I think an engineering admit to UVa may SEEM easier to you because there are far fewer engineering applicants than A & S applicants. But the caliber of the average engineering applicant is quite high and it is a self select group. There will be far more kids throwing out an app as an A & S applicant , some with lower stats, just in hopes that they will get in. http://www.seas.virginia.edu/about/facts/
UVA was the only engineering program D applied to - Tech and other similar programs had very little appeal for her. She had excellent opportunities at UVA and is gainfully employed - it really depends on what the student wants from their education. I’m pretty confident she would have been admitted at Tech given her stats but the school had zero appeal for her.
I am sure there are hundreds of engineering and CS science programs in the country. You will be employed in the field of study after every single one of them, that effort is up to a STUDENT, and not the place, no best UG will accomplish that for a specific graduate and no worst UG make this student to derail. The sky is a limit for a hard working UG student.Relying on the name of the school is a wrong approach anyway, just choose what fits YOU the best, with all YOUR personal criteria, not somebody else’s and be prepared to work very hard there.
Yes, there are many great schools out there. The OP has said her son’s top choices are currently Virginia Tech, VCU, JMU and GMU. He can get a great education at any of those schools.