University Overview

Established in 1872, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a non-profit public state higher-education institution located in the urban setting of the large town of Blacksburg (population range of 10,000-49,999 inhabitants), Virginia. Officially accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) is a very large (uniRank enrollment range: 35,000-39,999 students) coeducational US higher education institution. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation), bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 148 years old US higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students’ past academic record and grades. The admission rate range is 60-70% making this US higher education organization a somewhat selective institution. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment. Virginia Tech also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.

Opportunities for Every Goal

The College of Engineering provides graduate students the opportunities to excel in their career goals while exploring their research interests through doctoral and master’s degree programs and a breadth of research centers and labs. While most programs reside on the Blacksburg campus, Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia continues to offer more options, including master’s degrees in Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Industrial and Systems Engineering.

Potential graduate students must apply to the Virginia Tech Graduate School and as part of the application they will choose the individual Graduate Degree Program they are applying to within Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering. For more information about the particular department, please connect with the designated contact on the Graduate Degree Programs page.

Student Overview

Graduate Enrollment (2020): 2,172
Male: 1637 (75%)
Female: 531 (24%)
Not reported: 4 (0%)
Underrepresented: 148 (7%)*

Degrees Awarded (2019-20): 689
Masters: 441 (64%)
PhD: 243 (36%)

*Underrepresented are students who self-identify in whole or in part as: American Indian or Alaska Native, Black or African American, Hispanics of any race, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.

Graduate Community

University and college sponsored programs offer a well-rounded selection of professional development and leisure opportunities including the Graduate Life Center, the office of Careers and Professional Development, and the Cranwell International Center. Beyond campus, life in Blacksburg offers a reasonable cost of living, award-winning services, moderate climate and additional activities for work and play.

Diversity and Inclusion

Virginia Tech also offers a culturally diverse and vibrant community of students, faculty and administrators for connecting with, learning from, and exchanging thoughts and ideas. In order to promote a more united and inclusive engineering community, the College of Engineering offers several diversity programs geared specifically for engineering students, both, graduate and undergraduate.

Nuclear Engineering

The nuclear engineering program (NEP) at Virginia Tech is a multi-disciplinary program with activities in nuclear power, nuclear nonproliferation and security, radiation therapy and diagnostics, and nuclear policy. NEP offers degrees at two campuses including Blacksburg and National Capital Region (NCR).

	IN-STATE	OUT-OF-STATE
Tuition & Fees	$14,175	$33,857
Room & Board	$9,876	$9,876
Per Year Total	$24,051	$43,733

Beginning in 2018, Virginia Tech implemented new fees for incoming students in engineering ($2,000 per year), architecture and design ($1,500 per year), building construction ($1,500 per year), business ($75 per credit hour), and agriculture ($750 per year). These fees apply only to incoming students in these disciplines.

*The exact cost for room and board will vary based on the student’s selection of residence hall and meal plan.

For more detailed information on these exact costs, please visit the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

For tuition costs and fees per credit hour or information on available payment plans, please visit the Office of the University Bursar.