Penn State vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between Penn State Main Campus 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.

Penn State Main Campus
Virginia Tech

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Penn State Small City
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Penn State #185
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Penn State -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Penn State
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Penn State $11,336
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Penn State 37%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State 1330
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State 29
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Penn State -
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Penn State -
  • Virginia Tech A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Penn State Very High
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Penn State Low
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Penn State 27/32
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Virginia Tech Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Penn State
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Penn State 87%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Penn State 69%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Penn State $277
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Penn State 52%
  • Virginia Tech 56%
  • % Women
  • Penn State 48%
  • Virginia Tech 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Penn State Medium
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • Penn State No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • Penn State 69%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • Penn State 6%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • Penn State 4%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Penn State 6%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • Penn State 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Penn State 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Penn State 3%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • Penn State 11%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Penn State 2%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Penn State 53%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Penn State 40%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Virginia Tech based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 38,857 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Main Campus is located in University Park, PA (Small City setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Main Campus 16:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

Penn State vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn 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 Virginia Tech than Penn State ($24,912 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 12.5% lower than at Virginia Tech ($14,474 vs. $16,550).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 29.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $4,696 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.7% higher at Penn State than at Virginia Tech (about $4,026 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Tech than at Penn State Main Campus (60% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 23.6% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($11,336 vs. $9,168).

Penn State vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Tech (1370) is 40 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Virginia Tech students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Main Campus 27/32; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State - Test optional; Virginia Tech - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Virginia Tech (54.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Penn State vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

Penn State vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Virginia Tech's (82%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Tech earn a median of about $9,700 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have a $2,852 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($23,966 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($247 vs. $277).
  • More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 69%)

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.