Pitt vs. Virginia Tech

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

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Virginia Tech

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Pitt Large City
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Enrollment
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Pitt #138
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Pitt -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Pitt
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Pitt $16,494
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Pitt 53%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Pitt 13%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pitt 1370
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pitt 31
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Pitt A-
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Pitt Very High
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Pitt Low
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • Pitt 29/33
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Pitt Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Pitt
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Pitt 79%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Pitt 75%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Pitt $278
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Pitt 11%
  • Virginia Tech 11%
  • % Women
  • Pitt 16%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Pitt Low
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • Pitt No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • Pitt 74%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • Pitt 9%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • Pitt 5%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Pitt 3%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • Pitt 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Pitt 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Pitt 3%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • Pitt 4%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Pitt 1%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Pitt 64%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Pitt 33%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Tech is larger than Pitt based on total student enrollment (38,857 students vs. 35,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

Pitt vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitt 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 Pitt ($24,912 vs. $25,223).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 17.7% lower than at Virginia Tech ($13,620 vs. $16,550).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 37.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $5,978 more per year; $21,926.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.7% higher at Pitt than at Virginia Tech (about $3,666 more per year; $41,430.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Tech than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (60% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students is 79.9% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($16,494 vs. $9,168).

Pitt vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pitt 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 Pitt.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (1370) is the same as at Virginia Tech (1370).
  • Incoming Pitt students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Virginia Tech).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitt - 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: Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Pitt (3.79).
  • Pitt has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Virginia Tech (54.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13% at Pitt vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

Pitt vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitt 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's (79%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Tech earn a median of about $7,000 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,000 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have a $2,943 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($23,966 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($247 vs. $278).
  • More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 75%)

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.