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# Best Engineering Colleges in Virginia (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

Programs in this field[Computer Engineering](/rankings/best-computer-engineering-programs-in-virginia/)[Mechanical Engineering](/rankings/best-mechanical-engineering-programs-in-virginia/)

This page ranks the 9 Engineering programs in Virginia by median earnings of Engineering graduates four years after completing. [University of Virginia-Main Campus](/school/university-of-virginia-main-campus/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $111,451 four years after completing.

Across the 8 schools with a published figure, the median stands at $93,589, with a spread of $46,958 from $111,451 to $64,493. For 1 of the 9 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

89% of the listed schools are public, with 8 public and 1 private nonprofit institution. Old Dominion University reports the lowest average net price at $14,638.

[George Mason University](/school/george-mason-university/majors/) ranks 33rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

## The ranked list

9 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median Engineering Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA | $111,451 | $21,565 | $8,174 | 16.8% |
|  | [University of Virginia-Main Campus](/school/university-of-virginia-main-campus/majors/) reports [$111,451 in median earnings](/school/university-of-virginia-main-campus/outcomes/) for its Engineering graduates four years after completing, and admits 17% of applicants. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Biomedical/Medical Engineering (127 graduates), Mechanical Engineering (88 graduates), Systems Engineering (81 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering ($148,175), Systems Engineering ($144,830), Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($109,551) |
| 2 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA | $103,226 | $24,953 | $11,689 | 54.8% |
|  | With an 86% six-year completion rate, [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](/school/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list and posts [median earnings of $103,226](/school/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university/outcomes/) four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (319 graduates), Civil Engineering (204 graduates), Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering (198 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering ($122,026), Industrial Engineering ($116,641), Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering ($106,633) |
| 3 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $100,082 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 87.5% |
|  | [George Mason University](/school/george-mason-university/majors/) carries an [average net price of $17,915](/school/george-mason-university/cost/) and ranks 33rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Civil Engineering (93 graduates), Mechanical Engineering (75 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (62 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Computer Engineering ($117,942), Systems Engineering ($114,815), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($103,074) |
| 4 | Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA | $95,417 | $23,433 | $17,512 | 92.6% |
|  | [Virginia Commonwealth University](/school/virginia-commonwealth-university/majors/) [admits 93% of applicants](/school/virginia-commonwealth-university/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $95,417 for its Engineering graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (86 graduates), Biomedical/Medical Engineering (54 graduates), Chemical Engineering (52 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($107,487), Chemical Engineering ($97,781), Mechanical Engineering ($88,410) |
| 5 | James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA | $91,761 | $23,322 | $11,444 | 71.5% |
|  | [James Madison University](/school/james-madison-university/majors/) shows a [six-year completion rate of 80%](/school/james-madison-university/outcomes/) and an average net price of $11,444 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Engineering, General (67 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Engineering, General ($91,761) |
| 6 | Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA | $88,900 | $14,638 | $9,739 | 90.4% |
|  | [Old Dominion University](/school/old-dominion-university/majors/) posts the lowest average net price on the page at $14,638 and reports a 46% six-year completion rate. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (114 graduates), Civil Engineering (50 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (44 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($96,427), Computer Engineering ($94,542), Mechanical Engineering ($87,772) |
| 7 | Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA | No published median | $29,357 | $30,667 | 99.0% |
|  | [Liberty University](/school/liberty-university/majors/), a private nonprofit university in Lynchburg, [admits 99% of applicants](/school/liberty-university/admissions/) and ranks 79th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Mechanical Engineering (56 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (17 graduates), Computer Engineering (8 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering ($89,244) |
| 8 | Virginia Military Institute · Lexington, VA | $76,963 | $17,113 | $12,697 | 71.3% |
|  | [Virginia Military Institute](/school/virginia-military-institute/majors/) reports [median earnings of $76,963](/school/virginia-military-institute/outcomes/) for its Engineering graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $17,113. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Civil Engineering (57 graduates), Mechanical Engineering (30 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (17 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Civil Engineering ($76,991), Mechanical Engineering ($76,909) |
| 9 | Christopher Newport University · Newport News, VA | $64,493 | $23,015 | $12,461 | 86.0% |
|  | Christopher Newport University reports median earnings of $64,493 for its Engineering graduates two years after completing, and a 72% six-year completion rate. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Computer Engineering (11 graduates), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (11 graduates) |

## How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Engineering graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Engineering earnings cohort in Virginia appear. The figure is the median for federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled, measured four years after completing. For 1 of the 9 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 8 schools with a published figure. University of Virginia-Main Campus leads Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University by $8,225, and the spread from top to bottom is $46,958.

## Job market context in Virginia

Engineering graduates in Virginia enter a labor market that links to occupations such as Civil Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, and Industrial Engineers. The median annual wage across those occupations is $126,158, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $99,307. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 15.0% higher, with 12,360 projected openings a year, or about 380 openings a year for every hundred graduates, meaning more projected openings than graduates. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses the median earnings of graduates four years after completing, which is a different measure from the occupational wage figures described here.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Engineering Colleges in the United States](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges/)
-   [Best Colleges in Virginia](/rankings/best-colleges-in-virginia/)
-   [Best Engineering Colleges in Maryland](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges-in-maryland/)
-   [Best Engineering Colleges in Texas](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges-in-texas/)
-   [Best Engineering Colleges in California](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges-in-california/)
-   [Best Engineering Colleges in Michigan](/rankings/best-engineering-colleges-in-michigan/)