Alabama vs. Virginia Tech

Should I go to The University of Alabama or Virginia Tech? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alabama or Virginia Tech is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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The University of Alabama vs. Virginia Tech comparison
The University of Alabama Virginia Tech College 3 College 4
The University of Alabama Virginia Tech
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Overview

Alabama Virginia Tech
Location Tuscaloosa, AL Blacksburg, VA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 38,644 38,170
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #404 #142
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ua.edu vt.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama Virginia Tech
Tuition (In State) $11,100 $12,104
Tuition (Out of State) $31,460 $31,754
Room & Board $14,426 $12,680
Avg Net Price $20,592 $19,301
Avg Grant Aid $15,683 $7,649
% Receiving Grant Aid 82% 57%

Admission

Alabama Virginia Tech
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 54,072 45,321
Admitted 43,290 25,825
Acceptance Rate 80.1% 57%
Enrolled % 18.6% 27.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.76 3.97
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 23/31 27/32
SAT Range 1130/1410 1240/1430
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Alabama Virginia Tech
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (19%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Work and Family Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Alabama Virginia Tech
Graduation Rate 66% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,900 $65,000
Making Student Loan Payments 59% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,750 $23,966
Median Loan Payment $245 $247

Diversity

Alabama Virginia Tech
% Men 43% 57%
% Women 57% 43%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 78% 68%
% Black 11% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 2% 6%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

Alabama Virginia Tech
% In-State 35% 64%
% Out-of-State 64% 32%

Campus

Alabama Virginia Tech
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • The University of Alabama is larger than than Virginia Tech based on total student enrollment (38,644 students vs. 38,170 students)

Alabama vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama or Virginia Tech?

  • Virginia Tech is 9% more expensive to attend than Alabama for in-state tuition ($12,104.00 vs. $11,100.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.9% higher at Virginia Tech than The University of Alabama ($31,754.00 vs. $31,460.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Tech than Alabama ($19,301 vs. $20,592)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 13.8% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($12,680 vs. $14,426)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Alabama than Virginia Tech (82% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 105% larger than aid received Virginia Tech ($15,683 vs. $7,649)

Alabama vs. Virginia Tech Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alabama or Virginia Tech? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Virginia Tech or Alabama .

  • The average SAT score at Virginia Tech (1210) is 29 points higher than at Alabama (1181)
  • Accepted freshman Virginia Tech students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Alabama (3.76)
  • Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (80.1%) than Virginia Tech (57%)

Alabama vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alabama or Virginia Tech? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Virginia Tech and Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at Virginia Tech is higher than The University of Alabama (82% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Virginia Tech earn on average $15,100 more per year than Alabama graduates after ten years. ($65,000 vs. $49,900)
  • The University of Alabama students graduate with a $216 lower median federal student loan debt than Virginia Tech graduates. ($23,750 vs. $23,966)
  • Alabama graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Virginia Tech graduates. ($245 vs. $247)
  • More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 59%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/