2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in Virginia
[General Engineering](/majors/engineering/general-engineering/other-general-engineering/) 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 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general engineering students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value General Engineering Schools in Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general engineering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Engineering Schools
For return on investment in general engineering, no school beat John Tyler Community College this year. John Tyler Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Chester. Students from in state pay about $5,082 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,520 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $11,262. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $36,623. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Virginia Western Community College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $13,715. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $36,245. That is a strong return on a $13,715 median debt.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, compared with $11,718 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $36,965. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Germanna Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. Germanna Community College is a large public school located in the rural area of Locust Grove. Students from in state pay about $5,257 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,648. Students borrow a median of $10,999 to complete the general engineering program here. General Engineering graduates of Germanna Community College earn a median of $41,880 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,999 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Piedmont Virginia Community College earned it the #5 place for general engineering. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,072 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,510 for out-of-state students. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $12,495 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Piedmont Virginia Community College generally make around $46,129. That is a strong return on a $12,495 median debt.
Lord Fairfax Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the rural area of Middletown, Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,072, compared with $11,510 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $10,698. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Lord Fairfax Community College generally make around $37,531. That is a strong return on a $10,698 median debt.
Northern Virginia Community College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $16,790. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt.
Thomas Nelson Community College placed #8 among the best values for general engineering. Set in the suburb of Hampton, Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,088 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,526. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $14,402. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Thomas Nelson Community College generally make around $36,758. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tidewater Community College landed the #9 spot for general engineering value this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,858, compared with $12,296 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $12,250. General Engineering graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of $68,555 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,250 median debt.
Old Dominion University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete the general engineering program here. Early-career general engineering graduates make about $88,224. Set against $26,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University came in at #11 for value in general engineering this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,966, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the general engineering program here. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $71,176. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Washington And Lee University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering schools. Located in the town of Lexington, Washington And Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,045 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general engineering graduates is $20,074. General Engineering graduates of Washington And Lee University earn a median of $76,810 early in their careers. Set against $20,074 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Washington And Lee University admits about 14% of applicants.
Eastern Mennonite University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value general engineering 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. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general engineering degree recipients from Eastern Mennonite University generally make around $55,325. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Randolph Macon College came in at #14 for value in general engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,466. General Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,432 in student loans. General Engineering graduates of Randolph Macon College earn a median of $40,317 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,432 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
More General Engineering Rankings
View All General Engineering Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.
