Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Overview

Virginia Tech offers approximately 280 degree programs to a diverse student body of over 34,000. The university is ranked 43rd among America’s top 50 research universities, with a research portfolio valued at $521 million, according to the National Science Foundation. Its main campus spans 2,600 acres, nestled within Virginia’s Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains, approximately 38 miles southwest of Roanoke, Virginia. Additionally, Virginia Tech operates several facilities, including the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Fralin Life Science Institute in Roanoke, as well as graduate programs and research centers in the Washington, D.C. area. The university also runs an 1,800-acre research farm and maintains a study-abroad location in southern Switzerland.

As a research university, Virginia Tech fosters a deep commitment to inquiry and problem-solving, challenging students across disciplines to push the boundaries of knowledge. The integration of theory, independent learning, and collaboration is a key aspect of the university’s approach. Guided by its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech encourages students to apply their learning through hands-on experiences in the classroom, on the job, or through purposeful service. The university values innovation and entrepreneurship, regularly ranking among the top 15 schools in the U.S. for the number of patents granted. Its faculty are urged to declare intellectual property, and the university actively seeks licensees to turn discoveries into real-world solutions.