CAMPUS · BLACKSBURG, VA · PUBLIC

Virginia Tech

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

57.0%

01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

Virginia Tech Majors Overview: Salary, Courses & Career Outcomes

Every major at Virginia Tech with graduate salary, course catalog depth, and career preparation data.

#	Major	US Rank	Virginia Tech Salary	National Median	Premium	Degrees/Year	Courses
1	Computer Science	—	$78,750	$75,000	+5%	526	71
Featured Courses: CS 1944: Computer Science First Year Seminar CS 2064: Intermediate Programming in Python CS 2114: Software Design and Data Structures CS 2144: Competitive Problem Solving I CS 2164: Foundations of Contemporary Security Environments
2	Engineering	—	$75,600	$72,000	+5%	1,774	787
Featured Courses: AOE 2014: Statics and Mechanics of Materials AOE 2024: Thin-Walled Structures AOE 2054: Electronics for Aerospace and Ocean Engineers AOE 2074: Computational Methods AOE 2664: Exploration of the Space Environment
3	Mathematics & Statistics	—	$65,100	$62,000	+5%	93	118
Featured Courses: MATH 1004: Discovering Mathematics I MATH 1014: Precalculus with Transcendental Functions MATH 1025: Elementary Calculus MATH 1044: Discovering Mathematics II MATH 1214: Preparation for Calculus
4	Engineering Technologies	—	$60,900	$58,000	+5%	17	—
5	Business	—	$57,750	$55,000	+5%	1,756	330
Featured Courses: ACIS 1004: Accounting Foundations ACIS 1104: Careers in Accounting and Information Systems ACIS 1984: Special Study ACIS 2024: Small Business Accounting ACIS 2124: Nonprofit Accounting and Financial Management
6	Health Professions	—	$54,600	$52,000	+5%	107	94
Featured Courses: HNFE 1004: Foods, Nutrition And Exercise HNFE 1114: Orientation to HNFE HNFE 1214: Topics in Lifetime Activities HNFE 1215: Meraki Living Learning Community, Be Well, Be You HNFE 1984: Special Study
7	Physical Sciences	—	$50,400	$48,000	+5%	171	128
Featured Courses: CHEM 1004: First Year Experience in Chemistry CHEM 1014: Calculations in Chemistry CHEM 1015: Chemistry in Context CHEM 2114: Analytical Chemistry CHEM 2124: Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Techniques and Practice
8	Architecture	—	$50,400	$48,000	+5%	150	136
Featured Courses: ARCH 1004: Understanding Community through your Campus ARCH 1015: Foundation Design Laboratory ARCH 1024: Innovative Design Thinking ARCH 1034: Seeing Design: Transforming Observations ARCH 1044: Life in the Built Environment
9	Social Sciences	—	$47,250	$45,000	+5%	679	480
Featured Courses: ECON 1004: First Year Experience Seminar ECON 1064: The Culture of Money ECON 1104: Economics of Gender ECON 1204: Economics of Race ECON 1214: Economic History of Diversity and Inclusion
10	Biological Sciences	—	$44,100	$42,000	+5%	657	178
Featured Courses: BCHM 1014: Biochemistry First Year Experience BCHM 1984: Special Study BCHM 2024: Concepts of Biochemistry BCHM 2354: Biochemical Techniques BCHM 2364: Biochemical Techniques Laboratory
11	Agriculture & Natural Resources	—	$44,100	$42,000	+5%	264	190
Featured Courses: AAEC 1005: Economics of the Food and Fiber System AAEC 2014: Decision Analytics for the Life Sciences AAEC 2104: Personal Financial Planning AAEC 2434: Foundations of Agribusiness AAEC 2984: Special Study
12	Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies	—	$44,100	$42,000	+5%	173	—
13	Communication & Journalism	—	$42,000	$40,000	+5%	225	87
Featured Courses: ADV 2034: Visual Communication Strategies ADV 3004: Advertising Copywriting and Brand Storytelling ADV 3014: Account Planning and Media Buying ADV 3024: Ethics and Social Responsibility in Advertising ADV 3034: Topics in Public Relations and Advertising
14	Natural Resources & Conservation	—	$42,000	$40,000	+5%	200	152
Featured Courses: CSES 2224: Foundations of Precision Agriculture CSES 2244: Agriculture, Global Food Security and Health CSES 2434: Crop Evaluation CSES 2444: Agronomic Crops CSES 2564: Turfgrass Management
15	History	—	$42,000	$40,000	+5%	43	120
Featured Courses: HIST 1014: Topics in Reacting to the Past HIST 1024: Ancient History HIST 1084: Food Studies HIST 1115: History of the United States HIST 1215: Intro to World History
16	Philosophy & Religious Studies	—	$39,900	$38,000	+5%	57	119
Featured Courses: PHIL 1204: Knowledge and Reality PHIL 1304: Morality and Justice PHIL 1404: The Skeptic’s Guide to AI PHIL 1504: Critical Thinking PHIL 1604: How Science Works
17	Public Administration & Social Services	—	$39,900	$38,000	+5%	53	—
18	Foreign Languages & Linguistics	—	$39,900	$38,000	+5%	52	195
Featured Courses: ARBC 1105: Elementary Arabic ARBC 1114: Accelerated Elementary Arabic ARBC 2105: Intermediate Arabic ARBC 2774: Arab Culture and Civilization ARBC 2984: Special Study
19	Psychology	—	$37,800	$36,000	+5%	247	56
Featured Courses: EDEP 2374: Educational Psychology for PK-12 Teachers EDEP 2444: Motivating Yourself and Others EDEP 2984: Special Study EDEP 3474: Principles and Practices in PK-12 Assessment PSYC 1024: Pathways Through and Beyond the Psychology Major
20	English Language & Literature	—	$37,800	$36,000	+5%	57	114
Featured Courses: ENGL 1004: Books, Libraries, Archives ENGL 1105: First-Year Writing ENGL 1514: Language and Society ENGL 1524: Language and the Mind ENGL 1704: The Harry Potter Phenomenon
21	Family & Consumer Sciences	—	$36,750	$35,000	+5%	557	65
Featured Courses: CONS 2304: Consumer and Family Finances CONS 2964: Field Work/Practicum CONS 2974H: Indepdendent Study CONS 2984: Special Study CONS 3404: Consumer Education Strategies
22	Visual & Performing Arts	—	$35,700	$34,000	+5%	183	415
Featured Courses: AAD 1004: Exploring Architecture, Arts, and Design AAD 1204: Thinking Globally AAD 1214: Acting Locally AAD 1984: Special Study AAD 3900: Bridge Experience

