Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)

Founded in 1872, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, better known as Virginia Tech (also known as VPISU), is a public land grant polytechnic university in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA. Although it is a comprehensive university with many departments, the agriculture, engineering, architecture, forestry, veterinary medicine, and business programs are considered to be among its strongest. It is also one of only two universities in the country with a full-time military component within a larger civilian university.

In addition to its research and academic programs, Virginia Tech is known for its campus and location in the New River Valley of southwestern Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a part of the Appalachian Mountains. The university's public profile has also been raised significantly in recent years by the success of its football program.