Best colleges for Engineering in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
James Madison University, Tidewater Community College and Northern Virginia Community College are the top Engineering programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. James Madison University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $71,176, College Scorecard. Northern Virginia Community College, Old Dominion University and James Madison University award the most Engineering degrees and certificates in Virginia: 223, 128 and 78 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 25 Virginia colleges offer Engineering and award 776 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Engineering program, formally known as Engineering, General, encompasses a broad range of disciplines that apply scientific theories and mathematical methods to develop technological solutions. This program is ideal for students…
Top 3 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,176 | 78 | 80% | — | $25,000 |
| 2 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public · Associate degree | $68,555 | 64 | 32% | — | $12,250 |
| 3 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public · Associate degree | $16,790 | 223 | 33% | — | $9,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Engineering degrees in Virginia
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public | 223 | $16,790 |
| 2 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 128 | Not reported |
| 3 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 78 | $71,176 |
| 4 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public | 64 | $68,555 |
| 5 | Germanna Community College Locust Grove Public | 35 | Not reported |
| 6 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Public | 32 | Not reported |
| 7 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond Public | 30 | Not reported |
| 8 | Brightpoint Community College Chester Public | 30 | Not reported |
| 9 | Virginia Peninsula Community College Hampton Public | 24 | Not reported |
| 10 | Laurel Ridge Community College Middletown Public | 20 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 15 Virginia colleges offering Engineering
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | Charlottesville | Public | 16 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | Public | 15 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Cedar Bluff | Public | 12 |
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| Liberty University | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 9 |
| Central Virginia Community College | Lynchburg | Public | 6 |
| New River Community College | Dublin | Public | 4 |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Weyers Cave | Public | 3 |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | Abingdon | Public | 3 |
| Danville Community College | Danville | Public | 2 |
| Mountain Empire Community College | Big Stone Gap | Public | 2 |
| University of Virginia | Charlottesville | Public | 2 |
| Hampton University | Hampton | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Engineers, All Other (SOC 17-2199).
What Engineers, All Other earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Engineering programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Engineering degrees?+
Northern Virginia Community College (223 graduates a year), Old Dominion University (128 graduates a year) and James Madison University (78 graduates a year) award the most Engineering degrees and certificates in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 25 Virginia colleges offer Engineering.
What is the best college for Engineering in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, James Madison University leads among Engineering programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $71,176, College Scorecard. Tidewater Community College and Northern Virginia Community College follow. By degrees awarded, Northern Virginia Community College is the largest, with 223 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Engineering program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, James Madison University tops the list at $71,176. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Engineers, All Other earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Engineers, All Other in Virginia is $145,830 (median $148,160), across about 5,060 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Engineering program?+
The Engineering program, formally known as Engineering, General, encompasses a broad range of disciplines that apply scientific theories and mathematical methods to develop technological solutions. This program is ideal for students…
What is the job outlook for Engineers, All Other?+
The national job outlook is about +2.1% growth with around 9,300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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