Safety Score
1.67 /1K students
incidents per 1,000 enrolled
Blacksburg, VA · Clery Act 2023 · Public
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
According to the U.S. Department of Education's Clery Act filings, this profile covers campus safety, crime statistics, fire-safety data, and peer comparison for this 38,294-student campus.
- 1.67
- Incidents / 1k students
- #1,876
- Rank of 3,050
- #44
- VA rank
- 38,294
- Enrolled students
Data updated June 2026
The verdict
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University reports 1.67 on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students, ranking #1,876 of 3,050 ranked U.S. campuses - with more reported incidents than 59% of ranked campuses its size.
- 1.67
- incidents / 1,000 students
- #1,876
- of 3,050 ranked nationally
- 59%
- report fewer incidents than this campus
- 56
- on-campus incidents, 2023
Safety score = reported on-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is safer).
Reporting-period change
What changed in 2023
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University increased from 42 to 56 reported on-campus incidents between the 2022 and 2023 reporting years in the U.S. Department of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey.
This is a change in reported incidents, not a measure of individual safety. Enrollment, reporting practice, and category coverage can affect the count.
See national reporting-year changesVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a Public institution located in Blacksburg, VA, enrolling approximately 38,294 students. Clery Act data spanning 2021–2023 records 161 total on-campus incidents across all reported crime categories. Within VA, it ranks #44 by safety score. Verify with the U.S. Department of Education Clery Act database →
With 38,294 enrolled students, this campus sits in the large research university bracket, which shapes how raw incident counts should be interpreted.
The most frequently reported category at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is "Rape" with 57 cumulative incidents across the reporting window. Compared to 5 peer institutions of similar enrollment size in VA averaging 1.92 incidents per 1,000 students, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University reports 13% fewer incidents per student.
Fire safety data covers 1 reporting year for on-campus residential facilities, logging 13 total fires. Arrests and disciplinary actions span 108 category-year records, covering liquor law violations, drug law violations, and weapons possession on-campus. Federal enforcement history shows 1 recorded Clery Act violation with associated fines, a material signal about institutional compliance.
National Rank
#1876
See peer comparison
State Rank (VA)
#44
within state peers
Incidents (2023)
56
across 11 crime categories
Where Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University sits among ranked U.S. campuses
On-campus Clery incidents per 1,000 students, every ranked campus with 2,000+ students
2 safer than 41% of 1,807 ranked campuses
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more ranked campuses. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Education, Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act) · 2023
Safety percentile vs. peers
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University percentile rank 38.5%
National median
Higher percentile = safer than more peers. Rank #1876 out of 3,050 ranked institutions (enrollment >= 500) in the OPE Campus Safety Survey.
Reporting density vs peer median
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University reports 13% fewer incidents per student than the median of 5 peer institutions.
Academic & Financial Profile
Tuition & Costs
- In-State Tuition
- $15,948
- Out-of-State Tuition
- $37,764
- Avg Net Price
- $24,953
- Median Debt
- $21,500
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 15%
Admissions
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- SAT Average
- 1364
- SAT Math Range
- 640–740
- ACT Average
- 29
- ACT Range
- 28–32
Outcomes
- 4-Year Graduation Rate
- 86%
- Retention Rate
- 93%
- Median Earnings (6yr)
- $67,377
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $81,698
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 86%
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard. Methodology.
Enrollment scale
How campus size shapes the safety figures
With 38,294 enrolled students, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is in the largest 2% of the 5,673 institutions in this dataset with a reported enrollment. The safety score above already normalizes reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students, so compare it with similarly sized campuses instead of treating a higher raw count as evidence that a campus is less safe. Use the annual crime table to see what was reported, then use the peer comparison to judge the rate against schools of a similar scale. A lower reported rate is not a guarantee of individual safety or a measure of reporting quality.
Crime Statistics by Year
11 categories 3 reporting years on-campus onlyVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: on-campus incidents by year
Declining 11% (63 → 56 incidents)
| Crime Type | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggravated Assault | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Arson | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Burglary | 13 | 8 | 11 |
| Fondling | 9 | 8 | 26 |
| Incest | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 9 | 4 | 2 |
| Murder / Non-Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| Robbery | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Statutory Rape | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Source: US Dept US Dept of Education OPE Campus Safety Survey. Figures show on-campus incidents
Fire Safety
| Year | Fires | Inj. | Deaths | Cat I | Cat II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Arrests & Disciplinary Actions
108 category-year records| Category | Year | Arrests | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Drugs | 2023 | 3 | 4 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
| Liquor | 2023 | 0 | 0 |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University vs peer institutions
Side-by-side safety scores for 3 peers of similar enrollment
Scores are incidents per 1,000 enrolled students (lower is fewer).
VA
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
1.67 incidents / 1,000 students
TX
Texas State University
5.89 incidents / 1,000 students
TX
Collin County Community College District
0.82 incidents / 1,000 students
Similar Institutions
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX · 38,722 enrolled
Safety Score 5.89
Collin County Community College District
Mckinney, TX · 37,772 enrolled
Safety Score 0.82
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · 37,760 enrolled
Safety Score 1.11
Miami Dade College
Miami, FL · 39,139 enrolled
Safety Score 0.38
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · 39,241 enrolled
Safety Score 1.40
Closest by National Rank
Institutions ranked nearest Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University nationally (rank #1876), regardless of size or state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University safe?
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has a safety score of 1.67 (total on-campus incidents per 1,000 enrolled students) and ranks #1,876 nationally out of 3,050+ ranked institutions. Compare this with peer institutions for context.
What crimes are reported at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University?
Aggravated Assault, Arson, Burglary, Fondling, Incest, and other categories, for calendar year 2023.
How does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University compare to similar schools?
See the Similar Institutions section below for peers of similar enrollment in VA.
Does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University have fire safety data?
Yes. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University reports fire safety data for on-campus residential facilities, including total fires, injuries, deaths, and fire damage categories. 13 fires were reported in the most recent year.
Understanding Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Safety Profile
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, VA enrolls 38,294 students and has a safety score of 1.67 incidents per 1,000 enrolled students , ranking #1876 nationally. This relatively low score indicates fewer reported on-campus incidents relative to enrollment size.
Reported incidents cover 2021 to 2023. On-campus incidents increased from 42 in 2022 to 56 in 2023.
Fire safety data covers on-campus residential facilities. 13 fires were reported in the most recent year.
DOE Enforcement Actions
2011 Clery Act Violation $55,000
Failure to provide timely warnings during the 2007 campus shooting that killed 32 people. DOE found the university waited too long to notify students of the initial shooting.
Fine paid. Led to nationwide improvements in emergency notification systems.
What this means for you
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's 1.67 reported on-campus incidents per 1,000 students is a starting point for comparison, not a verdict on any student's safety.
- Weigh Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University against similar-size campuses, scale changes what the raw count means. Compare campuses
- A higher count can mean stronger reporting, not more danger. How the data works
- Clery covers campus grounds only. Campus vs. city crime
Figures reflect the 2023 Clery Act reporting year as filed with the U.S. Department of Education.
Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety & Security Survey (Clery Act). See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCampus Editorial
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.