Home Schools Virginia Tech Construction Management
Business · Construction Management Rank #22 of 56

Construction Managementat Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Graduates earn $76,246/yr in their first year — about 5.0% above the national Construction Management average. Base-case 10-year earnings $887K; scenarios range from $753K to $920K depending on AI disruption.

Blacksburg, VA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
80 STRONG
81
Optimistic
77
Pessimistic
Earnings
$76,246
1-year post-graduation
ROI
14.7x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$887K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Virginia Tech

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.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$753K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score77/100
Earnings Multiple12.2x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$887K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score80/100
Earnings Multiple14.3x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$920K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score81/100
Earnings Multiple14.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Virginia Tech's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Construction Management graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Construction managers
+8.7% 10-yr growth · 46,800 openings/yr
$106,980/yr
Moderate
2
Project management specialists
+5.6% 10-yr growth · 78,200 openings/yr
$100,750/yr
High
3
Business teachers, postsecondary
+5.7% 10-yr growth · 8,100 openings/yr
$97,270/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Construction Management

How Virginia Tech stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
California State University-East Bay
CA · Public
75
DW Score
$100K
1-yr earn
34.3x
ROI
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
CA · Public
73
DW Score
$93K
1-yr earn
19.9x
ROI
Top score
California State University-Chico
CA · Public
86
DW Score
$89K
1-yr earn
35.2x
ROI
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
AZ · Public
84
DW Score
$83K
1-yr earn
20.8x
ROI
Central Washington University
WA · Public
85
DW Score
$82K
1-yr earn
27.2x
ROI
Also at Virginia Tech

Other top programs at Virginia Tech

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Virginia Tech, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Construction Management offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Construction Management trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Construction Management at Virginia Tech

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.