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Blacksburg, VA · Physics & astronomy

Physics & astronomy at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech graduates about 42 physics & astronomy majors a year. That puts it 75th of 525 schools we score for physics & astronomy, a strong program at 79 out of 100. Graduates in the major earn a median $93,000 four years out, 1.21× what the same major pays nationally. Research spending in the field runs about $16 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

79/100Strong#75 of 525 for physics & astronomy →
Graduates a year42under 1% of the class
Median pay 4 years out$93,0001.21× the same major nationally
Research in the field$16Ma year, NSF
Admit rate55%whole school
SAT middle 50%1240–1430whole school

Around Virginia Tech

Burruss Hall, at the head of the Drillfield on the campus of Virginia Tech in Bl
Burruss Hall -01- (12349518863)Photo: Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Williams Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
Williamson Hall Virginia TechPhoto: Eric T Gunther · CC BY 3.0 · source
Stephen Davis speaking with attendees at the Virginia Tech tour stop of "This Is
Stephen Davis with attendees (54830912384)Photo: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Pamplin Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
Pamplin Hall Virginia TechPhoto: Eric T Gunther · CC BY 3.0 · source

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Nearby in the physics & astronomy ranking

  1. St. Olaf College 81
  2. Kenyon College 81
  3. University of Iowa 80
  4. University of Colorado Boulder 79
  5. University of California, Davis 78
  6. University of Massachusetts–Amherst 77
  7. Stony Brook University–SUNY 77
  8. University of Florida 77

Other strong majors at Virginia Tech

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares Virginia Tech with every school we score in physics & astronomy. It weighs the school's overall strength; how many students graduate in the major and what share of the class they are; research spending in the field (NSF); early pay against the same major nationally; how many courses the catalog lists; and test scores. 80+ is a standout program, 65+ strong, 45+ solid. Sources: US Department of Education (College Scorecard, IPEDS), NSF HERD, each school's current course catalog, OpenStreetMap and Wikimedia Commons.

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