2027 Best Value English Schools in Virginia
[English](/majors/english-language-literature/general-english-language-literature/english/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value english schools.
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2027 Best Value English Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in english, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value English Schools
For return on investment in english, no school beat The University Of Virginias College At Wise this year. Set in the town of Wise, The University Of Virginias College At Wise is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,780, compared with $28,010 for out-of-state students. English graduates carry a median of $17,714 in student loans. English graduates of The University Of Virginias College At Wise earn a median of $43,988 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 28%.
Students looking for strong value in english will find it at Virginia Military Institute, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Lexington, Virginia Military Institute is a small public university. Students from in state pay about $21,046 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $52,638. English graduates carry a median of $22,309 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $47,915. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Military Institute admits about 71% of applicants.
Old Dominion University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value english schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Typical student debt for english graduates is $28,676. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Old Dominion University generally make around $36,054. Set against $28,676 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Radford University earned it the #4 place for english. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,548, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete the english program here. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $25,407. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
George Mason University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value english schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $22,502. English graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $47,348 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
College Of William And Mary earned the #6 position for value in english this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $40,697. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
Longwood University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value english schools. Set in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,740, while out-of-state students pay about $27,980. Students borrow a median of $26,500 to complete the english program here. English graduates of Longwood University earn a median of $40,167 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for english. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Typical student debt for english graduates is $15,000. Early-career english graduates make about $40,092. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary Washington ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value english schools. Set in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,905, with out-of-state students paying around $28,083. Typical student debt for english graduates is $23,990. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from University Of Mary Washington generally make around $30,540. That is a strong return on a $23,990 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University earned the #10 position for value in english this year. 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. English graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $23,986. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University placed #11 among the best values for english. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. English graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans. Early-career english graduates make about $26,049. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Christopher Newport University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value english schools. Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Newport News. Students from in state pay about $16,828 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,178 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for english graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Christopher Newport University generally make around $29,310. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Christopher Newport University admits about 86% of applicants.
Washington And Lee University landed the #13 spot for english value this year. Washington And Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lexington. Students from in state pay about $68,045 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,074 to complete the english program here. English 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.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #14 for value in english this year. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,750 to complete the english program here. Early-career english graduates make about $27,005. That is a strong return on a $22,750 median debt. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #15 position for value in english this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Typical student debt for english graduates is $21,625. Soon after graduation, english degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $39,155. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Hampton University landed the #16 spot for english value this year. Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hampton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,592. English graduates carry a median of $26,169 in student loans. English graduates of Hampton University earn a median of $46,870 early in their careers. Set against $26,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Liberty University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value english schools. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for english graduates is $24,850. Early-career english graduates make about $32,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
