Dickinson College vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between Dickinson College and Virginia Tech? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Dickinson College
Virginia Tech

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Dickinson College Carlisle, PA
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Dickinson College Distant Town
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Dickinson College 2,314
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • Dickinson College Private 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Dickinson College #76
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Dickinson College -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • Dickinson College Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Dickinson College
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • Dickinson College $17,100
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Dickinson College $38,483
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Dickinson College $44,479
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Dickinson College 96%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Dickinson College 7,258
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • Dickinson College 3,055
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Dickinson College 42.1%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Dickinson College 21.1%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Dickinson College 1390
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Dickinson College 31
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Dickinson College -
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Dickinson College -
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Dickinson College Very High
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Dickinson College Low
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Dickinson College 30/33
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Dickinson College 1310/1460
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Dickinson College Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Dickinson College 11:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Dickinson College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Ethnic Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Dickinson College 84%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Dickinson College $62,000
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Dickinson College 89%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Dickinson College $21,000
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Dickinson College $217
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Dickinson College 100%
  • Virginia Tech 55%
  • % Women
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • Virginia Tech 45%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Dickinson College Medium
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • Dickinson College No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • Dickinson College 72%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • Dickinson College 3%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Dickinson College 6%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • Dickinson College 10%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Dickinson College 2%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Dickinson College 26%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Dickinson College 67%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Dickinson College Yes
  • Virginia Tech Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Dickinson College No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • Meal Plan
  • Dickinson College Yes
  • Virginia Tech Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Dickinson College No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Dickinson College Yes
  • Virginia Tech No

Comparable Facts

Compare Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Tech is larger than Dickinson College based on total student enrollment (38,857 students vs. 2,314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, PA (Distant Town setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Dickinson College 11:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

Dickinson College vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dickinson College or Virginia Tech? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Tech than Dickinson College ($24,912 vs. $38,483).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 3.2% lower than at Dickinson College ($16,550 vs. $17,100).
  • Dickinson College is 311.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $49,702 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 73.8% higher at Dickinson College than at Virginia Tech (about $27,886 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dickinson College than at Virginia Tech (96% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Dickinson College students is 385.2% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($44,479 vs. $9,168).

Dickinson College vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dickinson College or Virginia Tech? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Virginia Tech and Dickinson College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dickinson College (1390) is 20 points higher than at Virginia Tech (1370).
  • Incoming Dickinson College students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Virginia Tech).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 1310/1460; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 30/33; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dickinson College - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Virginia Tech - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Virginia Tech has a higher acceptance rate (54.8%) than Dickinson College (42.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at Dickinson College vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

Dickinson College vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dickinson College and Virginia Tech? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Dickinson College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than Virginia Tech's (82%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Tech earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than Dickinson College graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,000 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have a $2,966 lower median loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates ($21,000 vs. $23,966).
  • Among borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Tech graduates ($217 vs. $247).
  • More Dickinson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Virginia Tech students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 81%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.