Virginia Tech vs. Penn State

Deciding between Virginia Tech and Penn State Main Campus? 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.

Virginia Tech
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

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

  • Cost

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

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Virginia Tech A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Virginia Tech Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Penn State Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Virginia Tech 55%
  • Penn State 51%
  • % Women
  • Virginia Tech 45%
  • Penn State 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Virginia Tech No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Virginia Tech 3%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

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

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA 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

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

Virginia Tech vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Virginia Tech or Penn State? 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).

Virginia Tech vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Virginia Tech or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Virginia Tech.

  • 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: Virginia Tech 1280/1450; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Virginia Tech 28/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Virginia Tech - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Penn State - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (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 25.3% at Virginia Tech vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Virginia Tech vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Virginia Tech and Penn State? 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.