Best value colleges in Virginia
Every Virginia college we have data for, ranked by 10-year return on investment.
156
Colleges
$17,997
Avg net price as of 2024
$51,766
Median earnings as of 2024
$18,657
Median debt as of 2024
Top colleges in Virginia
Showing the top 95 of 156 by ROI — sort the table, or use the finder to filter all Virginia colleges by cost, earnings and major.
| # | College | Type | 5-yr earnings | Net price | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | DR Rating | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Highlands Community College Abingdon, VA | Public | $55,889 | $5,375 | — | +913% | Strong return | |
| 2 | Germanna Community College Locust Grove, VA | Public | $54,677 | $5,541 | $8,400 | +584% | Strong return | |
| 3 | Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA | Private | $106,739 | $23,781 | $19,500 | +504% | Strong return | |
| 4 | Galen Health Institutes-Richmond Richmond, VA | For-profit | $78,480 | $23,843 | $24,166 | +493% | Strong return | |
| 5 | Galen Health Institutes-Roanoke Roanoke, VA | For-profit | $78,480 | $26,945 | $24,166 | +434% | Strong return | |
| 6 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA | Public | $79,025 | $17,113 | $22,996 | +343% | Strong return | |
| 7 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA | Public | $55,429 | $9,919 | $11,000 | +337% | Strong return | |
| 8 | Piedmont Virginia Community College Charlottesville, VA | Public | $51,026 | $5,963 | $8,750 | +299% | Strong return | |
| 9 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA | Public | $74,837 | $17,915 | $19,500 | +279% | Strong return | |
| 10 | University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA | Public | $78,105 | $21,565 | $17,500 | +257% | Strong return | |
| 11 | Laurel Ridge Community College Middletown, VA | Public | $50,568 | $6,013 | $9,750 | +257% | Strong return | |
| 12 | Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing Falls Church, VA | For-profit | $71,329 | $35,726 | $14,750 | +243% | Strong return | |
| 13 | Chamberlain University-Virginia Vienna, VA | For-profit | $92,768 | $33,199 | $20,919 | +240% | Strong return | |
| 14 | Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, VA | Private | $77,723 | $22,400 | $26,000 | +230% | Strong return | |
| 15 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA | Public | $64,496 | $14,638 | $24,000 | +190% | Strong return | |
| 16 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VA | Public | $67,941 | $19,096 | $18,500 | +176% | Strong return | |
| 17 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA | Public | $74,128 | $24,953 | $21,500 | +171% | Strong return | |
| 18 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA | Public | $67,475 | $23,322 | $20,093 | +123% | Strong return | |
| 19 | Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar, VA | Private | $62,485 | $17,758 | $27,000 | +116% | Strong return | |
| 20 | University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA | Private | $71,914 | $31,309 | $21,000 | +103% | Strong return | |
| 21 | Norfolk State University Norfolk, VA | Public | $59,413 | $15,282 | $29,000 | +101% | Strong return | |
| 22 | Marymount University Arlington, VA | Private | $69,898 | $29,137 | $25,000 | +98% | Strong return | |
| 23 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA | Public | $63,326 | $23,433 | $21,500 | +80% | Strong return | |
| 24 | Strayer University-Virginia Arlington, VA | For-profit | $60,858 | $19,578 | $40,621 | +70% | Strong return | |
| 25 | Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg, VA | Private | $63,002 | $24,588 | $24,813 | +68% | Strong return | |
| 26 | DeVry University-Virginia Arlington, VA | For-profit | $70,533 | $36,609 | $24,807 | +64% | Break-even | |
| 27 | Roanoke College Salem, VA | Private | $62,009 | $24,503 | $27,000 | +58% | Break-even | |
| 28 | Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA | Public | $60,328 | $23,015 | $25,000 | +52% | Break-even | |
| 29 | Hampton University Hampton, VA | Private | $61,538 | $25,319 | $25,442 | +50% | Break-even | |
| 30 | Shenandoah University Winchester, VA | Private | $63,571 | $30,298 | $25,000 | +43% | Break-even | |
