Program Analysis
At $56,513 per year, Engineering-Related Fields graduates from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University earn below the $69,301 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.
With a 13.3x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 14% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Engineering-Related Fields career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
The median debt load of $23,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
A #10 ranking among 31 Engineering-Related Fields programs places Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.
The $56,513-to-$98,448 earnings arc over five years reflects a 74% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.