Florida State vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between Florida State University 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.

Florida State University
Virginia Tech

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Florida State Tallahassee, FL
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Florida State Midsize City
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Florida State 43,889
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • Florida State Public 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Florida State #181
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Florida State -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • Florida State Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Florida State
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Florida State $5,656
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Florida State $18,786
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • Florida State $13,474
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Florida State $15,815
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Florida State $9,279
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Florida State 91%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Florida State 78,272
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • Florida State 18,954
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Florida State 24.2%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Florida State 30.9%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Florida State 1340
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Florida State 30
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Florida State 3.7
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Florida State A-
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Florida State Very High
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Florida State Very High
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Florida State 29/32
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Florida State 1270/1410
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Florida State Required to be considered for admission
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Florida State Mar 1, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Florida State 17:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Florida State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
    • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Florida State 74%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Florida State $51,400
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Florida State 63%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Florida State $20,750
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Florida State $214
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Florida State 37%
  • Virginia Tech 55%
  • % Women
  • Florida State 63%
  • Virginia Tech 45%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Florida State Medium
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • Florida State No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • Florida State 64%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • Florida State 2%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • Florida State 8%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Florida State 19%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • Florida State 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Florida State 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Florida State 3%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • Florida State 1%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Florida State 1%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Florida State 80%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Florida State 19%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Florida State University is larger than Virginia Tech based on total student enrollment (43,889 students vs. 38,857 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Florida State University is located in Tallahassee, FL (Midsize City setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Florida State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida State University 17:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

Florida State vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida State 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 Florida State University than Virginia Tech ($15,815 vs. $24,912).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida State University are 18.6% lower than at Virginia Tech ($13,474 vs. $16,550).
  • Virginia Tech is 182% more expensive for in-state tuition than Florida State (about $10,292 more per year; $15,948.00 vs. $5,656.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 101% higher at Virginia Tech than at Florida State University (about $18,978 more per year; $37,764.00 vs. $18,786.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Florida State University than at Virginia Tech (91% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Florida State University students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($9,279 vs. $9,168).

Florida State vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida State 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 Florida State.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Tech (1370) is 30 points higher than at Florida State (1340).
  • Incoming Florida State students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 30) as students at Virginia Tech (30).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida State University 1270/1410; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida State University 29/32; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida State - Required to be considered for admission; Virginia Tech - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Florida State Mar 1, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Florida State (3.7).
  • Virginia Tech has a higher acceptance rate (54.8%) than Florida State (24.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 30.9% at Florida State vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

Florida State vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida State 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).

  • Virginia Tech's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Florida State University's (74%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Tech earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than Florida State graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,000 vs. $51,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Florida State University graduates have a $3,216 lower median loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates ($20,750 vs. $23,966).
  • Among borrowers, Florida State graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Tech graduates ($214 vs. $247).
  • More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida State students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 63%)

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.