Outstanding academics, student life, and alumni pride contributed to Virginia Tech’s inclusion on The Princeton Review’s “Best 380 Colleges” 2016 edition.

The guide also includes ranked lists, based on student survey feedback. The Princeton Review ranked the top 20 schools in 62 categories. Virginia Tech earned spots on seven lists, including:

  • No. 2 – Happiest Students
  • No. 3 – Best Campus Food
  • No. 4 – Best Quality of Life
  • No. 4 – Their Students Love These Colleges
  • No. 4 – Town-Gown Relations are Great
  • No. 8 – Lots of Race/Class Interaction
  • No. 18 – Best Run Colleges

“I would definitely say that my academic experience has been outstanding and that it has opened my eyes to even more possibilities,” reflected one student who participated in Princeton Review survey.

Virginia Tech offers more than 90 undergraduate majors, with some of the newest in criminology, neuroscience, resident environments and design, professional and technical writing, systems biology. Many programs are highly interdisciplinary, such as water: resources, policy, and management and real estate, with students taking courses across many of the university’s colleges.

The diversity of respected academic programs and strong relationships with faculty contributed to high remarks from students. “My professors here have changed the way I look at the world and have become some of my biggest heroes,” said one student. Another added that professors “are extremely helpful and devoted to their students.”

“Our faculty help guide students to take ownership of their learning through innovative and impactful hands-on experiences,” said Rachel Holloway, vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs. “Beyond students' engagement in the classroom, experiences such as undergraduate research, community-based projects, global education, internships, co-op experiences, and co-curricular activities enhance students’ skills to be competitive in the academic and career environments.”

Virginia Tech once again held onto top spots that reflect an overall positive experience for students at the university, both in and outside the classroom and beyond into the community. For several consecutive years, Virginia Tech has made the lists for “Happiest Students,” “Best Quality of Life,” “Town-Gown Relations are Great,” and “Best Campus Food.”

“This makes the tenth consecutive year the Dining Services program at Virginia Tech has been in the Top 4 for colleges and universities in their ratings,” said Ted Faulkner, director of dining services. “It is a tribute to the university’s commitment and the dedication of our great staff to provide the best education and services possible.”

One student noted in the survey that Virginia Tech is “a perfect blend of challenging and fun, encompassed in an unparalleled community feel.”

New this year, Virginia Tech made the lists for “Lots of Race/Class Interaction” and “Best Run Colleges.” Students on the survey noted that “diverse student types interact on campus,” a priority for the university’s new InclusiveVT model.

Virginia Tech received accolades from The Princeton Review earlier this year on other rankings lists, including No. 5 for “Best Alumni Network,” and No. 13 for “Colleges That Pay You Back – Without Aid.”

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.

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