Virginia Tech Tuition and Fees

By Melissa Brock

As Virginia’s leading research institution, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in scenic Blacksburg, Virginia, offers 280 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Virginia Tech’s motto: Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), permeates everything it does, from student research to professors’ teachings in the classroom. Virginia Tech serves more than 38,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.

Keep reading to learn more on Virginia Tech, including tuition and housing costs, acceptance rates, and top majors in the college.

Total Cost of Attendance

The Virginia Tech rate for tuition and fees for Virginia residents was $15,948 in 2024-25, according to the most recent data from NCES. This figure is slightly higher compared to other public universities in Virginia, where the average tuition and all mandatory fees for in-state undergraduates hovers around $14,460.

In the United States, public four-year in-state tuition and fees was $11,610 on average, while public four-year out-of-state tuition was $30,780 in 2024-25.

Financial Aid

Virginia Tech awards 69% of its students with financial aid, including federal work-study, scholarships, grants, and loans.

Explore financial aid options: Virginia Student Loan & Scholarships

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students that qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, or nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, and financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and non-profit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than those on private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state and federal and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities at sources such as:

•  U.S. Department of Education – Learn more about the grants that are bestowed by the federal government

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

•  Scholarship Search Tool

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

A total of 39% of students at Virginia Tech use federal student loans (an average of $5,390 in loans) to help fund their education, while 9% use private student loans (an average of $23,493 in loans).

Private student loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations, so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school. Federal student loans don’t have to be paid back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, because it generally has better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: A Complete Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

Virginia Tech’s cost for in-state students over four years, including tuition, fees, room, board, books, and other expenses would likely cost more than $158,680 (costs will increase over time). Similarly, the cost for out-of-state students would be $245,944 over the course of four years.

How does that amount compare to other schools across the country? For the 2023-24 academic year, the average price of tuition and fees among colleges and universities was as follows:

•  In-state residents at public colleges: $45,040 for four years

•  Out-of-state residents at public colleges: $116,600 for four years

Virginia Tech costs more for both in-state and out-of-state students compared to the national average.

This student loan and scholarship information may be valuable as you research schools and costs.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

The combined cost of Virginia Tech tuition, fees, and books in 2024-25 was $18,626 for Virginia residents and $40,442 for non-residents.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Assuming a two-year program, a master’s degree from Virginia Tech would cost $37,128 for in-state students and $70,184 for out-of-state students.

The average cost of a master’s degree in the United States is $62,820. A master of arts degree usually costs $71,140, while a master of science degree typically costs $61,380.

Students can obtain graduate loans to help with the costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

The Virginia Tech cost per credit hour is $548 per credit hour for in-state students and $1,432.25 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Certain programs of study may cost more, so check with the bursar’s office for the most up-to-date information about costs at Virginia Tech.

Campus Housing Expenses

Of Virginia Tech’s students, 10,500 live on campus in a number of on-campus housing units with an array of amenities and styles, including residential colleges, living-learning communities, and more. Generally, it’ll cost less to live off campus, but it’s a good idea to do your research before you make a decision. Virginia Tech showcases off-campus housing opportunities through a marketplace-type search based on price and a roommate search.

Virginia Tech Acceptance Rate

Of the 47,208 applicants who applied to Virginia Tech, 57% were accepted, meaning the school isn’t the most selective institution in the U.S., nor is it the least selective.

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for Virginia Tech include the following:

Required:

•  High school transcript with GPA

•  High school record

•  Personal statement or essay

Items considered:

•  Completion of college preparatory program

•  SAT/ACT

SAT and ACT Scores

Virginia Tech is test-optional, but the college will consider an applicant’s SAT or ACT scores if they send them. A total of 3,103 students sent their SAT scores, while 484 sent ACT scores to Virginia Tech.

Popular Majors at Virginia Tech

Which majors are most popular at Virginia Tech? Let’s take a look at the top 10.

1. Engineering

Engineering at Virginia Tech offers a wide spectrum of engineering disciplines to produce engineers ready to solve 21st-century issues. Many will study artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and manufacturing, all the while helping graduates to become leaders after graduation.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 1,774

2. Business

Whether you want to major in accounting, information systems, business information technology, finance, hospitality and tourism management, management, marketing, or real estate, Virginia Tech emphasizes technological analysis that improves business, entrepreneurship, and learning and research opportunities in a collaborative environment.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 210

3. Social Sciences

Virginia Tech recognizes that technology alone cannot answer all questions, so the social sciences offers the benefits of a leading university combined with civic responsibilities. The humanities and social sciences at Virginia Tech create meaningful solutions to solve complex human challenges.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 679

4. Biological and Biomedical Sciences

Life sciences research explodes at Virginia Tech, seamlessly integrating world-class research and the challenges of the 21st century. From changes in global warming to the challenges of human disease, Virginia Tech develops students for the future by preparing them to tackle these major problems.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 657

5. Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

The family and consumer sciences department at Virginia Tech focuses on a wide variety of practical applications, whether your future goal involves working with the young, the elderly, or any other group. Virginia Tech shapes those who want to learn cutting-edge methods in the fields of adolescent development, aging, family studies, marriage and family therapy, disabilities, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 557

6. Computer and Information Sciences

The computer and information sciences programs at Virginia Tech are ranked 29th in the nation and offer innovative teaching and research opportunities. Students can become leaders and researchers in divisions like computational biology and bioinformatics, data analytics, machine learning, software engineering systems, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 526

7. Agricultural/Animal/Plant Science

Virginia Tech’s transformational, hands on experience in animal science gives graduates an opportunity at the largest animal program east of the Mississippi. Those interested in plant science at Virginia Tech prepare students for work in private and public sectors, and in plant breeding, biotechnology, and plant pathology. Students can also learn from top-notch faculty in molecular biology, biochemistry, plant genetics and breeding, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 264

8. Psychology

Psychology at Virginia Tech teaches students a variety of disciplines: biology, education, health, business, sociology, marketing, engineering, and neuroscience. Psychology helps students understand behavior and conduct research that transforms lives.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 247

9. Communication and Journalism

Communication at Virginia Tech can teach students in a liberal arts setting how to engage, present, persuade, think critically, evaluate, and communicate. The school of communication offers a wide variety of majors, including advertising, communication, multimedia journalism, public relations, and sports media and analytics.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 225

10. Natural Resources and Conservation

Virginia Tech teaches students core skills revolving around community outreach, research, conservation, and sustainability through the natural resources and conservation department. The program teaches resource management through real-world experiences, professional skills, labs, internships, and research to prepare employees for the world’s challenges.

Undergraduate degrees in 2023-24: 200

Graduation Rate

Of Virginia Tech’s students who started in Fall 2015 and who began in Fall 2017:

•  68% began in Fall 2015 and graduated after four years.

•  69% began in Fall 2017 and graduated after four years.

•  87% began in Fall 2015 and graduated after six years.

•  86% began in Fall 2017 and graduated after six years.

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

Ten years after graduating from Virginia Tech, the median earnings of former students who received federal financial aid is $81,698. That’s right in line with the average of bachelor’s degree graduates nationwide, who earn a median salary of $80,236.