Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Virginia Tech? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Virginia Tech

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Minnesota Minneapolis, MN
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Minnesota Large City
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Enrollment
  • Minnesota 56,666
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • Minnesota Public 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Minnesota #159
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Minnesota -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • Minnesota Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Minnesota
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Minnesota $17,214
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Minnesota $38,362
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • Minnesota $13,856
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Minnesota $17,209
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Minnesota $12,552
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Minnesota 65%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Minnesota 41,496
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • Minnesota 33,091
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Minnesota 79.7%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Minnesota 22.3%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Minnesota 1400
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Minnesota 28
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Minnesota 3.75
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Minnesota A-
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Minnesota Very High
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Minnesota
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Minnesota 26/31
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Minnesota 1300/1500
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Minnesota Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Minnesota Jan 1, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Minnesota 17:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Minnesota
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Minnesota 70%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Minnesota $58,200
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Minnesota 74%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Minnesota $20,185
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Minnesota $208
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Minnesota 11%
  • Virginia Tech 11%
  • % Women
  • Minnesota 16%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Minnesota Medium
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • Minnesota No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • Minnesota 70%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • Minnesota 9%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • Minnesota 4%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Minnesota 4%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • Minnesota 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Minnesota 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Minnesota 4%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • Minnesota 9%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Minnesota 1%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Minnesota 65%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Minnesota 27%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Minnesota Twin Cities in Minneapolis, MN with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Minnesota Twin Cities is larger than Virginia Tech based on total student enrollment (56,666 students vs. 38,857 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis, MN (Large City setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Minnesota Twin Cities 17:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Minnesota 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 Minnesota Twin Cities than Virginia Tech ($17,209 vs. $24,912).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Minnesota Twin Cities are 16.3% lower than at Virginia Tech ($13,856 vs. $16,550).
  • University of Minnesota Twin Cities is 7.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $1,266 more per year; $17,214.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at Minnesota than at Virginia Tech (about $598 more per year; $38,362.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Minnesota Twin Cities than at Virginia Tech (65% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Minnesota Twin Cities students is 36.9% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($12,552 vs. $9,168).

Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Minnesota 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 Minnesota.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Minnesota Twin Cities (1400) is 30 points higher than at Virginia Tech (1370).
  • Incoming Virginia Tech students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at Minnesota).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Minnesota Twin Cities 1300/1500; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Minnesota Twin Cities 26/31; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Minnesota - 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: Minnesota Jan 1, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Minnesota (3.75).
  • Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (79.7%) than Virginia Tech (54.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.3% at Minnesota vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

Minnesota vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Minnesota 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 Minnesota Twin Cities's (70%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Tech earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than Minnesota graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,000 vs. $58,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates have a $3,781 lower median loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates ($20,185 vs. $23,966).
  • Among borrowers, Minnesota graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Tech graduates ($208 vs. $247).
  • More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Minnesota students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 74%)

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.