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Compare William & Mary vs Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Williamsburg, VA · Blacksburg, VA

William & MaryVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Cost
Price after aid (average)$19,096/yr$24,953/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$3,106/yr$11,689/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$18,500$21,500
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$881/yr$11,670/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$5,916/yr$17,894/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$16,803/yr$25,835/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$34,370/yr$34,201/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$196/mo$228/mo
Room & board (on campus)$16,182/yr$16,550/yr
Room & board (off campus)$16,182/yr$12,578/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,050/yr$2,678/yr
Other living costs (on campus)$2,460/yr$4,494/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$43,035/yr$36,951/yr
Tuition (in-state)$25,914/yr$15,948/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$51,038/yr$37,764/yr
Students with Pell Grants12%15%
Students taking federal loans22%34%
Getting in
Students who get accepted34%55%
SAT range (middle 50%)1400–15301280–1450
SAT average14731364
ACT range (middle 50%)32–3428–32
ACT sections (middle 50%)English 34–35 · Math 28–33English 26–34 · Math 26–32
Admissions data fromFall 2023Fall 2023
Applications received17,54847,208
Students accepted5,74126,923
Students who enrolled1,6197,196
Accepted students who enroll28%27%
Enrolled who sent SAT scores45%43%
Enrolled who sent ACT scores17%7%
High-school GPARequiredRequired
High-school transcriptRequiredRequired
EssayRequiredRequired
Recommendation lettersRequiredNot considered
Class rankOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
College-prep programRequiredOptional (considered if sent)
Demonstrated competenciesNot consideredNot considered
Work experienceOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
English proficiency testOptional (considered if sent)Required
Other admission testsNot consideredNot considered
Legacy consideredOptional (considered if sent)Not considered
SAT/ACT policyOptional (considered if sent)Optional (considered if sent)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate89%86%
Freshmen who come back95%93%
Typical earnings 10 years in$73,490/yr$81,698/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$48,980–$112,948$53,415–$113,356
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)91%87%
White students graduating91%88%
Black students graduating89%76%
Hispanic students graduating90%83%
Asian students graduating84%91%
Typical earnings 6 years in$62,959/yr$67,377/yr
Earn more than a HS grad87%87%
Graduate on time84%69%
Pell students who graduate85%79%
First-gen students who finish89%79%
Low-income students who finish88%78%
Students who transfer out7.3%No data reported
Typical earnings 8 years in$67,721/yr$75,717/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsSocial Sciences 20% · Business, Management & Marketing 13% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 12%Business, Management & Marketing 24% · Engineering 20% · Social Sciences 8%
Most popular programSocial Sciences — 20% of degreesBusiness, Management & Marketing — 24% of degrees
2nd most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 13% of degreesEngineering — 20% of degrees
3rd most popular programBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 12% of degreesSocial Sciences — 8% of degrees
4th most popular programPsychology — 9% of degreesBiological & Biomedical Sciences — 7% of degrees
5th most popular programComputer & Information Sciences — 7% of degreesComputer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Educational Administration and Supervision — $105,337/yrBusiness Administration, Management and Operations — $119,423/yr
Degrees in STEM29%38%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment7,05530,923
Students per professor12 : 117 : 1
Graduate students2,7557,822
Average professor pay$12,942/mo$14,162/mo
Full-time professors79%99%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited bySouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Median family income$96,498$89,378
SettingSuburb (small)City (small)
LocationWilliamsburg, VABlacksburg, VA
RegionSoutheastSoutheast
Founded16931872
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredBachelor's degreesBachelor's degrees
Carnegie classificationDoctoral Universities: High Research ActivityDoctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students3.4%4.6%
Men41%57%
Women59%43%
White students62%57%
Black students5.1%5.9%
Hispanic or Latino students9%9.8%
Asian students11%14%
Two or more races7.2%5.8%
Other / not reported1.4%3.1%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students13%18%
Part-time students1.2%2.6%
Students age 25+1.1%1.6%
Spent on teaching per student$18,167/yr$15,632/yr
Endowment$1.5B$1.9B
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingYes — dorms on campusYes — dorms on campus
Beds in campus housing4,45510,213
Required to live on campusNoNo
Room charge (campus housing)$8,785/yr$6,520/yr
Meal plan charge$5,770/yr$5,998/yr
Meal plan offeredYesYes
Meals per weekVaries by weekVaries by week
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneLand-grant institution
Study abroadYesYes
Undergraduate researchYesYes
ROTCYes — ArmyYes — Army, Navy, Air Force
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoYes
Credit for life experienceNoNo
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineNoNo
Weekend & evening classesNoNo
Teacher certificationYesYes
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careYesNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolYesYes
Credit for military trainingYesNo
Student veteran organizationYesYes
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNCAA Division I-FCSNCAA Division I-FBS
Football teamYesYes
Varsity teams1918
Student athletes543618
Athletic scholarships$10.8M$20.9M
Athletics budget$37.5M$149.0M
Athletics revenue$38.2M$151.6M
Recruiting spend$322,693$3.4M

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.