Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Academics

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How strong are the academics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

17:1
Student to faculty ratio
37
Average class size
69%
4-year grad rate

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

Virginia Tech has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
321
10-19
734
20-29
615
30-39
444
40-49
319
50-99
501
100+
208

Honors Programs

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on Virginia Tech's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University:

92%
First-year retention rate
69%
4-year grad rate
86%
6-year grad rate

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Computer and Information Sciences, General
Management Science
Finance, General
Mechanical Engineering
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
272.8
323.44
374.08
424.72
475.36
526

The Full List

Major Graduates
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science And Related Fields
  • Animal Sciences, General 139
  • Horticultural Science 30
  • Agribusiness/Agricultural Business Operations 29
  • Dairy Science 23
  • Food Science 17
  • Agronomy and Crop Science 14
  • Agriculture, General 12
  • Agriculture, General 12
  • AGRICULTURAL / ANIMAL / PLANT / VETERINARY SCIENCE AND RELATED FIELDS 12
Architecture And Related Services
  • Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology 137
  • Landscape Architecture 13
  • Architecture 0
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 315
  • Neuroscience 215
  • Biochemistry 97
  • Microbiology, General 25
  • Computational Biology 5
Business
  • Management Science 484
  • Finance, General 357
  • Marketing/Marketing Management, General 257
  • Business Administration and Management, General 235
  • Accounting 142
  • Construction Management, General 113
  • Real Estate 112
  • Hospitality Administration/Management, General 56
  • Business/Managerial Economics 0
Communication
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric 225
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General 526
Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering 337
  • Civil Engineering, General 242
  • Industrial Engineering 240
  • Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General 237
  • Computer Engineering, General 233
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering 111
  • Chemical Engineering 88
  • Construction Engineering 74
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering 59
  • Agricultural Engineering 54
  • Materials Engineering 53
  • Mining and Mineral Engineering 37
  • Engineering Mechanics 9
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
  • Packaging Science 17
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 57
Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
  • Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General 261
  • Human Development and Family Studies, General 209
  • Business Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences 87
Foreign Languages
  • Foreign Languages and Literatures, General 52
Health Professions And Related Programs
  • Public Health, General 107
History
  • History, General 43
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 74
  • Statistics, General 19
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
  • Data Science, General 173
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management 70
  • Forestry, General 64
  • Environmental Science 37
  • Forestry, Other 17
  • Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Other 12
  • Environmental Studies 0
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 38
  • Religion/Religious Studies, Other 19
Physical Sciences
  • Chemistry, General 53
  • Physics, General 42
  • Meteorology 40
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 19
  • Physical Sciences, Other 17
Psychology
  • Psychology, General 247
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
  • Public Policy Analysis, General 53
Social Sciences
  • Sociology, General 211
  • Political Science and Government, General 200
  • International Relations and Affairs 130
  • Economics, General 80
  • Geography 37
  • Applied Economics 21
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Art/Art Studies, General 59
  • Industrial and Product Design 37
  • Interior Design 35
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 29
  • Music, General 23

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