2026 Best Value Computer Software & Applications Schools in Virginia

[Computer Software & Applications](/majors/computer-information-sciences/computer-software-and-apps/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for computer software & applications students.
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2026 Best Value Computer Software & Applications Schools in Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the computer software & applications degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Computer Software & Applications Schools
For return on investment in computer software & applications, no school beat Northern Virginia Community College this year. Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Annandale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, while out-of-state students pay about $12,410. Typical student debt for computer software & applications graduates is $14,413. Computer Software & Applications graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $40,126 early in their careers. Set against $14,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
George Mason University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in computer software & applications, landing the #2 spot this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for computer software & applications graduates is $23,529. Early-career computer software & applications graduates make about $126,908. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.