Career Path Match at Virginia Tech 🎖️ DeepColleges Exclusive

How many courses at Virginia Tech align with each career direction. More relevant courses mean better preparation for your target career.

Architecture & Spatial Design 107

AHRM 2014: Design for Consumers Studio ARCH 4055: Environment and Building Systems ARCH 4056: Environment and Building Systems ART 1004: Topics in Studio Art for Non-Majors ART 3854: Professional Studio Practices

Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering 80

AOE 3014: Fluid Dynamics for Aerospace and Ocean Engineers AOE 3034: System Dynamics and Control AOE 3044: Boundary Layer and Heat Transfer AOE 3114: Aerodynamics & Compressibility AOE 3134: Air Vehicle Dynamics

Pre-Med / Clinical Medicine 75

ALS 2304: Comparative Animal Physiology and Anatomy ALS 3304: Physiology of Reproduction ALS 3314: Physiology of Reproduction Lab APSC 4224: Equine Exercise Physiology APSC 4344: Mammalian Embryology

Management Consulting & Strategy 70

ACIS 1504: Introduction to Business Analytics and Business Intelligence ACIS 5744: Business Analytics and Visualizations AFST 3454: African American Leadership for Social Change ALCE 3014: Leadership Effectiveness for Professionals in Agricultural Organizations AT 0744: Agricultural Technology Leadership Skills Capstone

Public Policy & Government 52

ACIS 4124: Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting ACIS 5124: Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting ACIS 5624: Cybersecurity Governance and Risk Management ALS 4214: Capstone: Civic Agriculture and Food Systems BIT 4604: Data Governance, Privacy and Ethics

