2026 Best Value Educational Administration Schools in Virginia
[Educational Administration](/majors/education/educational-administration/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for educational administration students.
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2026 Best Value Educational Administration Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in educational administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Educational Administration Schools
For return on investment in educational administration, no school beat Old Dominion University this year. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $26,001 in student loans. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $63,648. Set against $26,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
George Mason University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value educational administration schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Educational Administration graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $84,096 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in educational administration will find it at Radford University, which ranked #3. Set in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,548, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $25,514 in student loans. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $59,061. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia State University earned it the #4 place for educational administration. Located in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $10,043 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,650. Students borrow a median of $29,010 to complete the educational administration program here. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $94,220. That is a strong return on a $29,010 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
A rank of #5 makes Virginia Commonwealth University one of the best values for educational administration. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete the educational administration program here. Educational Administration graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $89,763 early in their careers. Set against $23,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University came in at #6 for value in educational administration this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Students borrow a median of $21,218 to complete the educational administration program here. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $52,997. That is a strong return on a $21,218 median debt. James Madison University admits about 72% of applicants.
Regent University earned the #7 position for value in educational administration this year. 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 educational administration graduates is $29,451. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $63,312. That is a strong return on a $29,451 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
College Of William And Mary earned the #8 position for value in educational administration this year. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,734, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,935 to complete the educational administration program here. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $79,083. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. College Of William And Mary admits about 34% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for educational administration. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $18,627. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $63,369. Set against $18,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #10 for value in educational administration this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete the educational administration program here. Educational Administration graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $70,412 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Marymount University came in at #11 for value in educational administration this year. Set in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,120 in tuition and fees. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $26,880 in student loans. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $58,028. That is a strong return on a $26,880 median debt. Marymount University admits about 93% of applicants.
Liberty University landed the #12 spot for educational administration value this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $27,414. Educational Administration graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $60,296 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Shenandoah University came in at #13 for value in educational administration this year. Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winchester. Students from in state pay about $36,950 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $26,005. Early-career educational administration graduates make about $62,948. Set against $26,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Shenandoah University admits about 77% of applicants.
Hampton University earned the #14 position for value in educational administration this year. Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hampton. Students from in state pay about $30,592 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for educational administration graduates is $26,169. Soon after graduation, educational administration degree recipients from Hampton University generally make around $46,870. That is a strong return on a $26,169 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
University Of Richmond earned the #15 position for value in educational administration this year. Located in the city of University of Richmond, University Of Richmond is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,230. Educational Administration graduates carry a median of $21,634 in student loans. Educational Administration graduates of University Of Richmond earn a median of $53,815 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,634 median debt. The acceptance rate is 22%.
More Educational Administration Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
