Virginia Tech vs University of South Carolina 2025/2026 | Tuition, Rankings & Career Outcomes

The Virginia Tech, found in Blacksburg, Virginia, is a large public research institution that nearly enrolls 36,000 students. The school has a moderately selective acceptance rate of about 70%, making admission competitive but achievable for qualified applicants. Virginia Tech is well-known for its programs in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, and Architecture. The school has an average graduation rate of 85-87%, while graduates of Virginia Tech enjoy early career salaries of approximately INR 35-38 lakhs annually (£32,000-35,000).

The University of South Carolina, found in Columbia, South Carolina, is a public research university that educates around 34,000 students. The University of South Carolina has a moderately selective acceptance rate, which is close to 62%. The university is best known for its programs in Business, International Studies, Engineering, and Public Health. The school's average graduation rate is close to 79-81%, while graduates of the University of South Carolina enjoy early career wages of INR 28-32 lakhs annually (£26,000-30,000).

Overview Comparison

	Virginia Tech	University of South Carolina
ranking (overall)	# 251 Times Higher Education 2026 # 358 QS World University 2026 # 281 Center for World University Rankings 2025	# 401 Times Higher Education 2026 # 375 Center for World University Rankings 2025 # 401 Times Higher Education 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	# 301 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 94 for Medicine by US News 2024 # 176 for Law by Times Higher Education 2025
Programs	UG Programs -95 PG Programs -64 Doctorate Programs -1	UG Programs -94 PG Programs -66
Acceptance Rate	57.0 %	61.5 %
Exam Score	GMAT-600 IELTS-6.5 SAT-1180 TOEFL-90	Duolingo-115 IELTS-6.5 PTE-53 SAT-1170 TOEFL-80
Cost to Study	Average Tuition Fees 33857 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 23670 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 24705 Per Year	Average Tuition Fees 32898 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 21897 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 40352 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: MBA : $134,000 Master (Other) : $120,000 Bachelor of Science : $83,000 Masters in Science : $80,000 Bachelor of Arts : $55,000	The university's career center offers assistance to students with resume writing, interview prep, job searches, etc. They host yearly gatherings and job fairs where employers and job seekers can interact. Internships and part-time and full-time employment opportunities are provided to students in the US. Students utilize the handshake application to register for events, find out additional information, and apply for jobs and internships. Employers hire students and graduates on campus, setting up interviews with them in the Career Center interview rooms. The average salary of University of South Carolina graduates is USD 63,767 (5,084,101 INR).
application requirements	Academic transcripts; GMAT/ GRE scores for graduate admission; 3 LORs; Sop; Resume; Proof of English language proficiency.	Submit official transcripts Submit letters of recommendation Submit personal statement Submit English language test scores Check program specific requirements
CollegeDunia Reviews	8.3/10 Read 5 reviews	7.8/10 Read 4 reviews

Top Courses Comparison

	Virginia Tech (M.B.A )	University of South Carolina (M.B.A )
ranking	# 176 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 301 for Business by QS World University 2025	# 251 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 151 for Business by QS World University 2024
exam scores	GMAT - 600/800 GRE - 308/340 IELTS - 7.5/9 PTE - 53/90 TOEFL - 96/120	Duolingo - 115/160 IELTS - 7/9 PTE - 68/90 TOEFL - 95/120
cost to study	Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -29448	Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -
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)	Oct 15, 2025 (Priority Round 1 Application Deadline for 2026 intake) Dec 1, 2025 (Round 2 Application Deadline for 2026 intake) Jan 15, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline for 2026 intake) Mar 1, 2026 (Round 4 Application Deadline for 2026 intake) Apr 15, 2026 (Round 5 Application Deadline for 2026 intake)

