Quad

Head-to-head

U. Pittsburgh
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State grads earn $15.6K more ten years out than U. Pittsburgh's ($81,698 vs. $66,125)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  2. 2

    Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State's yield is 12 pts higher than U. Pittsburgh's

    Yield rate
  3. 3

    U. Pittsburgh's grants cover 19% of its full price on average, vs. 12% at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State

    Aid generosity
  4. 4

    Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State has 1.5× as many undergrads as U. Pittsburgh

    Undergrads
  5. 5

    Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State graduates 5 pts more of its students than U. Pittsburgh (87% vs. 82%)

    Graduation rate
  6. 6

    Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State is more diverse (index 0.63 vs. 0.59)

    Diversity index

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Who's hardest to get into

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State admits 55%, U. Pittsburgh 58%; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State's yield is higher, at 25%.

Acceptance rate
U. Pittsburgh58%
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State55%
Quad's selectivity
  • U. PittsburghVery selective
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and StateVery selective
SAT middle 50%Axis 1200–1600
U. Pittsburgh
1280–1450
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
1280–1450
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • U. PittsburghRigor and GPA very importantweighted GPAs
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and StateGPA and school record required

Who's on each campus

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State has 1.5× as many undergrads as U. Pittsburgh and has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
U. Pittsburgh20.4K
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State30.9K
Pell Grant share
U. Pittsburgh14%
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State15%

Majors and faculty

Research and Experimental Psychology leads at U. Pittsburgh, and Management Science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State.

Students per faculty member
U. Pittsburgh13 to 1
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State17 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • U. PittsburghResearch and Experimental Psychology, Other10%
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and StateManagement Science8%

What each costs

U. Pittsburgh costs about $2.2K less a year than Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State on average, and its grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
U. Pittsburgh$37.8K
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State$40K
Aid generosity
U. Pittsburgh19%
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State12%

What each pays off

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State's former students earn more, a median $81.7K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 80% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
U. Pittsburgh$66.1K
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State$81.7K
Graduation rate
U. Pittsburgh82%
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State87%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State got more selective while U. Pittsburgh got less.

Applications, 10-year change
  • U. PittsburghGrowing+99%
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and StateGrowing+153%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2019;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why