Kentucky vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between University of Kentucky 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.

University of Kentucky
Virginia Tech

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kentucky Lexington, KY
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Kentucky Large City
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Kentucky 34,709
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • Kentucky Public 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kentucky #437
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kentucky -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • Kentucky Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kentucky
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kentucky $13,502
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kentucky $34,140
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • Kentucky $16,016
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Kentucky $21,958
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kentucky $12,898
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kentucky 95%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kentucky 31,517
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • Kentucky 29,293
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kentucky 92.9%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Kentucky 22.2%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kentucky 1180
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kentucky 24
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kentucky 3.59
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kentucky A-
  • Virginia Tech A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kentucky Challenging
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kentucky
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Kentucky 21/28
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Kentucky 1070/1290
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kentucky Test optional
  • Virginia Tech Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Kentucky Feb 15, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kentucky 18:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kentucky
    • Business (19%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kentucky 59%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kentucky $51,000
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kentucky 62%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kentucky $22,750
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kentucky $235
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kentucky 40%
  • Virginia Tech 56%
  • % Women
  • Kentucky 60%
  • Virginia Tech 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kentucky Low
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • Kentucky No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • Kentucky 76%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • Kentucky 2%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • Kentucky 8%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kentucky 4%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • Kentucky 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kentucky 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kentucky 58%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kentucky 41%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Tech is larger than Kentucky based on total student enrollment (38,857 students vs. 34,709 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Kentucky is located in Lexington, KY (Large City setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Kentucky is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Kentucky 18:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

Kentucky vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kentucky 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 University of Kentucky than Virginia Tech ($21,958 vs. $24,912).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Kentucky are 3.2% lower than at Virginia Tech ($16,016 vs. $16,550).
  • Virginia Tech is 18.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kentucky (about $2,446 more per year; $15,948.00 vs. $13,502.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.6% higher at Virginia Tech than at University of Kentucky (about $3,624 more per year; $37,764.00 vs. $34,140.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Kentucky than at Virginia Tech (95% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kentucky students is 40.7% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($12,898 vs. $9,168).

Kentucky vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kentucky 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 Kentucky.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Virginia Tech (1370) is 190 points higher than at Kentucky (1180).
  • Incoming Virginia Tech students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 24 at Kentucky).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kentucky 1070/1290; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Kentucky 21/28; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kentucky - Test optional; Virginia Tech - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Kentucky Feb 15, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Kentucky (3.59).
  • Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (92.9%) than Virginia Tech (54.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.2% at Kentucky vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

Kentucky vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kentucky 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 University of Kentucky's (59%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Tech earn a median of about $14,000 more per year than Kentucky graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,000 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kentucky graduates have a $1,216 lower median loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates ($22,750 vs. $23,966).
  • Among borrowers, Kentucky graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Tech graduates ($235 vs. $247).
  • More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kentucky students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 62%)

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.