
| Civil Engineering | $84,707 | 204 |
| Marketing | $82,451 | 211 |
| Animal Sciences | $49,456 | 164 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $45,136 | 72 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $35,675 | 24 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
95% of first-years return for a second year. 69% graduate within four years and 86% within six (2019 cohort).
How big are the classes?
The student-faculty ratio is 17:1, and 99% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
What is life at Virginia Tech like?
31,536 undergraduates, 36% of first-years from out of state. 99% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 33% across all undergraduates. 18% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $77,607.
How is Virginia Tech ranked?
Virginia Tech is ranked #52 (tie) in National Universities by U.S. News & World Report (Best Colleges 2027). That is down from #51 a year earlier.
| Program list | Position |
|---|---|
| Best Undergraduate Engineering ProgramsAt schools whose highest degree is a doctorate | #15 (tie) |
| Aerospace /Aeronautical / AstronauticalAt schools whose highest degree is a doctorate | #12 |
| CivilAt schools whose highest degree is a doctorate | #10 |
| Environmental / Environmental HealthAt schools whose highest degree is a doctorate | #7 (tie) |
| Industrial / ManufacturingAt schools whose highest degree is a doctorate | #6 |
| Business Programs | #39 (tie) |
| Computer Science | #28 (tie) |
| Economics | #88 (tie) |
Source: U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027. Only lists that rank Virginia Tech are shown; a program missing here may simply not be ranked by U.S. News, which says nothing about its quality.
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
- 75% of enrolled students are at a 4.0 GPA or above, averaging 4.06. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
- The waitlist is live but thin: 4,295 of 13,380 who waited were admitted, about 32%.
- Its highest-earning major returns $135,082 five years out against $35,675 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about Virginia Tech
What GPA do you 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.
Does the Virginia Tech waitlist move?
13,380 students accepted a place on the Virginia Tech waiting list and 4,295 were admitted in the 2025-2026 cycle.
What do Virginia Tech graduates earn?
Virginia Tech graduates earn a median $81,698 ten years after entering, and 91% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with Virginia Tech
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: Virginia Tech’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-10-21. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.
How to read these numbers · Back to the Virginia Tech profile