2027 Best Engineering Schools in Virginia
Engineering programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their engineering programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools to find the best for engineering students.
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Best Schools for Engineering in Virginia
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Engineering
Our analysis ranked Washington And Lee University the best school in the country for a degree in engineering. Washington And Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lexington. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Washington And Lee University awarded about 26 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Washington And Lee University earn a median of $76,810 early in their careers. Washington And Lee University graduates carry a median of $20,074 in student loans.
Read more about the engineering program at Washington And Lee University
University Of Virginia Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in engineering, ranking #2. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 825 engineering degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $85,626. Students borrow a median of $15,838 to complete this degree.
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James Madison University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. There were roughly 78 engineering students who graduated with this degree at James Madison University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $71,176. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University one of the top schools for engineering. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University awarded about 2,327 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn around $80,574 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $25,739 in student loans.
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John Tyler Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in engineering, ranking #5. This large public university is located in the suburb of Chester. John Tyler Community College awarded about 30 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $36,623 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,262.
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Eastern Mennonite University came in at #6 for engineering this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, Eastern Mennonite University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Eastern Mennonite University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Eastern Mennonite University generally make around $55,325. Typical student debt for the program is $25,415.
See the full engineering program report for Eastern Mennonite University
George Mason University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fairfax. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. George Mason University awarded about 584 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from George Mason University earn around $88,691 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,093.
See the full engineering program report for George Mason University
Randolph Macon College landed the #8 spot for engineering this year. Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ashland. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Randolph Macon College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $40,317 in their early career. Randolph Macon College graduates carry a median of $24,706 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for Randolph Macon College
Northern Virginia Community College landed the #9 spot for engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. Northern Virginia Community College awarded about 230 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $16,790 early in their careers. Northern Virginia Community College graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans.
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Tidewater Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 67 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Tidewater Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Tidewater Community College earn around $68,555 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,250 to complete this degree.
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Germanna Community College came in at #11 for engineering this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Locust Grove. There were roughly 35 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Germanna Community College in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Germanna Community College earn a median of $41,880 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,999 to complete this degree.
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Sweet Briar College landed the #12 spot for engineering this year. Set in the rural area of Sweet Briar, Sweet Briar College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Sweet Briar College graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 11 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Sweet Briar College in the most recent data year.
See the full engineering program report for Sweet Briar College
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #13 for engineering this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. Virginia Commonwealth University awarded about 325 engineering degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $78,604 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,517 to complete this degree.
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Ecpi University came in at #14 for engineering this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Ecpi University is a large private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 28%. About 32 engineering degrees were awarded at Ecpi University in the most recent year. Students who receive their engineering degree from Ecpi University earn around $48,429 in the first couple years of their career. Ecpi University graduates carry a median of $27,988 in student loans.
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J Sargeant Reynolds Community College placed #15 among the best engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Richmond, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public institution. There were roughly 30 engineering students who graduated with this degree at J Sargeant Reynolds Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their engineering degree from J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn around $36,965 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree.
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Lord Fairfax Community College came in at #16 for engineering this year. Located in the rural area of Middletown, Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 20 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Lord Fairfax Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $37,531 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,698 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in engineering from Lord Fairfax Community College
Christopher Newport University placed #17 among the best engineering schools. Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Newport News. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. There were roughly 27 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Christopher Newport University in the most recent data year. Engineering graduates of Christopher Newport University earn a median of $41,656 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,094 to complete this degree.
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Piedmont Virginia Community College earned the #18 position for engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. About 16 engineering degrees were awarded at Piedmont Virginia Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Piedmont Virginia Community College generally make around $46,129. Piedmont Virginia Community College graduates carry a median of $12,495 in student loans.
See the full engineering program report for Piedmont Virginia Community College
Virginia Western Community College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best engineering schools. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. About 32 engineering degrees were awarded at Virginia Western Community College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Virginia Western Community College generally make around $36,245. Virginia Western Community College graduates carry a median of $13,715 in student loans.
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Old Dominion University placed #20 among the best engineering schools. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. About 445 engineering degrees were awarded at Old Dominion University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $75,810. Typical student debt for the program is $25,247.
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Thomas Nelson Community College placed #21 among the best engineering schools. Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Hampton. About 24 engineering degrees were awarded at Thomas Nelson Community College in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Thomas Nelson Community College earn a median of $36,758 early in their careers. Thomas Nelson Community College graduates carry a median of $14,402 in student loans.
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Liberty University came in at #22 for engineering this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 141 engineering students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the engineering program make about $73,088 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,905 to complete this degree.
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Norfolk State University came in at #23 for engineering this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Norfolk. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. About 31 engineering degrees were awarded at Norfolk State University in the most recent year. Engineering graduates of Norfolk State University earn a median of $54,971 early in their careers.
More information about a degree in engineering from Norfolk State University
Virginia Military Institute came in at #24 for engineering this year. This small public university is located in the town of Lexington. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 67 engineering degrees were awarded at Virginia Military Institute in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Virginia Military Institute generally make around $61,364. Typical student debt for the program is $25,837.
See the full engineering program report for Virginia Military Institute
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 24 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
