2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Virginia

[Curriculum & Instruction](/majors/education/curriculum-instruction/curriculum-and-instruction/) 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 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for curriculum & instruction students.
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2026 Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in curriculum & instruction, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Curriculum & Instruction Schools
For return on investment in curriculum & instruction, no school beat George Mason University this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $59,594. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #2 makes Regent University one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,650 in tuition and fees. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $57,753. Set against $29,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes College Of William And Mary one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $18,935. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $55,775. Set against $18,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of William And Mary admits about 34% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Virginia Main Campus one of the best values for curriculum & instruction. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $56,714. That is a strong return on a $18,627 median debt. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Averett University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in curriculum & instruction, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Danville, Averett University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,550. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $28,595 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $50,976. That is a strong return on a $28,595 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Mennonite University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, Eastern Mennonite University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $43,920 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete the curriculum & instruction program here. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Eastern Mennonite University generally make around $52,222. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value curriculum & instruction schools. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Typical student debt for curriculum & instruction graduates is $23,393. Soon after graduation, curriculum & instruction degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $53,202. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University came in at #8 for value in curriculum & instruction this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Curriculum & Instruction graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Early-career curriculum & instruction graduates make about $63,590. Set against $27,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.