Which is harder to get into: Arizona State University or Virginia Tech?

The biggest practical tradeoff is that Arizona State is known for broader access, while Virginia Tech is typically viewed as the more selective admit, especially for students applying to sought-after majors like engineering or computer science. For an average high school applicant, Virginia Tech is harder to get into overall. ASU has a more accessible admissions model and is often more straightforward about academic thresholds, while Virginia Tech weighs academic preparation in a more competitive pool.

That does not mean ASU is easy across the board. Some ASU programs and campuses can be more competitive than the university as a whole, and major choice matters there too. But if you are asking for the general answer at the university level, Virginia Tech is the tougher admit.

A big reason is the applicant pool and the way the schools position themselves. Virginia Tech tends to draw many applicants targeting engineering, science, and other high-demand programs, and admission can feel especially tight in those areas. ASU, by contrast, is well known for enrolling a large class and offering multiple pathways into the university.

For a student trying to gauge odds in a simple way, it is reasonable to treat Virginia Tech as more of a reach and ASU as more attainable, assuming your academic profile is in the middle range for both schools. Major, residency, and grades in core classes can shift that picture, but the basic comparison still points to Virginia Tech as harder to get into.