| 31 | Radford University Radford, VA | Public | $54,397 | $14,578 | $24,000 | +40% | Break-even | |
| 32 | ECPI University Virginia Beach, VA | For-profit | $58,846 | $22,965 | $20,000 | +40% | Break-even | |
| 33 | Randolph-Macon College Ashland, VA | Private | $61,343 | $27,866 | $27,000 | +35% | Break-even | |
| 34 | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas Manassas, VA | For-profit | $53,839 | $27,320 | $31,959 | +33% | Break-even | |
| 35 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA | Public | $56,845 | $20,667 | $20,500 | +31% | Break-even | |
| 36 | Regent University Virginia Beach, VA | Private | $56,127 | $19,923 | $24,534 | +26% | Break-even | |
| 37 | Averett University Danville, VA | Private | $57,500 | $22,925 | $25,000 | +24% | Break-even | |
| 38 | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk Norfolk, VA | For-profit | $51,423 | $23,046 | $29,375 | +13% | Break-even | |
| 39 | Danville Community College Danville, VA | Public | $46,545 | $6,669 | $9,000 | -7% | Poor return | |
| 40 | Longwood University Farmville, VA | Public | $52,666 | $19,066 | $25,000 | -10% | Poor return | |
| 41 | University of Lynchburg Lynchburg, VA | Private | $53,678 | $22,235 | $27,000 | -12% | Poor return | |
| 42 | Virginia State University Petersburg, VA | Public | $50,442 | $15,840 | $26,500 | -26% | Poor return | |
| 43 | Virginia Wesleyan University Virginia Beach, VA | Private | $49,988 | $19,676 | $27,000 | -44% | Poor return | |
| 44 | South University-Richmond Glen Allen, VA | For-profit | $51,006 | $30,442 | $26,123 | -54% | Poor return | |
| 45 | Riverside College of Health Sciences Newport News, VA | Private | $48,889 | $20,744 | $14,787 | -56% | Poor return | |
| 46 | Bridgewater College Bridgewater, VA | Private | $48,348 | $17,800 | $26,000 | -59% | Poor return | |
| 47 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA | Private | $49,988 | $29,357 | $24,500 | -61% | Poor return | |
| 48 | Advanced Technology Institute Virginia Beach, VA | For-profit | $46,328 | $16,358 | $14,873 | -65% | Poor return | |
| 49 | Bluefield University Bluefield, VA | Private | $47,957 | $25,573 | $21,855 | -73% | Poor return | |
| 50 | Emory & Henry University Emory, VA | Private | $46,843 | $19,061 | $26,332 | -79% | Poor return | |
| 51 | South University-Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA | For-profit | $47,545 | $27,843 | $26,123 | -79% | Poor return | |
| 52 | Ferrum College Ferrum, VA | Private | $46,189 | $20,082 | $27,000 | -87% | Poor return | |
| 53 | Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave, VA | Public | $45,420 | $13,997 | $10,409 | -87% | Poor return | |
| 54 | University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise, VA | Public | $44,374 | $9,210 | $16,750 | -115% | Poor return | |
| 55 | Chester Career College Chester, VA | For-profit | $43,695 | $24,259 | $19,879 | -123% | Poor return | |
| 56 | Virginia Union University Richmond, VA | Private | $42,956 | $13,235 | $29,000 | -132% | Poor return | |
| 57 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA | Public | $43,945 | $11,762 | $10,000 | -139% | Poor return | |
| 58 | Mary Baldwin University Staunton, VA | Private | $42,480 | $12,756 | $26,586 | -142% | Poor return | |
| 59 | Southern Virginia University Buena Vista, VA | Private | $40,640 | $22,213 | $24,224 | -145% | Poor return | |
| 60 | Richard Bland College South Prince George, VA | Public | $43,360 | $13,045 | $11,000 | -155% | Poor return | |
| 61 | Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA | Private | $40,939 | $12,038 | $21,549 | -173% | Poor return | |
| 62 | Virginia University of Lynchburg Lynchburg, VA | Private | $36,779 | $21,253 | $24,250 | -188% | Poor return | |
| 63 | Hollins University Roanoke, VA | Private | $35,408 | $20,896 | $27,000 | -203% | Poor return | |
| 64 | Mountain Gateway Community College Clifton Forge, VA | Public | $43,581 | $4,861 | $9,182 | -209% | Poor return | |
| 65 | Brightpoint Community College Chester, VA | Public | $43,336 | $5,490 | $9,500 | -215% | Poor return | |
| 66 | Tidewater Tech-Trades Norfolk, VA | For-profit | $40,261 | $26,366 | $9,500 | -259% | Poor return | |
