Best colleges for engineering in Virginia
University of Virginia ranks first in Virginia for engineering value (#29 nationally, value score 79.8): graduates earn $109,551 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $18,056 a year.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition · Source: College Scorecard field of study, reporting year 2025 · 8 Virginia colleges ranked · Updated November 4, 2026
Best engineering colleges in Virginia
University of Virginia ranks first in Virginia for engineering value (#29 nationally, value score 79.8): graduates earn $109,551 4 years after the bachelor's degree, and the average net price is $18,056 a year. 8 Virginia colleges qualify. At the median one, engineering graduates earn $90,445 and the average net price is $20,803 a year.
Source: U.S. College Scorecard field of study, 2025
What the data shows
Key findings
- 8 Virginia colleges qualify. At the median one, engineering graduates earn $90,445 and the average net price is $20,803 a year.
- The lowest average net price among them is at Old Dominion University: $12,913 a year.
- Median earnings
- $90,445
- National: $91,742
- Median net price
- $20,803
- National: $17,499
- Median federal debt
- $21,639
- engineering graduates
- Public colleges
- 7 of 8
- in this list
8 colleges
The Virginia ranking
Ordered by the national value score; the national rank is shown with each college. Earnings are medians 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
- Earnings
- $109,551
- Net price
- $18,056
- Federal debt
- $17,500
- Graduation rate
- 94%
- Earnings
- $96,467
- Net price
- $14,697
- Federal debt
- $20,000
- Graduation rate
- 66%
- Rank in Virginia 3
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · Public · #99 nationally
58.3Value- Earnings
- $96,376
- Net price
- $25,808
- Federal debt
- $20,750
- Graduation rate
- 86%
- Earnings
- $91,761
- Net price
- $23,550
- Federal debt
- $22,527
- Graduation rate
- 80%
- Earnings
- $87,772
- Net price
- $12,913
- Federal debt
- $19,500
- Graduation rate
- 43%
- Earnings
- $88,410
- Net price
- $25,037
- Federal debt
- $22,875
- Graduation rate
- 65%
- Earnings
- $89,129
- Net price
- $29,235
- Federal debt
- $25,000
- Graduation rate
- 64%
- Earnings
- $76,991
- Net price
- $15,585
- Federal debt
- $24,390
- Graduation rate
- 72%
Method: the same value score as the national engineering ranking (earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate, each a national percentile). Data: College Scorecard, reporting year 2025; 2026–27 edition, verified Nov 2026.
Questions about engineering colleges in Virginia
What are the best colleges for engineering in Virginia?
By CollegesRef value score, the top 3 Virginia colleges for engineering are University of Virginia (value score 79.8), George Mason University (value score 65.1) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (value score 58.3). The score weighs graduate earnings, debt relative to earnings, average net price and graduation rate.
Which Virginia college has the highest earnings for engineering graduates?
University of Virginia: its engineering graduates have median earnings of $109,551 4 years after the bachelor's degree.
What is the most affordable engineering college in Virginia on this list?
Old Dominion University has the lowest average net price of the ranked Virginia colleges, $12,913 a year after grants. A family's own price depends on income and aid.
How many Virginia colleges are ranked for engineering?
8 Virginia colleges have a engineering bachelor's program with enough graduates and reported earnings, plus a published net price and graduation rate. Ranks shown are national; the state rank is their order within Virginia.