UMass vs. Virginia Tech

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst and Virginia Tech? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Virginia Tech

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Virginia Tech Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • Virginia Tech 38,857
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • Virginia Tech Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • Virginia Tech #142
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • Virginia Tech -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Virginia Tech Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • Virginia Tech

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • Virginia Tech $15,948
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • Virginia Tech $37,764
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • Virginia Tech $16,550
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • Virginia Tech $24,912
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • Virginia Tech $9,168
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • Virginia Tech 60%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • Virginia Tech 52,498
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • Virginia Tech 28,758
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Virginia Tech 54.8%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Virginia Tech 25.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • Virginia Tech 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • Virginia Tech 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • Virginia Tech 3.97
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • Virginia Tech A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Virginia Tech Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • Virginia Tech Low
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • Virginia Tech 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Virginia Tech 1280/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • Virginia Tech Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • Virginia Tech 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Virginia Tech
    • Business (20%)
    • Engineering (19%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • Virginia Tech 82%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • Virginia Tech $65,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • Virginia Tech 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • Virginia Tech $23,966
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • Virginia Tech $247

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • Virginia Tech 56%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • Virginia Tech 44%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • Virginia Tech Medium
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • Virginia Tech 68%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • Virginia Tech 9%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • Virginia Tech 5%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • Virginia Tech 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • Virginia Tech 4%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • Virginia Tech 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • Virginia Tech 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • Virginia Tech 61%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • Virginia Tech 34%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UMass Yes
  • Virginia Tech Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UMass No
  • Virginia Tech No
  • Meal Plan
  • UMass Yes
  • Virginia Tech Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UMass Yes
  • Virginia Tech No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UMass Yes
  • Virginia Tech No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA with Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia Tech is larger than UMass based on total student enrollment (38,857 students vs. 31,726 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Virginia Tech is in Blacksburg, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia Tech is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; Virginia Tech 17:1.

UMass vs. Virginia Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass or Virginia Tech? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Massachusetts Amherst than Virginia Tech ($22,948 vs. $24,912).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Tech are 1% lower than at University of Massachusetts Amherst ($16,550 vs. $16,710).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is 11.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Virginia Tech (about $1,824 more per year; $17,772.00 vs. $15,948.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.1% higher at UMass than at Virginia Tech (about $2,685 more per year; $40,449.00 vs. $37,764.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at Virginia Tech (81% vs. 60%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students is 43% larger than aid received by Virginia Tech students ($13,110 vs. $9,168).

UMass vs. Virginia Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass or Virginia Tech? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Virginia Tech and UMass.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Amherst (1410) is 40 points higher than at Virginia Tech (1370).
  • Incoming UMass students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 30 at Virginia Tech).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; Virginia Tech 1280/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; Virginia Tech 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Virginia Tech - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; Virginia Tech Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Virginia Tech (3.97).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Virginia Tech (54.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 25.3% at Virginia Tech.

UMass vs. Virginia Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass and Virginia Tech? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Virginia Tech's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from Virginia Tech earn a median of about $9,800 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,000 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have a $34 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($23,966 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Virginia Tech graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($247 vs. $248).
  • More Virginia Tech graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.