Film & Video Production 45

AAEC 3004: Agricultural Production and Consumption Economics ALS 3304: Physiology of Reproduction ALS 3314: Physiology of Reproduction Lab AT 0324: Livestock Reproduction AT 0544: Horticulture Production

Marketing & Brand Strategy 44

ADV 3004: Advertising Copywriting and Brand Storytelling ADV 3024: Ethics and Social Responsibility in Advertising ADV 3034: Topics in Public Relations and Advertising ADV 4304: Advertising Campaigns AAEC 3504: Agricultural Marketing Channels: From Farm to Plate

Food Science & AgTech 42

AAEC 2434: Foundations of Agribusiness AAEC 3424: Value-Based Management in Agribusiness AAEC 4514: Advanced Agribusiness Marketing ALS 3204: Animal Nutrition and Feeding ALS 4814: Nutritional Neuroscience

Music Industry & Production 41

AOE 2104: Introduction to Aerospace Engineering and Aircraft Performance AOE 4624: Foundations of Aero and Hydroacoustics ARBC 4154: Advanced Composition and Stylistics BC 4314: Building Performance and Energy Management BC 4334: Sustainable Building Performance Management

Accounting & Audit 36

ACIS 1004: Accounting Foundations ACIS 1104: Careers in Accounting and Information Systems ACIS 2024: Small Business Accounting ACIS 2115: Principles of Accounting ACIS 2116: Principles of Accounting

Environmental Engineering 35

ACIS 4664: Sustainability Accounting ACIS 5664: Sustainability Accounting ARCH 2114: Sustainability by Design BSE 3324: Small Watershed Hydrology BSE 4224: Field Methods in Hydrology

Real Estate & Development 35

BC 4374: Residential Housing and Land Development FIN 4154: Real Estate Finance MKTG 4734: Real Estate Marketing PM 2664: Introduction to Property Management PM 3634: Managing Affordable and Specialized Housing

Software Engineering 34

ACIS 5504: Information Systems Design and Database Concepts AOE 4244: Naval and Marine Engineering Systems Design CS 1044: Introduction to Programming in C CS 1054: Introduction to Programming in Java CS 1064: Introduction to Programming in Python

Entrepreneurship & Startups 32

AAEC 3454: Small Business Management and Entrepreneurship ART 3114: Creative Coding for Creativity and Innovation BC 4324: Innovation in Residential Construction DASC 2204: Entrepreneurship in Animal Agriculture ENGE 2094: Create!: Ideation & Innovation

Neuroscience & Brain Research 32

ALS 4814: Nutritional Neuroscience APSC 4774: Nutrition and the Animal Brain BMES 3844: Computational Neuroscience and Neural Engineering NEUR 1004: Neuroscience Orientation Seminar NEUR 2014H: Honors Fundamentals of Neuroscience

Climate & Earth Science 30

CHE 4114: Energy and Climate Change Solutions ECE 4194: Engineering Principles of Remote Sensing FREC 4174: Climate Change and the International Policy Framework GEOG 1504: Survey of Meteorology GEOG 1514: Introduction to Meteorology

Biomedical Engineering 29

APSC 2824: Equine Conformation and Biomechanics BMES 2014: Biomedical Engineering Professional Practice BMES 2074: Computational Methods in Biomedical Engineering BMES 2104: Introduction to Biomedical Engineering BMES 3004: Helmet Design: Biomechanics to Health & Social Disparities in Sports

Investment Banking & Finance 29

ACIS 6024: Financial Capital Markets in Accounting Seminar APSC 3754: Principles of Livestock Evaluation CSES 2434: Crop Evaluation CSES 4174: Soil Evaluation and Sampling DASC 2484: Dairy Cattle Evaluation

Education & Teaching 29

ALCE 4234: Curriculum for Career and Occupational Education ALS 4614: Watershed Assessment, Management, and Policy APSC 4174: Livestock Welfare Assessment BSE 3334: Nonpoint Source Pollution Assessment and Control BMES 4614: Probability-Based Modeling, Analysis, and Assessment

