Virginia Tech is a renowned public research university based in Blacksburg, Virginia within the Blacksburg metropolitan area. It is a large institution with 30,598 undergraduate students. Admissions is moderately competitive since Virginia Tech acceptance rate stands at about 64%. Majors include Engineering, Business, Management, Biology, and Social Sciences. The six-year graduation rate is 86%, and Virginia Tech graduates receive a median starting income of approximately INR 66,70,000 (ten years after graduation, converted from $80,400 median earnings).
The University of Virginia is a prestigious public university in Charlottesville, Virginia in the Charlottesville city area. It is a mid-sized school with an enrollment of 17,311 undergraduates. Admissions is highly competitive as UVA's acceptance rate is around 19%. Common majors are Liberal Arts & Humanities, Business, Economics, Biology, and Social Sciences. The six-year graduation rate is 95%, and UVA graduates continue to earn a median starting salary of approximately INR 75,65,000 (converted from $91,200 median earnings ten years post-graduation).
| Virginia Tech | University of Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| ranking (overall) | # 251 Times Higher Education 2026 # 358 QS World University 2026 # 281 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 166 Times Higher Education 2026 # 275 QS World University 2026 # 76 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 31 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 451 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 351 for Law by QS World University 2025 | # 39 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 191 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 4 for Law by US News 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -95 PG Programs -64 Doctorate Programs -1 | UG Programs -15 PG Programs -34 Doctorate Programs -2 |
| Acceptance Rate | 55.0 % | 17.0 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-115 IELTS-6.5 PTE-59 SAT-1100 TOEFL-90 | GMAT-640 IELTS-7 SAT-1340 TOEFL-90 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 33857 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 23670 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 16990 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 49494 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 28380 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 15862 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Graduate Employability Rankings- #363(QS – World University Rankings 2023) #62(US news an world report-Best National University) ; Top recruiters: Booz, Allen and Hamilton, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Virginia Tech, Lockheed Martin Corp, Capital One Financial Corp; Average Salaries are as follows:
| Graduate employability rankings (2023)- #101-110.
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| application requirements | Academic transcripts; GMAT/ GRE scores for graduate admission; 3 LORs; Sop; Resume; Proof of English language proficiency. | UG applicants are required to submit school counselor recommendation. |
| Campuses and B-Schools | NA | Darden School of Business |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 8.3/10 Read 5 reviews | 7.3/10 Read 5 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 176 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 301 for Business by QS World University 2025 | # 11 for Business by US News 2025 # 56 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 151 for Business by QS World University 2025 |
| exam scores | GMAT - 600/800GRE - 308/340IELTS - 7.5/9PTE - 53/90TOEFL - 96/120 | IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 90/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -29448 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) - |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Jul 1, 2024 (Application Deadline For Fall Intake) Dec 1, 2024 (Application Deadline For Spring Intake) May 1, 2025 (Application Deadline For Summer Intake) | Sep 5, 2025 (Early Action Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Oct 2, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Jan 7, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) Apr 2, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline For 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Virginia Tech | University of Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1872 | 1819 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 13:1:1 | 10:1 |
| Male:Female | 55% Male, 0% Female | 45% Male, 55% Female |
| Location Facts | Main campus located in Blacksburg; about 40 miles southwest of Roanoke, Virginia; situated on a plateau between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains; includes 213 buildings, 2,600 acres, and an airport | There are overall 11 schools under University of Virginia located around 8 miles from the airport and 2 miles from rail. The campus area is popularly known as university grounds. |
| Library | The libraries offer everything from technology-rich spaces, exhibits, and collections to services for managing research data and scholarship. The libraries also assist students and faculty in publishing scholarly works and offer consulting on a wide array of learning, research, and creative activities. They have three libraries on the Virginia Tech campus. It includes:
| The university has ten libraries that collectively have 5,000,000 print books; 700,000 ebooks; and 200,000 ejournals. The library also has a collection of 17th century newspapers, astronomical data. |
