Best Colleges in Virginia by ROI
Trying to find the best value in Virginia? We ranked all 44 colleges we track here on what graduates actually earn versus what families actually pay, using U.S. Department of Education data. University of Virginia-Main Campus comes out on top at 95/100 - here's how every school compares.
We scored all 44 Virginia colleges in our dataset from 0 to 100 on one thing: financial return. The state averages 49/100, on an average net price of $21,954 a year after grants and scholarships. The school that does best by your money is University of Virginia-Main Campus at 95/100.
Graduates of Washington and Lee University earn the most ten years out of any school in the state, a median $94,810. The lightest price tag belongs to University of Virginia's College at Wise at $9,210 a year. The list below ranks every Virginia college we scored by ROI, so you can weigh what you'd pay against what you'd likely earn.
Top 10 Virginia Colleges by ROI Score
- 1University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA · PublicNet price$21,565/yrMedian earnings$86,86395ROI
- 2William & MaryWilliamsburg, VA · PublicNet price$19,096/yrMedian earnings$73,49091ROI
- 3Washington and Lee UniversityLexington, VA · Private NonprofitNet price$23,781/yrMedian earnings$94,81091ROI
- 4Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, VA · PublicNet price$24,953/yrMedian earnings$81,69889ROI
- 5Virginia Military InstituteLexington, VA · PublicNet price$17,113/yrMedian earnings$77,36988ROI
- 6George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA · PublicNet price$17,915/yrMedian earnings$76,34386ROI
- 7Chamberlain University-VirginiaVienna, VA · Private For-ProfitNet price$33,199/yrMedian earnings$92,40586ROI
- 8James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, VA · PublicNet price$23,322/yrMedian earnings$69,95484ROI
- 9University of RichmondUniversity of Richmond, VA · Private NonprofitNet price$31,309/yrMedian earnings$76,17881ROI
- 10Hampden-Sydney CollegeHampden-Sydney, VA · Private NonprofitNet price$22,400/yrMedian earnings$67,64074ROI
Virginia College ROI: Common Questions
What is the best-value college in Virginia?
University of Virginia-Main Campus has the highest ROI score in Virginia at 95/100, while the lowest net price among Virginia schools we track is $9,210/year at University of Virginia's College at Wise. Rankings are based on net price and median graduate earnings from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
How much does college cost in Virginia?
The average net price across the 44 Virginia colleges in our dataset is $21,954 per year, after grants and scholarships are applied. Actual cost varies widely by family income and institution.
Which Virginia college has the highest graduate earnings?
Washington and Lee University reports the highest median earnings among Virginia schools we scored, at $94,810 ten years after enrollment. Higher earnings do not always mean better ROI, since cost matters just as much.
How many colleges in Virginia did CampusROI analyze?
We scored 44 colleges in Virginia on return on investment. Of those, 13 earn an ROI score of 60 or higher. See our methodology for how each score is calculated.
All Virginia Schools by ROI Score
44 schools
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
Chamberlain University-Virginia
Vienna, VA
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, VA
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA
Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA
Marymount University
Arlington, VA
Radford University
Radford, VA
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA
Roanoke College
Salem, VA
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, VA
Longwood University
Farmville, VA
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, VA
University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, VA
University of Virginia's College at Wise
Wise, VA
Hampton University
Hampton, VA
Randolph College
Lynchburg, VA
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA
Averett University
Danville, VA
Emory & Henry University
Emory, VA
Bluefield University
Bluefield, VA
Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach, VA
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA
Southern Virginia University
Buena Vista, VA
Mary Baldwin University
Staunton, VA
Hollins University
Roanoke, VA
Virginia State University
Petersburg, VA
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, VA
DeVry University-Virginia
Arlington, VA
Ferrum College
Ferrum, VA
Strayer University-Virginia
Arlington, VA
South University-Richmond
Glen Allen, VA
Virginia Union University
Richmond, VA
South University-Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach, VA
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release