International Relations & Diplomacy 28

GEOG 3844: European Geopolitics IS 3114: Global Security IS 3394: Comparative Politics of Immigrant Inclusion IS 3594: Topics in Middle East Politics and International Relations IS 3615: International Relations

Data Science & Analytics 27

ACIS 1504: Introduction to Business Analytics and Business Intelligence CMDA 1634: Discovering Computational Modeling and Data Analytics CMDA 3634: Computer Science Foundations for Computational Modeling & Data Analytics CMDA 3654: Introductory Data Analytics and Visualization CMDA 4314: Big Data Economics

Biotechnology & Genetics 27

ALS 2404: Biotechnology in A Global Society ALS 3104: Animal Breeding and Genetics BCHM 3114: Biochemistry for Biotechnology and the Life Sciences BCHM 4124: Laboratory Problems in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology BIOL 2004: Genetics

Sociology & Anthropology 25

HIST 3554: Age of Globalization RLCL 2054: Ethnography: Studying Culture RLCL 4024: Sociology of Religion SOC 1004: Introductory Sociology SOC 1014: Introduction to Social Anthropology

Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Research 24

CHEM 2114: Analytical Chemistry CHEM 2124: Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Techniques and Practice CHEM 2154: Analytical Chemistry for Chemistry Majors CHEM 2164: Analytical Chemistry for Chemistry Majors Lab CHEM 2424: Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry

Aerospace Engineering 23

AOE 2054: Electronics for Aerospace and Ocean Engineers AOE 2104: Introduction to Aerospace Engineering and Aircraft Performance AOE 3014: Fluid Dynamics for Aerospace and Ocean Engineers AOE 3114: Aerodynamics & Compressibility AOE 3124: Aerospace Structures

Linguistics & Translation 23

ART 4104: Interpretation of Visual Arts BSE 4324: Applied Fluvial Geomorphology CHN 3304: Chinese Literature in Translation CHN 3524: Introduction to Chinese Translation CSES 3144: Soil Description and Interpretation

Chemical & Materials Engineering 22

BSE 3534: Bioprocess Engineering BSE 4534: Bioprocess Engineering Lab BSE 4604: Food Process Engineering CHE 2004: Chemical Engineering Sophomore Seminar CHE 2164: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

Mental Health & Clinical Psychology 21

ALS 4614: Watershed Assessment, Management, and Policy APSC 4174: Livestock Welfare Assessment BSE 3334: Nonpoint Source Pollution Assessment and Control BMES 4614: Probability-Based Modeling, Analysis, and Assessment EDCT 4634: Student Assessment in Career and Technical Education

Graphic & Visual Design 21

ADV 2034: Visual Communication Strategies ART 1234: Topics in Visual Communication Design for Non-Majors ART 1614: Principles of Visual Communication Design ART 2565: Typography ART 2566: Typography

Robotics & Autonomous Systems 19

BIT 3464: Enterprise Planning and Control Systems CEM 4624: Construction Robotics and Automation CSES 4524: Drone Applications in Ag Systems ECE 2564: Embedded Systems ECE 3714: Introduction to Control Systems

Supply Chain & Logistics 19

BIT 3414: Operations and Supply Chain Management BIT 4464: Advanced Supply Chain Management CEE 3604: Introduction to Transportation Engineering CEE 4624: Planning Transportation Facilities CEE 4684: Transportation Safety

AI / Machine Learning 17

ACIS 4454: Artificial Intelligence in Accounting and Auditing BIT 4544: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning in BIT CHE 4404: Machine Learning in Chemical Sciences and Engineering CEE 4854: Machine Learning Applications in Civil and Environmental Engineering CMDA 4654: Intermediate Data Analytics and Machine Learning

Public Health & Epidemiology 17

BIOL 4564: Infectious Disease Ecology CEE 4114: Fundamentals of Public Health Engineering FIW 4244: Applied Epidemiology of Fish and Wildlife Diseases FST 4634: Epidemiology Foodborne Disease GEOG 4074: Medical Geography of Infectious Diseases

Fashion & Luxury Industry 17

AT 0294: Livestock Merchandising APSC 3764: Livestock Merchandising FMD 2204: Introduction to Textiles FMD 2214: Apparel Textiles Laboratory FMD 2264: Apparel Product Development

Mathematics & Pure Research 17

MATH 1535: Geometry and Mathematics of Design MATH 1536: Geometry and Mathematics of Design MATH 1624: Geometry for Teachers MATH 2214: Introduction to Differential Equations MATH 2214H: Introduction to Differential Equations

Bioinformatics & Computational Biology 16

APSC 4054: Genomics BCHM 4054: Genomics BIOL 4824: Bioinformatics Methods BIOL 4844: Proteomics and Biological Mass Spectrometry CS 3824: Introduction to Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

Journalism & Media 16

AOE 3114: Aerodynamics & Compressibility ART 3584: Nineteenth Century European Art: Neoclassicism to Post-Impressionism CEE 4534: Earth Pressures and Foundation Structures ENGL 3844: Writing and Digital Media ENGL 4764: Small Press Publishing

Physics & Astrophysics 16

ECE 4184: Applied Quantum Mechanics for Engineers PHYS 2344: Optics Module PHYS 3154: Observational Astrophysics PHYS 3655: Introduction to Astrophysics PHYS 3656: Introduction to Astrophysics

Civil Engineering & Infrastructure 15

BC 2004: Construction Surveying CEE 3014: Construction Management CEE 3404: Introduction to Structural Engineering CEE 3514: Introduction to Geotechnical Engineering CEE 3604: Introduction to Transportation Engineering

Psychology Research (Non-Clinical) 14

BDS 4864: Developing Behavioral Science Policies and Interventions ECON 4864: Developing Behavioral Science Policies and Interventions HIST 3484: Nazi Germany: History and Memory NEUR 3144: Mechanisms of Learning and Memory PSYC 2034: Developmental Psychology

Space Industry & NewSpace 14

AOE 4365: Launch Vehicle Design AOE 4366: Launch Vehicle Design AOE 4654: Space Weather: The Solar Wind and Magnetosphere AOE 4674: Upper Atmosphere/Ionosphere Space Weather ECE 3104: Introduction to Space Systems and Technologies

Cybersecurity 13

ACIS 5624: Cybersecurity Governance and Risk Management BIT 3664: Cybersecurity Management I BIT 3674: Cybersecurity Management II BIT 4604: Data Governance, Privacy and Ethics BIT 4624: Cybersecurity Analytics for Business

Electrical & Hardware Engineering 12

BMES 3154: Biosignal Processing and Classification ECE 2024: Circuits and Devices ECE 2564: Embedded Systems ECE 3105: Electromagnetic Fields ECE 3106: Electromagnetic Fields

Economics & Economic Research 12

AAEC 3324: Environment and Sustainable Development Economics AAEC 4135: International Economics AAEC 4136: International Economics AAEC 4804: Elementary Econometrics ECON 1214: Economic History of Diversity and Inclusion

Actuarial Science & Insurance 11

ACIS 5624: Cybersecurity Governance and Risk Management AT 0734: Risk Management in Agriculture BMES 4614: Probability-Based Modeling, Analysis, and Assessment BC 4174: Decision Making and Risk Management ESM 4614: Probability-Based Modeling, Analysis, and Assessment

Marine & Ocean Science 10

CEE 4384: Coastal Engineering CEE 4564: Introduction to Coastal and Marine Geotechnics FIW 3514: Fisheries Techniques FIW 4464: Human Dimensions of Fisheries and Wildlife FIW 4624: Marine Ecology

Game Development & Design 7

ART 2804: Introduction to Game Development ART 3804: Game Design BIT 4434: Computer Simulation in Business CHE 3124: Chemical Engineering Simulations and Process Modeling ECE 4525: Video Game Design and Engineering

Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation 7

APSC 2824: Equine Conformation and Biomechanics BMES 3004: Helmet Design: Biomechanics to Health & Social Disparities in Sports BMES 3124: Introduction to Biomechanics BMES 4214: Musculoskeletal Biomechanics ESM 4204: Musculoskeletal Biomechanics

Pre-Law / Legal Studies 7

AFST 2354: The Civil Rights Movement PHIL 4334: Jurisprudence PSCI 3354: Constitutional Law: Structures and Relationships PSCI 3364: Constitutional Law: Civil and Political Rights PSCI 4324: Senior Seminar in Constitutional Law

Sports Analytics & Management 6

APSC 4224: Equine Exercise Physiology CMDA 3274: Introduction Sports Analytics CMDA 4274: Sports Analytics Statistical Research HNFE 3804: Exercise Physiology STAT 3274: Introduction to Sports Analytics Research

ESG & Impact Investing 6

ADV 3024: Ethics and Social Responsibility in Advertising FIN 4024: Legal and Regulatory Aspects of ESG MGT 4334: Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility PR 3334: Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility SBIO 1114: A Sustainable Future through Circular Economy

UX / Product Design 5

ARCH 1024: Innovative Design Thinking CS 3724: Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction CS 4774: Human-Computer Interaction Design Experience CS 4784: Human-Computer Interaction Capstone ME 4644: Introduction to Rapid Prototyping

Clean Energy & Sustainability Engineering 5

ECE 3304: Introduction to Power Systems MINE 4504: Materials Handling and Power Systems MINE 4654: Mine Power Systems and Automation SBIO 3324: Green Building Systems UAP 4394: Community Renewable Energy Systems

Nonprofit & Social Impact 5

CMST 3134: Public Advocacy CMST 4174: Digital Advocacy Campaigns ECON 3034: Economics of Poverty and Discrimination ENGL 2634: Writing and Social Justice PSCI 3724: Poverty and Welfare Policy

Cloud Computing & DevOps 4

CEE 4034: Smart Sustainable Infrastructure CEE 4634: Infrastructure Condition Assessment CS 4254: Computer Network Architecture and Programming UAP 4854: Planning of the Urban Infrastructure

Quantum Computing 4

ECE 4184: Applied Quantum Mechanics for Engineers PHYS 4254: Quantum Information Technologies PHYS 4455: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics PHYS 4456: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

Pharmacy & Drug Development 4

BIOL 4014: Environmental Toxicology CHEM 4544: Medicinal Chemistry Capstone Laboratory HNFE 4114: Food and Nutritional Toxicology NEUR 4064: Neuropharmacology

FinTech & Blockchain 1

FIN 4414: FinTech – Quantitative Finance Capstone

AR / VR / Spatial Computing 1

CS 4204: Computer Graphics

Digital Health & Telemedicine 1

BMES 3134: Introduction to Biomedical Imaging

Highest & Lowest ROI Majors at Virginia Tech

Highest-Earning Majors

Computer Science

$78,750/yr

Engineering

$75,600/yr

Mathematics & Statistics

$65,100/yr

Lowest-Earning Majors

Visual & Performing Arts

$35,700/yr

Family & Consumer Sciences

$36,750/yr

English Language & Literature

$37,800/yr

Popular Majors at Virginia Tech

The most popular fields of study, ranked by the number of degrees awarded.

Engineering

22.1%

Business/Marketing

21.8%

Social Sciences

8.5%

Biological Sciences

8.1%

Family Sciences

6.9%

Best Majors at Virginia Tech →

Virginia Tech Majors FAQs

What are the most popular majors at Virginia Tech?

Virginia Tech's most popular majors by share of degrees awarded are: Engineering (22.1%), Business/Marketing (21.8%), Social Sciences (8.5%). The full ranking by graduate salary is in the table above.

Which major at Virginia Tech pays the most?

The highest-earning major at Virginia Tech is Computer Science, with a median 4-year-out salary of $78,750 — well above the school-wide median of $81,698.

Are some majors at Virginia Tech harder to get into than others?

Yes. Virginia Tech's overall acceptance rate is 57.0%, but selective programs (computer science, business, engineering, nursing) often admit at lower rates than the school-wide average. Check program-specific admission stats where available.

Should I pick my major based on salary at Virginia Tech?

Salary should be one factor, not the only one. Major choice impacts earnings (engineering and CS typically lead) but career fit, course interest, and graduation-rate within the major also matter. The salary table above shows the median pay by program at Virginia Tech.