For tenth consecutive year, Virginia Tech named to Kiplinger's best values in higher education list
For the 10th year in a row and since the list began, Virginia Tech is named to Kiplinger Personal Finance’s list of the best values in higher education.
Virginia Tech is ranked 26th among public colleges and 151st among all universities for 2015. Kiplinger’s best value rankings looked at schools that offer “a quality education at an affordable price.”
Since 1872, nearly a quarter of a million Hokies and counting have chosen to apply the university's hands-on, minds-on approach to their academic careers and beyond.
Virginia Tech offers more than 80 undergraduate degree programs in a wide variety of fields that cover the wide spectrum of our 21st century world such as graphic arts, sustainable bioinformatics, multimedia journalism, nanoscience, and biomedical engineering. The university emphasizes opportunities in interdisciplinary studies, for example, the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology enables students in the arts, design, science, and engineering to create synergies for innovation and education.
“In each degree program, students have the opportunity to learn and explore with our world-class faculty and prepare for success after graduation,” said Rachel Holloway, vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs. “In addition, students can enhance their learning through activities such as undergraduate research, education abroad, the University Honors program, living-learning communities, and other valuable programs.”
While maintaining high academic standards, annual tuition and fees at Virginia Tech remains among the lowest in the commonwealth at $12,017 for in-state students and $28,048 for out-of-state students.
Part of Kiplinger’s financial calculation also includes financial aid support for students. Currently, 78 percent of Virginia Tech students receive some form of financial aid, with the aid award to undergraduates averaging $16,033 in 2013-14.
“As a land-grant university, it is important that we expand access to higher education, giving more people an opportunity to learn, explore, and gain valuable skills to improve quality of life,” said Wanda Dean, vice provost for enrollment and degree management, “Kiplinger recognizes Virginia Tech’s continual efforts to provide a first class educational experience at a great value.”
According to the most recent data published (2011-12) by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, Virginia Tech in-state students borrowed, on average, less than their peers seeking a four-year degree in Virginia.
In addition, Virginia Tech graduates note high earnings power. Career Services at Virginia Tech finds 2012-13 graduates reported a median earned annual salary of $50,000.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
