WhatGradsMake
Doctoral (Research)-5% vs national median2,102 grads tracked

Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Ranked 36th of 80 doctoral (research) programs in Engineering by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$102,981
middle 50%: $68,148 – $134,020
Median · 5 years out
$132,072
middle 50%: $107,201 – $168,074
Median · 10 years out
$164,069
middle 50%: $127,138 – $218,283

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Engineering (doctoral (research)) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University's doctoral (research) program in Engineering earn a median $102,981 one year after graduating, rising to $164,069 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 5% below the national median of $139,316 for this field, ranking 36th of 80 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
3 yrs
≈ $3,196 total interest

Same major at other universities

University of Virginia
$134,161 · 5 yrs out
University of Colorado Boulder
$134,060 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina - Charlotte
$133,770 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$133,569 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Chicago
$133,429 · 5 yrs out
University of Massachusetts - Lowell
$132,457 · 5 yrs out
University of Texas at Arlington
$131,085 · 5 yrs out
Ohio University
$130,918 · 5 yrs out
Old Dominion University
$130,386 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Commonwealth University
$130,026 · 5 yrs out
University of South Carolina - Columbia
$129,928 · 5 yrs out
University of Oklahoma
$129,865 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$160,426 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$155,674 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$148,193 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$130,533 · 5 yrs out
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$129,123 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$125,251 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$125,251 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$121,443 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$119,838 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$116,512 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$109,749 · 5 yrs out
Agricultural/Animal/Plant/Veterinary Science and Related Fields (Doctorate)
$108,375 · 5 yrs out

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