Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
If you are interested in studying Mechanical Engineering, you may want to check out the program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. We’ve gathered the following information to help you decide.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is located in Blacksburg, VA.
For the most recent IPEDS reporting year, 447 mechanical engineering graduations were recorded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
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Studying Online at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Many students take online classes at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Among 38,857 students, 1,577 (4%) studied exclusively online and 19,313 (50%) took at least some classes online.
Mechanical Engineering Rankings at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Rankings can help you compare Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s Mechanical Engineering program against peer institutions.
Master’s-Level Rankings
| Ranking | Scope | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Best Schools (Quality) | Virginia | #1 of 7 |
| Best Schools (Quality) | Southeast (Region) | #6 of 70 |
| Best Value | Virginia | #6 of 7 |
| Best Schools (Quality) | Nationwide | #48 of 365 |
| Best Value | Southeast (Region) | #60 of 70 |
| Best Value | Nationwide | #263 of 364 |
Doctoral-Level Rankings
| Ranking | Scope | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Best Schools (Quality) | Virginia | #1 of 7 |
| Best Schools (Quality) | Southeast (Region) | #6 of 70 |
| Best Value | Virginia | #6 of 7 |
| Best Schools (Quality) | Nationwide | #48 of 365 |
| Best Value | Southeast (Region) | #60 of 70 |
| Best Value | Nationwide | #263 of 364 |
Earnings for Mechanical Engineering Graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Those who finish Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s Mechanical Engineering program earn the following amounts (per the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard):
| Years After Graduation | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $70,451 |
| 2 years | $72,479 |
| 3 years | $78,673 |
| 4 years | $86,661 |
| 5 years | $98,872 |
How does this compare to the school overall? Four years after graduating, Mechanical Engineering graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University take home a median $86,661, compared with $77,896 for all Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University graduates — about 11% higher than the school-wide median.
Median Debt at Graduation
Median student loan debt for Mechanical Engineering graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is $23,000.
Student Demographics & Diversity
Below you’ll find the composition of Mechanical Engineering graduates at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, by degree type.
Program-wide, Mechanical Engineering graduates at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are 17% women (74) and 83% men (373).
Mechanical Engineering Bachelor’s Program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Of the 352 bachelor’s mechanical engineering degrees awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 16% were women (57) and 84% were men (295).
The following table and chart show the race/ethnicity of Mechanical Engineering bachelor’s degree recipients at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
| Race / Ethnicity | Number of Graduates |
|---|---|
| White | 215 |
| Hispanic / Latino | 35 |
| Black / African American | 17 |
| Asian | 35 |
| Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander | 1 |
| Two or More Races | 15 |
| International (Nonresident) | 27 |
| Unknown | 7 |
Racial-ethnic minorities make up 29% of Mechanical Engineering bachelor’s degree recipients at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, lower than the national average of 34%.*
Mechanical Engineering Master’s Program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Among the 66 master’s mechanical engineering graduates at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 15% were women (10) and 85% were men (56).
The following table and chart show the race/ethnicity of Mechanical Engineering master’s degree recipients at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
| Race / Ethnicity | Number of Graduates |
|---|---|
| White | 32 |
| Hispanic / Latino | 3 |
| Asian | 5 |
| Two or More Races | 3 |
| International (Nonresident) | 23 |
Racial-ethnic minorities make up 17% of Mechanical Engineering master’s degree recipients at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, lower than the national average of 23%.*
Mechanical Engineering Doctoral Program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Among the 29 doctoral mechanical engineering graduates at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 24% were women (7) and 76% were men (22).
The following table and chart show the race/ethnicity of Mechanical Engineering doctoral degree recipients at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
| Race / Ethnicity | Number of Graduates |
|---|---|
| White | 7 |
| Asian | 3 |
| International (Nonresident) | 19 |
Minority students account for 10% of Mechanical Engineering doctoral degree recipients at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, lower than the national average of 13%.*
*The racial-ethnic minorities figure is the total number of graduates minus White, international (nonresident), and unknown-race graduates.
More Specific Mechanical Engineering Concentrations at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
The Mechanical Engineering program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University includes the following sub-specializations:
| Concentration | Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Mechanical Engineering | 447 |
Highest-Paying Careers for Mechanical Engineering Graduates
Graduates of the Mechanical Engineering program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University work across a variety of fields. Below are the top-paying careers for Mechanical Engineering majors, ordered by median annual salary:
| Occupation | Nationwide Median Wage |
|---|---|
| Fuel Cell Engineers | $137,020 |
| Automotive Engineers | $107,733 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Cost Estimators | $80,966 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
| Mechanical Engineers | $79,543 |
| Aerospace Engineers | $63,328 |
References
- IPEDS — Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
- U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard
- O*NET Online (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- National Center for Education Statistics
More about our data sources and methodologies.