Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Virginia Tech

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • Virginia Tech A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Virginia Tech Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rutgers $229
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • Virginia Tech 56%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Virginia Tech 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Virginia Tech based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 38,857 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Virginia Tech ($20,522 vs. $24,912).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 5.1% lower than at Virginia Tech ($15,714 vs. $16,550).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $1,981 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at Virginia Tech than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $323 more per year; $37,764.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Tech than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (60% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 82.6% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($16,742 vs. $9,168).

Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rutgers 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 Rutgers.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 40 points higher than at Virginia Tech (1370).
  • Incoming Rutgers 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: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; Virginia Tech - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.67 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Virginia Tech (54.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Virginia Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $65,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $1,751 lower median loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates ($22,215 vs. $23,966).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Tech graduates ($229 vs. $247).
  • More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 68%)

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.