Skip to main content
State Overview

Colleges in Virginia: 43 Ranked by Earnings, Tuition & Graduation Rate

Every college in Virginia with verified College Scorecard data, ranked three ways below: by graduate earnings, by in-state tuition and by graduation rate. 53 institutions in total.

Institutions

53

Avg In-State Tuition

$25,236

Avg Out-of-State

$31,126

Avg Earnings

$47,607

Map of the United States Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming

Quick answer

According to College Scorecard data on CollegeFactbook.com, Virginia has 53 degree-granting colleges and universities with average in-state tuition of $25,236 and average graduate earnings of $47,607 ten years after entry.

State Overview

Virginia's higher education landscape includes 53 institutions. The average in-state tuition across these institutions is $25,235.55, while the average out-of-state tuition is $31,125.76. The average graduate earnings for students from these institutions is $47,606.94.

These figures suggest a considerable investment for students pursuing higher education in Virginia. The difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition highlights a financial advantage for Virginia residents. The average graduate earnings provide a measure of the potential return on investment for students attending these institutions.

Generated from College Scorecard & IPEDS data

Schools by Type

William & Mary logo

William & Mary

PUBLIC

Williamsburg, VA

Tuition

$25,040

Avg Earnings

$62,959

Acceptance

33%
George Mason University logo

George Mason University

PUBLIC

Fairfax, VA

Tuition

$13,815

Avg Earnings

$60,536

Acceptance

89%
Virginia Commonwealth University logo

Virginia Commonwealth University

PUBLIC

Richmond, VA

Tuition

$16,458

Avg Earnings

$47,161

Acceptance

93%
University of Virginia-Main Campus logo

University of Virginia-Main Campus

PUBLIC

Charlottesville, VA

Tuition

$20,986

Avg Earnings

$72,359

Acceptance

17%
James Madison University logo

James Madison University

PUBLIC

Harrisonburg, VA

Tuition

$13,576

Avg Earnings

$57,438

Acceptance

76%
Christopher Newport University logo

Christopher Newport University

PUBLIC

Newport News, VA

Tuition

$16,351

Avg Earnings

$51,931

Acceptance

88%
Old Dominion University logo

Old Dominion University

PUBLIC

Norfolk, VA

Tuition

$12,262

Avg Earnings

$46,732

Acceptance

91%
Radford University logo

Radford University

PUBLIC

Radford, VA

Tuition

$12,286

Avg Earnings

$44,830

Acceptance

91%
University of Mary Washington logo

University of Mary Washington

PUBLIC

Fredericksburg, VA

Tuition

$14,559

Avg Earnings

$49,411

Acceptance

86%

Longwood University

PUBLIC

Farmville, VA

Tuition

$15,200

Avg Earnings

$46,058

Acceptance

85%
Virginia Military Institute logo

Virginia Military Institute

PUBLIC

Lexington, VA

Tuition

$20,484

Avg Earnings

$63,545

Acceptance

82%

Virginia State University

PUBLIC

Petersburg, VA

Tuition

$9,755

Avg Earnings

$33,630

Acceptance

89%
Norfolk State University logo

Norfolk State University

PUBLIC

Norfolk, VA

Tuition

$9,910

Avg Earnings

$33,412

Acceptance

88%
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University logo

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

PUBLIC

Blacksburg, VA

Tuition

$15,478

Avg Earnings

$67,377

Acceptance

57%
University of Virginia's College at Wise logo

University of Virginia's College at Wise

PUBLIC

Wise, VA

Tuition

$11,656

Avg Earnings

$39,725

Acceptance

94%

Popular Majors in Virginia

Business Administration, Management and Operations

8,696 graduates

Psychology, General

4,752 graduates

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

3,485 graduates

Biology, General

3,419 graduates

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

2,965 graduates

Computer and Information Sciences, General

2,603 graduates

Criminal Justice and Corrections

2,491 graduates

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

2,468 graduates

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

2,020 graduates

Accounting and Related Services

1,867 graduates

Theological and Ministerial Studies

1,844 graduates

Communication and Media Studies

1,807 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations Salary Psychology, General Salary Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Salary

Cost Comparison

VA Avg In-State $25,236
VA Avg Out-of-State $31,126

Cost Analysis

Virginia's average in-state tuition of $25,236 compares to an average out-of-state tuition of $31,126. The average graduate from a Virginia institution earns $47,607 within 5 years of graduation.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 53 colleges and universities in Virginia, including public, private non-profit, and for-profit institutions.

Best Colleges in Virginia, Ranked by Data

Three orderings of the same 43 colleges, straight from College Scorecard: who earns most after graduating, who charges least in-state, and who graduates the largest share. No editorial weighting.

Best colleges in Virginia by graduate earnings

  1. 1 Chamberlain University-Virginia $84,533 median, 5 yrs · Vienna
  2. 2 Washington and Lee University $76,516 median, 5 yrs · Lexington
  3. 3 University of Virginia-Main Campus $72,359 median, 5 yrs · Charlottesville
  4. 4 University of Richmond $67,927 median, 5 yrs · University of Richmond
  5. 5 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University $67,377 median, 5 yrs · Blacksburg
  6. 6 Virginia Military Institute $63,545 median, 5 yrs · Lexington
  7. 7 William & Mary $62,959 median, 5 yrs · Williamsburg
  8. 8 George Mason University $60,536 median, 5 yrs · Fairfax
  9. 9 Marymount University $57,801 median, 5 yrs · Arlington
  10. 10 James Madison University $57,438 median, 5 yrs · Harrisonburg

Cheapest colleges in Virginia by in-state tuition

  1. 1 Virginia State University $9,755 / year · Petersburg
  2. 2 Norfolk State University $9,910 / year · Norfolk
  3. 3 University of Virginia's College at Wise $11,656 / year · Wise
  4. 4 Old Dominion University $12,262 / year · Norfolk
  5. 5 Radford University $12,286 / year · Radford
  6. 6 James Madison University $13,576 / year · Harrisonburg
  7. 7 George Mason University $13,815 / year · Fairfax
  8. 8 University of Mary Washington $14,559 / year · Fredericksburg
  9. 9 Virginia Union University $14,880 / year · Richmond
  10. 10 Longwood University $15,200 / year · Farmville

Best colleges in Virginia by graduation rate

  1. 1 University of Virginia-Main Campus 95 % graduate · Charlottesville
  2. 2 Washington and Lee University 95 % graduate · Lexington
  3. 3 William & Mary 91 % graduate · Williamsburg
  4. 4 University of Richmond 88 % graduate · University of Richmond
  5. 5 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 86 % graduate · Blacksburg
  6. 6 James Madison University 81 % graduate · Harrisonburg
  7. 7 Virginia Military Institute 79 % graduate · Lexington
  8. 8 Christopher Newport University 76 % graduate · Newport News
  9. 9 Randolph-Macon College 74 % graduate · Ashland
  10. 10 Hampden-Sydney College 70 % graduate · Hampden-Sydney

National rankings: highest earning · most affordable · best graduation rate · best ROI.