| Campus Life | Globber Connect for students to participate in 100+ student clubs; Globberfest (Annual festival), VT Engage (service-learning and civic engagement center); Recreational Sports Department with 39 intramural sports, on-campus gyms, aquatic centers, more than 100 group exercises classes; Cultural & Community Centers; Women’s Center; Cranwell International Center; Schiffert Health Center; Hokie Wellness that offers peer-led workshops; Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets (VTCC)- military component of the student body. | With 800+ student clubs and 27 varsity athletic teams to join, University of Virginia offers you a wide variety of co-curricular to indulge in. The university maintains 17 courts, fields, and recreation centers for providing fitness and welfare programs. The university has both museums (1) and gallery (2) and organizes online exhibitions for its students. |
| Hostel | #Housing - $13330 | #Housing - $8942 |
| Famous Alumni | 250,000+ living alumni; Hoda Kotb (American-Egyptian broadcaster); Homer Hickam (American author); Bruce Smith (American football player); Jim Buckmaster (CEO of Craigslist Inc.); Charles Camarda (American engineer); Kevin Jones (Former American football player); Rob Wittman (U.S. Representative); Bill Dally (American computer scientist); Collette Wolfe (American actress); Steven Mollenkopf (Chief Executive of Qualcomm). | Robert F. Kennedy (former US attorney journal), Tina Fey (actress), Larry Sabato (Americal political scientist), Ted Kennedy (former American senator), Katie Couric (TV journalist), Edgar Allan Poe (writer), Tiki Barber (footballer), David Baldacci (novelist), Mark Sanford (former governor of South Carolina), Sean Maloney (US representative), etc. |
| City Life | Blacksburg- incorporated town in Montgomery County, Virginia; Blacksburg has about 43,000 residents and is located in the New River Valley, which is Virginia’s fastest growing region west of Richmond. The city and region get high marks from outdoor enthusiasts and were named the No. 3 new tech hub by Axios. Although there’s always something happening at Virginia Tech, sometimes it’s nice to get off campus and into the outdoors. Southwest Virginia offers great hiking and biking, scenic lakes and drives, and all kinds of festivals. Famous attractions- Armory Art Gallery, Caboose Park, Kent Square, Hahn Horticulture Garden and Lyric Theatre; Annual town events include the International Street Fair and Parade, Steppin’ Out (town’s first annual street festival); Unemployment rate: 3% (Dec 2022). | Charlottesville is situated at the foot of blue ridge mountains. It offers something for every adventure junkie, like countless hikes, kayaking & canoeing on Rivanna river. The city is ranked among the nation’s most restaurants per capita. In 2017, it was ranked the third happiest city in the US. |
| Weather |
Virginia Tech vs University of Virginia
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia are among the top global institutions among major systems, with UVA universally ranking above Virginia Tech. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, UVA ranks approximately 120th in the world, with Virginia Tech ranking closer to 330th–340th. According to Times Higher Education reputation measures, UVA similarly has a top-ranking presence; Virginia Tech is a little behind, usually in the top 300–350.
In subject fields, UVA leads across a range of disciplines—coming first in Business, Law, Liberal Arts & Humanities, and Public Policy. Virginia Tech also has respectable subject rankings, frequently coming within the top 150–250, particularly in Engineering and Computer Science, but tends to be overtaken by UVA's overall dominance.
General Information
Virginia Tech is the larger and older institution, with a wider academic presence that comprises undergraduate colleges, several professional schools, and a student body of some 30,000. UVA, with a compact, more intimate campus, has a much smaller student population and excels in undergraduate-centric teaching and highly selective graduate programs in the form of humanities, law, and business.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Admissions at both institutions are highly competitive, and acceptance rates typically range from 19–64%. UVA has a broader spectrum of graduate programs—ranging from law, business, medicine, public policy, and data science—while Virginia Tech is particularly distinguished in its undergraduate engineering, architecture, and computer science programs.
Research Impact & Facilities
Virginia Tech's research infrastructure ranges over an impressive set of professional schools, research labs, and a notably extensive library system, facilitating strength across engineering, technology, and applied sciences. UVA possesses outstanding resources too—particularly in the humanities, law, and medicine—along with its historic libraries and smaller-scale research centers.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both institutions are public. UVA charges a bit more, but both provide generous need-based financial aid that includes assistance for international students. Virginia Tech's larger size potentially creates a more affordable campus community, while UVA's size provides access to more professional and academic opportunities.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
UVA's world stature means a strong alumni network and high ranking in fields like business, law, medicine, and public policy. Virginia Tech graduates also do well, especially in the fields of engineering, business, and applied sciences. UVA leads more often on graduation rates in a broader series of professional fields, while Virginia Tech is great at building close-knit alumni involvement and leadership in technical areas.
