2027 Best Value Area Studies Schools in Virginia
[Area Studies](/majors/ethnic-cultural-gender-studies/area-studies/) 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 2 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value area studies schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Area Studies Schools in Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the area studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Area Studies Schools
College Of William And Mary tops our 2027 list of the best value area studies schools in Virginia. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,734, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for area studies graduates is $15,250. Soon after graduation, area studies degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $53,779. That is a strong return on a $15,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 34%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia Commonwealth University earned it the #2 place for area studies. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Area Studies graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, area studies degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $35,557. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
More Area Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 2 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.
