Virginia Tech vs Washington State University (WSU)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and Washington State University (WSU) are two prominent public research universities with distinct characteristics. Virginia Tech, located in Blacksburg, Virginia, boasts a higher acceptance rate (70%) compared to WSU's 68%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with Virginia Tech excelling in engineering, computer science, and business, while WSU is renowned for its agriculture, veterinary medicine, and hospitality management programs. Virginia Tech's student body is slightly larger, with over 30,000 undergraduates, while WSU has a more diverse student population, with a higher percentage of international students. In terms of graduation rates, Virginia Tech has a slightly higher four-year graduation rate (68%) compared to WSU's 65%. To help you make an informed decision, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these aspects and more, allowing you to assess which university better aligns with your academic aspirations
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![]() Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
![]() Washington State University |
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Overview |
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Location | Blacksburg, Virginia | Pullman, Washington |
Campus setting | City: Small | Town: Distant |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 92.0% | 81.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 56.5% | 85.8% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$75
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Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$75
|
SAT range | 1210 - 1410 | N/A |
ACT range | 26 - 32 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 83.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 35.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 42,054 | 18,197 |
Total number of admissions given out | 23,746 | 15,607 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 6,758 | 4,007 |
Yield rate | 28.5% | 25.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$30,104
Out of state:
$49,787
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In state:
$28,767
Out of state:
$44,083
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Average net price | $20,109 | $11,877 |
Tuition |
In state:
$11,750
Out of state:
$30,829
|
In state:
$10,457
Out of state:
$25,773
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$5,890
Meal plan:
$4,736
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Room/dormitory:
$7,400
Meal plan:
$4,350
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
58.0%
Average amount $8,018 |
86.0%
Average amount $9,993 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
40.0%
Average amount $5,316 |
27.0%
Average amount $5,042 |
Students taking out private loans |
9.0%
Average amount $20,728 |
3.0%
Average amount $15,454 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
29,760
Men 57.3% Women 42.7% |
24,278
Men 45.9% Women 54.1% |
Graduate students |
7,519
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
5,565
Men 44.7% Women 55.3% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 39.5% | 15.2% |
International students | 9.9% | 5.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | Town: Distant |
Dormitory capacity | 9,471 | 7,043 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Virginia Maryland New Jersey North Carolina Pennsylvania | Washington California Oregon Idaho Hawaii |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 15:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 86.6% | 59.5% |
Dropout rate | 12.3% | 38.1% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Administration (Master's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Veterinary Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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