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Most Popular Engineering Schools in Virginia

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2023 Most Popular Engineering Schools in Virginia

39 Colleges
$68,411 Avg Salary
$23,894 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Engineering School for You

Engineering is one of the most popular subjects to study in Virginia. With 5,181 degrees and certificates handed out in 2020-2021, it ranked 9th out of all the majors we track in the state.

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Course Advisor has created the Most Popular Engineering Schools in Virginia to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 39 schools in Virginia to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Engineering program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for engineering majors pursuing a .

#1

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, VA

Our analysis found Virginia Tech to be the most popular school for engineering students who want to pursue a degree in Virginia. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech is a public school with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, engineering majors at Virginia Tech accumulate an average of around $25,824 in student debt. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $458.

Read full report on Engineering at Virginia Tech

The excellent programs at University of Virginia - Main Campus helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best engineering schools in Virginia. Located in the small suburb of Charlottesville, University of Virginia is a public college with a very large student population.

On average, engineering graduates from University of Virginia take out $19,296 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Engineering at University of Virginia - Main Campus

#3

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA

The excellent programs at Old Dominion University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best engineering schools in Virginia. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion is a public school with a fairly large student population.

After completing their degree, engineering graduates from Old Dominion carry an average student debt load of $25,000. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $129, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on Engineering at Old Dominion University

#4

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA

Out of the 39 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, George Mason University landed the # 4 spot on the list. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, GMU is a public school with a very large student population.

Engineering majors at GMU take out an average of $25,087 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read full report on Engineering at George Mason University

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Commonwealth University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Popular Engineering Schools in Virginia list. Located in the city of Richmond, VCU is a public school with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, engineering graduates from VCU carry an average student debt load of $24,776.

Full Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University Report

Northern Virginia Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Engineering Schools in Virginia ranking. Northern Virginia Community College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Annandale.

On average, engineering graduates from Northern Virginia Community College take out $9,331 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full Engineering at Northern Virginia Community College Report

With a ranking of #7, Virginia Military Institute did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for engineering students. Located in the town of Lexington, VMI is a public college with a small student population.

While working on their degree, engineering majors at VMI accumulate an average of around $25,000 in student debt.

Full Engineering at Virginia Military Institute Report

Tidewater Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for engineering students. It came in at #8 on the list. Tidewater Community College is a large public school located in the city of Norfolk.

While working on their degree, engineering majors at Tidewater Community College accumulate an average of around $11,500 in student debt.

Full Engineering at Tidewater Community College Report

#9

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA

James Madison University landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular engineering programs. JMU is a very large public school located in the small city of Harrisonburg.

The average amount in student loans that engineering majors at JMU take out is $26,000. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $327.

Read More…

#10

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

Liberty University landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular engineering programs. Located in the small city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit college with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, engineering majors at Liberty University accumulate an average of around $27,000 in student debt.

Full Engineering at Liberty University Report

Best Engineering Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Most Popular Engineering Colleges in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
North Carolina 5,126
West Virginia 990
South Carolina 2,318
Florida 9,040
Arkansas 1,082
Mississippi 1,512
Tennessee 2,281
Louisiana 1,832
Alabama 3,927
Kentucky 1,343
Georgia 5,301

Engineering Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Mechanical Engineering 46,178
Electrical Engineering 28,844
Civil Engineering 21,388
Computer Engineering 17,987
Chemical Engineering 12,917
Biomedical Engineering 12,811
General Engineering 11,796
Industrial Engineering 9,072
Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering 8,001
Systems Engineering 3,904
Materials Engineering 3,415
Other Engineering 2,760
Environmental Engineering 2,759
Operations Research 1,698
Agricultural Engineering 1,472
Engineering Science 1,454
Electrical and Computer Engineering. 1,378
Petroleum Engineering 1,256
Robotics Engineering 1,243
Architectural Engineering 1,012
Engineering Physics 994
Manufacturing Engineering 947
Construction Engineering 878
Nuclear Engineering 864
Marine Engineering 445
Biological Engineering 410
Polymer & Plastics Engineering 360
Geoscience Engineering 325
Mining Engineering 314
Textile Engineering 310
Ocean Engineering 285
Engineering Mechanics 272
Metallurgical Engineering 179
Energy Systems Engineering 138
Biochemical Engineering 109
Ceramic Engineering 94
Surveying Engineering 73
Electromechanical Engineering 45
Forest Engineering 41
Paper Science & Engineering 27
Engineering Chemistry 13

Related Major Annual Graduates
Computer & Information Sciences 254,454
Biological & Biomedical Sciences 177,778
Engineering Technologies 85,188
Mathematics & Statistics 52,396
Physical Sciences 50,306

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Petty Officer 3rd Class Declan Barnes.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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