Engineering Graduate Salaries in Virginia
Federal earnings data for every Virginia college offering Engineering, ranked by 10-year median graduate salary. Sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — real tax-reported income, not surveys.
Engineering in Virginia. Engineering bachelor's degrees consistently top the federal earnings data for new graduates. ABET-accredited programs are the standard requirement for licensure and most engineering jobs.
Typical career paths: Mechanical Engineer, Civil Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Biomedical Engineer, Environmental Engineer. Median starting salary range: $72,000–$110,000. School choice can swing graduate earnings by 30–60% — which is why we rank by federal data, not prestige.
| # | School | 10-yr earnings | Net price/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA | $94,810 | $23,781 |
| 2 | University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA | $86,863 | $21,565 |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA | $81,698 | $24,953 |
| 4 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA | $77,369 | $17,113 |
| 5 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA | $76,343 | $17,915 |
| 6 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA | $69,954 | $23,322 |
| 7 | Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, VA | $67,640 | $22,400 |
| 8 | Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA | $60,509 | $23,015 |
| 9 | Hampton University Hampton, VA | $59,159 | $25,319 |
| 10 | Randolph-Macon College Ashland, VA | $58,448 | $27,866 |
| 11 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA | $58,128 | $23,433 |
| 12 | Roanoke College Salem, VA | $58,047 | $24,503 |
| 13 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA | $54,914 | $14,638 |
| 14 | Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg, VA | $54,869 | $24,588 |
| 15 | Randolph College Lynchburg, VA | $53,409 | $15,921 |
| 16 | Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar, VA | $51,943 | $17,758 |
| 17 | Emory & Henry University Emory, VA | $47,385 | $19,061 |
| 18 | Virginia State University Petersburg, VA | $45,543 | $15,840 |
| 19 | University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise, VA | $45,325 | $9,210 |
| 20 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA | $44,813 | $29,357 |
| 21 | Norfolk State University Norfolk, VA | $44,666 | $15,282 |
| 22 | Regent University Virginia Beach, VA | $44,498 | $19,923 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are 10-year median income for graduates of each institution (all majors, since program-level earnings are released only for select fields). Refreshed every 24 hours.
Get personalized Engineering school matches
Take the 3-minute fit quiz — we'll rank these schools (and the rest of the country) by your GPA, budget, and priorities, then email your top 5 with estimated net price after aid.
Engineering salary in other states
Other major salaries in Virginia
Frequently asked questions
What do Engineering graduates earn in Virginia?
The median 10-year earnings for Engineering graduates from Virginia colleges is $58,088, with a range from $44,498 at lower-earning schools to $94,810 at top-earning schools. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Which Virginia school has the highest Engineering graduate salary?
Washington and Lee University ranks first among Virginia schools offering Engineering, with a 10-year median graduate salary of $94,810.
How is "graduate salary" measured?
These figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. They reflect actual federal tax-reported income of all graduates 10 years after enrollment — including those who pursued graduate school and those who took industry jobs. They are not survey-based.
Are these salaries adjusted for cost of living?
No. These are raw federal earnings figures. Virginia salaries should be considered in context of local cost of living. For example, $90,000 in California has different purchasing power than $90,000 in North Carolina.