Other Popular Comparisons

University of Maryland

Virginia Tech

Vanderbilt University

Virginia Tech

Northeastern University

General Facts Comparison

General Facts	Virginia Tech	University of South Carolina
Type of University	University	University
Established	1872	1801
Student:Faculty Ratio	13:1	18:1
Male:Female	57% Male, 43% 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	The USC system creates a statewide presence through multiple locations -- the research university in Columbia, the comprehensive universities in Aiken, Beaufort and Upstate, the Palmetto College campuses in Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter and Union, and its online campus -- providing great opportunities for students and communities.
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: Primary Civil War documents in Special Collections Women in Art + Architecture collection More than 1 million e-books More than 6,800 DVDs Thousands of 16 mm films Bestselling books, including recently published fiction and non-fiction	University has six libaries: Thomas cooper library, law library, Ernest F. Hollings special library, Music library, Medicine library and South Carolina library. Law library is the largest in South Carolina with 500,000 volumes of collection. Medicine library has more than 116,000 collection of volumes.
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.	There are state-of-the-art academic and administrative buildings, athletic facilities, university housing, food locations, parking lots, green spaces, and pathways on USC's stunning 359-acre main campus in downtown Columbia. In addition, USC runs seven satellite campuses in various cities, including Lancaster, Salkehatchie, Sumter, Union, Aiken, Beaufort, and Upstate. The University of South Carolina campus offers a vast array of opportunities that are constantly expanding. Your time there will be used to discover hobbies, make plans for the future, and make connections with people who might end up being part of your life forever. South Carolina's campus dining offers a unique fusion of local favourites and global flavours. In addition to local options, our more than 30 campus locations also provide well-known regional and national favourites. Even Grubhub offers smartphone and kiosk ordering for incredibly convenient pick-up. The university has more than 500 clubs and organisations for students to take part in. Students who appreciate the outdoors and the natural world are welcome in this neighbourhood. Through trekking, rock climbing, canoeing, hiking, biking, caving, environmental outreach, and other activities, students can explore the stunning southeast. A whole city's worth of artwork, exhibits, culture, cinema, and events are located just outside of campus, and this number increases daily. Three ballet companies, a National Medal-level art museum, an art house movie theatre, and dozens of theatres, including the oldest community theatre structure still in operation in the nation are all found in Columbia. At the University of South Carolina, students can lead vibrant, active lives both inside and outside of the classroom. The campus offers a vast array of amenities, services, excursions, and other activities focused on fitness.
Hostel	#Room & Board (Private) - $12028 #Room and Board - $12677	#4-Bedroom Apartment - $11200 #2-Bedroom Apartment - $11600 #1-Bedroom Apartment - $13212
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).	Ainsley Earhardt (author and television host) Lindsey Graham (politician and author) Alex English (basketball player, coach and businessman) Jasper Johns (painter, sculptor)
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).	Columbia is the capital not only of South Carolina but also of southern hospitality. The state's second-largest city, Columbia is full of museums and history and is a perfect place to spend a year making an impact. Living in the Columbia area offers residents a balance of urban and suburban life. The farther into downtown Columbia you look, the more expensive it will be to rent. It’s recommended that you live in or just outside of Columbia in the nearby cities of Cayce, West Columbia or Northeast Columbia. Having your own mode of transportation is critical for the Columbia site. The COMET bus system in Columbia does not extend very far out of downtown Columbia and the immediate suburbs. This may be an adequate system for after service and on the weekends but would be difficult to use considering the early start times of City Year.
Weather

Comparison Notes

Virginia Tech vs University of South Carolina

Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)

Virginia Tech is included among the top 250 universities in the world, known for its research capabilities and a variety of academic programs. It has a strong reputation for its Engineering, Computer Science, Business, and Architecture programs. The University of South Carolina, a public university, usually does not rank within the global top 500, but is known for its research capacities in a region, especially in Business Administration, International Studies, Arts, and Public Health.

General Information

Virginia Tech is a large public research university, located on a metropolitan campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, with over 200 offered degrees, and serves more than 36,000 students. The University of South Carolina is noticeably smaller, educating around 34,000 students, and offers a liberal arts and research-focused education in a public institution, situated on a compact urban campus, emphasizing personal development and preparing students for careers.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Virginia Tech has a moderately selective admission process with an acceptance rate around 70%, and receives a significant volume of in-state, out-of-state, and international applicants. Although the University of South Carolina has a slightly lower acceptance rate (around 62%), it also applies a holistic admissions practice and draws students seeking a strong regional reputation and a public university experience.

Research Impact & Facilities

Virginia Tech is a Carnegie R1 research university with considerable research funding, mostly in engineering, technology, and architecture. It operates state-of-the-art labs, research centers, and collaborates with partners worldwide. The University of South Carolina is also research-oriented, with notable funding in business, public health, and engineering, and emphasizes applied research and community engagement.

Cost & Financial Aid

For international students, Virginia Tech’s tuition averages between $30,000–32,000 per year; the University of South Carolina’s tuition is slightly higher for non-residents, averaging $35,000–36,000 per year. Both universities offer scholarships and financial aid for international students, with merit and need-based awards available.

Career Destinations & Graduates' Success

Virginia Tech graduates usually enter engineering, technology, and business roles, benefiting from the university’s strong research opportunities and extensive alumni network. University of South Carolina graduates tend to move into business, public health, and engineering sectors, leveraging the school’s regional industry connections and alumni relationships.