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Construction Management at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $76,246/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk High (49% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (133,100 openings/yr)

ROI 14.3x earnings multiple (6.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #22 of 56 Construction Management programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Construction Management graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$920K	$887K	$753K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.9x	14.3x	12.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.3x	6.0x	5.1x
Probability of Field Employment	82%	75%	54%
DegreeOutlook Score	81	80	77

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$61,912

Out-of-state: $146,776 (6.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$95,160

-54% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

4.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$97,079

27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $76,246 track close to the $72,738 national median for Construction Management programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Construction Management programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Construction Management's typical career paths, with 49% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 18% gap from the optimistic case.

At $27,000 in median debt against $76,246 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #22 of 56 Construction Management programs, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $76,246 to $97,079 over five years — a 27% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

With a 57% acceptance rate, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is moderately selective, with 30,435 students enrolled in Blacksburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University →

Top Career Paths

Construction managers $106,980/yr

Project management specialists $100,750/yr

Business teachers, postsecondary $97,270/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Construction Management at Other Schools

Other Majors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Construction Management at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?

This program scores 80/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Construction Management nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Construction Management careers?

With 49% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $752,656 in decade earnings vs $919,941 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →