Best Value Mechanical Engineering Colleges in Virginia

Virginia Tech leads the state with $70,163 average earnings for mechanical engineering graduates, though its $23,790 net cost places it in the middle tier. Old Dominion offers the lowest barrier to entry at $14,170 annually, while the University of Virginia combines strong earnings of $67,561 with a 95.30% graduation rate. The state's proximity to defense contractors like Northrop Grumman creates steady demand for mechanical engineers across multiple sectors.

Programs

$14,170 – $29,552

Net Price Range

$61,790

Avg. Program Earnings

72.3%

Avg. Graduation Rate

7 Mechanical Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	Program Earnings	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Old Dominion University Norfolk, Virginia	$14,170	$62,654	$12,262	44.4%	95.1%
2	Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia	$19,452	$63,631	$16,458	65.4%	91.0%
3	University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, Virginia	$22,881	$67,561	$20,986	95.3%	18.7%
4	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia	$23,790	$70,163	$15,478	86.3%	57.0%
5	Virginia Military Institute Lexington, Virginia	$18,849	$44,942	$20,484	81.8%	71.1%
6	George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia	$18,287		$13,815	69.3%	90.0%
7	Liberty University Lynchburg, Virginia	$29,552		$21,222	63.5%	99.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the wide earnings gap between Virginia schools?

Virginia Military Institute graduates earn $44,942 on average, while Virginia Tech graduates command $70,163, a difference of over $25,000. This gap reflects varying industry connections and regional employer preferences, with Tech's strong ties to defense and aerospace driving higher starting salaries.

How does graduation rate correlate with program cost?

The University of Virginia achieves a 95.30% graduation rate at $22,881 net cost, while Old Dominion's 44.40% rate comes with the state's lowest price at $14,170. Higher-cost programs generally show better completion rates, though Virginia Tech breaks this pattern with strong outcomes at moderate pricing.

Does Virginia offer competitive debt levels for engineering students?

Most Virginia programs keep debt below $25,000, with UVA offering the lowest at $19,000 and Liberty University reaching $27,000. The state's mix of affordable public options helps mechanical engineering students avoid excessive borrowing compared to national averages.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.