2026 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in Virginia
[Higher Education/Higher Education Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/higher-education-higher-education-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong higher education/higher education administration education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools.
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2026 Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in higher education/higher education administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Higher Education/Higher Education Administration Schools
George Mason University earned the #1 spot for value among higher education/higher education administration schools in Virginia. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Higher Education/higher Education Administration graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $84,096. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in higher education/higher education administration will find it at Regent University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Typical student debt for higher education/higher education administration graduates is $29,451. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $50,406. That is a strong return on a $29,451 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $63,369. That is a strong return on a $18,627 median debt. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value higher education/higher education administration schools. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Soon after graduation, higher education/higher education administration degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $70,412. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Liberty University earned it the #5 place for higher education/higher education administration. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Students borrow a median of $27,414 to complete the higher education/higher education administration program here. Early-career higher education/higher education administration graduates make about $60,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. 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. 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
