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Physics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

What traits are you looking for in a school for Physics, consider the program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The following information will help you decide if it is a good fit for you.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is in Blacksburg, VA.

For the most recent IPEDS reporting year, 63 physics degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

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.

Physics Rankings at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

These rankings give you a sense of how Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s Physics program against other schools offering the same major.

Master’s-Level Rankings

Ranking	Scope	Rank
Best Schools (Quality)	Virginia	#6 of 7
Best Value	Virginia	#6 of 7
Best Schools (Quality)	Southeast (Region)	#28 of 35
Best Value	Southeast (Region)	#32 of 35
Best Schools (Quality)	Nationwide	#171 of 259
Best Value	Nationwide	#207 of 257

Doctoral-Level Rankings

Ranking	Scope	Rank
Best Schools (Quality)	Virginia	#6 of 7
Best Value	Virginia	#6 of 7
Best Schools (Quality)	Southeast (Region)	#28 of 35
Best Value	Southeast (Region)	#32 of 35
Best Schools (Quality)	Nationwide	#171 of 259
Best Value	Nationwide	#207 of 257

Earnings for Physics Graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s Physics program earn at the following median levels (per the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard):

Years After Graduation	Median Earnings
2 years	$38,289
3 years	$56,809
4 years	$67,271
5 years	$78,349

How does this compare to the school overall? Four years after graduating, Physics graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University take home a median $67,271, compared with $77,896 for all Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University graduates — about 14% lower than the school-wide median.

Median Debt at Graduation

Typical debt at graduation for Physics graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is $27,000.

Student Demographics & Diversity

Below you’ll find the composition of Physics graduates at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, by degree type.

Across all degree levels, Physics graduates at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are 17% women (11) and 83% men (52).

Physics Bachelor’s Program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Of the 50 bachelor’s physics graduates at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 18% were women (9) and 82% were men (41).

The following table and chart show the race/ethnicity of Physics bachelor’s degree recipients at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Race / Ethnicity	Number of Graduates
White	22
Hispanic / Latino	5
Black / African American	1
Asian	5
Two or More Races	5
International (Nonresident)	9
Unknown	3

Racial-ethnic minorities make up 32% of Physics bachelor’s degree recipients at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, above the national average of 30%.*

Physics Master’s Program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Among the 6 master’s physics graduates at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 0% were women (0) and 100% were men (6).

The following table and chart show the race/ethnicity of Physics master’s degree recipients at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Race / Ethnicity	Number of Graduates
White	3
Asian	1
International (Nonresident)	2

Racial-ethnic minorities make up 17% of Physics master’s degree recipients at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, lower than the national average of 21%.*

Physics Doctoral Program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Among the 7 doctoral physics degrees awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 29% were women (2) and 71% were men (5).

The following table and chart show the race/ethnicity of Physics doctoral degree recipients at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Race / Ethnicity	Number of Graduates
White	4
International (Nonresident)	3

*The racial-ethnic minorities figure is the total number of graduates minus White, international (nonresident), and unknown-race graduates.

More Specific Physics Concentrations at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

This Physics program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University offers more specialized concentrations:

Concentration	Graduates
General Physics	63

Top-Paying Careers for Physics Graduates

Those who complete Physics program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University pursue many career paths. Here are the best-paid careers for Physics majors, ordered by median annual salary:

Occupation	Nationwide Median Wage
Water Resource Specialists	$179,716
Natural Sciences Managers	$132,227
Physicists	$111,776
Clinical Research Coordinators	$110,931
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary	$80,685
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	$77,927

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.