| 67 | American National University Salem, VA | For-profit | $32,093 | $18,036 | $12,814 | -268% | Poor return | |
| 68 | Mountain Empire Community College Big Stone Gap, VA | Public | $41,869 | $8,852 | — | -277% | Poor return | |
| 69 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke, VA | Public | $42,523 | $4,966 | $11,000 | -278% | Poor return | |
| 70 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond, VA | Public | $42,422 | $5,168 | $10,500 | -282% | Poor return | |
| 71 | Centura College-Norfolk Norfolk, VA | For-profit | $29,611 | $31,032 | $14,750 | -328% | Poor return | |
| 72 | Fortis College-Norfolk Norfolk, VA | For-profit | $32,517 | $24,764 | $9,500 | -336% | Poor return | |
| 73 | Virginia Peninsula Community College Hampton, VA | Public | $40,851 | $7,012 | $9,500 | -337% | Poor return | |
| 74 | Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg, VA | Public | $40,655 | $6,928 | $8,625 | -356% | Poor return | |
| 75 | Wytheville Community College Wytheville, VA | Public | $41,270 | $4,622 | $7,500 | -411% | Poor return | |
| 76 | Fortis College-Richmond Richmond, VA | For-profit | $26,938 | $24,635 | $9,500 | -443% | Poor return | |
| 77 | Southwest Virginia Community College Cedar Bluff, VA | Public | $40,564 | $6,005 | — | -469% | Poor return | |
| 78 | New River Community College Dublin, VA | Public | $38,161 | $6,279 | $9,000 | -532% | Poor return | |
| 79 | Paul D Camp Community College Franklin, VA | Public | $39,690 | $4,126 | $6,880 | -594% | Poor return | |
| 80 | Centura College-Newport News Newport News, VA | For-profit | $29,454 | $24,842 | $14,750 | -615% | Poor return | |
| 81 | Patrick & Henry Community College Martinsville, VA | Public | $40,188 | $4,102 | — | -687% | Poor return | |
| 82 | Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy Reston, VA | For-profit | $38,226 | $11,502 | — | -689% | Poor return | |
| 83 | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Lafayette-Arlington Arlington, VA | For-profit | $20,649 | $33,455 | $7,916 | -770% | Poor return | |
| 84 | Southside Virginia Community College Alberta, VA | Public | $37,115 | $5,338 | — | -839% | Poor return | |
| 85 | Rudy & Kelly Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner School Virginia Beach, VA | For-profit | $27,641 | $18,024 | $12,500 | -869% | Poor return | |
| 86 | Empire Beauty School-Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA | For-profit | $22,594 | $23,554 | $13,583 | -886% | Poor return | |
| 87 | Empire Beauty School-Midlothian Midlothian, VA | For-profit | $22,409 | $24,203 | $10,667 | -904% | Poor return | |
| 88 | Empire Beauty School-Richmond Richmond, VA | For-profit | $22,409 | $23,488 | $10,667 | -925% | Poor return | |
| 89 | The Chrysm Institute of Esthetics Virginia Beach, VA | For-profit | $25,231 | $21,552 | $6,333 | -929% | Poor return | |
| 90 | Empire Beauty School-Newport News Newport News, VA | For-profit | $22,409 | $23,036 | $10,667 | -939% | Poor return | |
| 91 | Columbia College Vienna, VA | For-profit | $23,486 | $10,171 | $7,940 | -1,026% | Poor return | |
| 92 | Rappahannock Community College Glenns, VA | Public | $36,752 | $4,343 | — | -1,050% | Poor return | |
| 93 | Avi Career Training vienna, VA | For-profit | $24,030 | $15,361 | $6,333 | -1,287% | Poor return | |
| 94 | Cayce/Reilly School of Massage Virginia Beach, VA | Private | $20,734 | $17,312 | — | -1,502% | Poor return | |
| 95 | Eastern Shore Community College Melfa, VA | Public | $34,388 | $2,495 | — | -2,227% | Poor return |
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Virginia Beach (14)Richmond (14)Norfolk (10)Newport News (8)Lynchburg (7)Arlington (6)vienna (5)Roanoke (5)Hampton (4)Falls Church (4)Danville (4)Salem (3)Petersburg (3)Chesapeake (3)Blacksburg (3)Staunton (2)Manassas (2)Lexington (2)Harrisonburg (2)Glen Allen (2)Fredericksburg (2)Fairfax (2)Chester (2)Charlottesville (2)Ashland (2)Alexandria (2)Wytheville (1)Wise (1)Winchester (1)Williamsburg (1)Weyers Cave (1)University of Richmond (1)Sweet Briar (1)Sterling (1)South Prince George (1)Reston (1)Radford (1)Purcellville (1)Oakwood (1)North Chesterfield (1)
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.