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2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid

30 Ranked Colleges
14,893 Degrees Awarded
$9,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that decision.

With 556,813 degrees handed out in 2020-2021, liberal arts general studies is the 1st most popular major in the United States. In 2019-2020, liberal arts general studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $28,337 and had an average of $17,430 in loans still to pay off.

Across Virginia, there were 14,893 liberal arts general studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $27,025 and $13,423 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 30 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in liberal arts general studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts general studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts general studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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The liberal arts school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid”.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for virginia liberal arts students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Liberal Arts General Studies in Virginia (With Aid)

1

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Virginia Community College. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid. Northern Virginia Community College is a large school located in Annandale, Virginia that handed out 3,606 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our virginia liberal arts students with aid list, Northern Virginia Community College has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Northern Virginia Community College is $9,452 for Virginia Liberal Arts students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Northern Virginia Community College

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend John Tyler Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Chester, Virginia, this medium-sized public school handed out 582 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

John Tyler Community College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $5,959 for Virginia Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend John Tyler Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at John Tyler Community College

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Tidewater Community College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid. Norfolk, Virginia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 641 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Tidewater Community College, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Tidewater Community College is $7,312 for virginia liberal arts students with aid.

Full Tidewater Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southside Virginia Community College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid. Southside Virginia Community College is a small public school situated in Alberta, Virginia. It awarded 504 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our virginia liberal arts students with aid list, Southside Virginia Community College has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $6,239 for Virginia Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend Southside Virginia Community College.

Full Southside Virginia Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

5
Patrick Henry crest
Patrick Henry Community College
Martinsville, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Patrick Henry Community College. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid. Martinsville, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 422 students in 2020-2021.

Patrick Henry also took the #18 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Patrick Henry Community College is $4,820 for virginia liberal arts students with aid.

Full Patrick Henry Liberal Arts General Studies Report

6
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Germanna Community College
Locust Grove, Virginia

Germanna Community College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking. Germanna Community College is a medium-sized school located in Locust Grove, Virginia that handed out 1,440 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Germanna Community College also took the #11 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Germanna Community College is $7,253 for virginia liberal arts students with aid.

Full Germanna Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

7
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Wytheville Community College
Wytheville, Virginia

Wytheville Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. WCC is a small school located in Wytheville, Virginia that handed out 224 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for WCC is $2,462 for Virginia Liberal Arts students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Wytheville Community College

8
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Lord Fairfax Community College
Middletown, Virginia

Lord Fairfax Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Middletown, Virginia, and it awarded 782 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Lord Fairfax Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $6,406 for Virginia Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend Lord Fairfax Community College.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Lord Fairfax Community College

9

Virginia Western Community College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking. Virginia Western Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Roanoke, Virginia. It awarded 119 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Virginia Western Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Western Community College is $6,428 for virginia liberal arts students with aid.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Virginia Western Community College

10
Danville Community College crest
Danville Community College
Danville, Virginia

Danville Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking. Danville Community College is a small school located in Danville, Virginia that handed out 236 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

Danville Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Danville Community College is $7,823 for Virginia Liberal Arts students with aid.

Full Danville Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

11
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Piedmont Virginia Community College
Charlottesville, Virginia

With a ranking of #11, Piedmont Virginia Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid list. PVCC is a public institution located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 587 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our virginia liberal arts students with aid list, PVCC has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $6,913 for Virginia Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend PVCC.

Full Piedmont Virginia Community College Liberal Arts General Studies Report

12

Dabney S Lancaster Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Clifton Forge, Virginia, this small public school awarded 128 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

DSLCC also made our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #21. The yearly cost to attend DSLCC is $4,985 for Virginia Liberal Arts students with aid.

Full DSLCC Liberal Arts General Studies Report

13
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George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking. GMU is a large public school situated in Fairfax, Virginia. It awarded 362 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our virginia liberal arts students with aid list, GMU has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for George Mason University is $19,551 for Virginia Liberal Arts students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full GMU Liberal Arts General Studies Report

14

Central Virginia Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking. Central Virginia Community College is located in Lynchburg, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 648 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

Central Virginia Community College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Central Virginia Community College is $4,869 for virginia liberal arts students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at Central Virginia Community College

15

Rappahannock Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. RCC is a small public school situated in Glenns, Virginia. It awarded 438 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

RCC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $5,921 for Virginia Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend Rappahannock Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Rappahannock Community College

16

Paul D Camp Community College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Franklin, Virginia, this small public school handed out 71 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

It costs about $4,435 for virginia liberal arts students with aid per year to attend Paul D Camp Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Paul D Camp Community College

17
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking. Harrisonburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s liberal arts degrees to 263 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at JMU, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for James Madison University is $22,562 for virginia liberal arts students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at James Madison University

18

New River Community College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking. New River Community College is a public institution located in Dublin, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 355 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

It costs about $6,475 for virginia liberal arts students with aid per year to attend NRCC.

Full NRCC Liberal Arts General Studies Report

19

Virginia Highlands Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking. VHCC is a small public school situated in Abingdon, Virginia. It awarded 250 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Highlands Community College is $5,964 for Virginia Liberal Arts students with aid.

Read more about Liberal Arts General Studies at VHCC

20
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Blue Ridge Community College
Weyers Cave, Virginia

With a ranking of #20, Blue Ridge Community College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid list. Blue Ridge Community College is located in Weyers Cave, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 535 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at BRCC, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $9,551 for virginia liberal arts students with aid per year to attend Blue Ridge Community College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at BRCC

21

Southwest Virginia Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking. Southwest Virginia is located in Richlands, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 215 ’s liberal arts degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $6,933 for Virginia Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend Southwest Virginia.

Full Southwest Virginia Liberal Arts General Studies Report

22
UMW crest
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, Virginia

University of Mary Washington did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. This small school is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and it awarded 118 ’s liberal arts degrees in 2020-2021.

UMW also took the #4 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $23,193 for Virginia Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend University of Mary Washington.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at UMW

23
Bridgewater crest
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, Virginia

With a ranking of #23, Bridgewater College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid list. Bridgewater College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bridgewater, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Bridgewater also took the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Bridgewater is $20,457 for virginia liberal arts students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Bridgewater College

24
Eastern Mennonite crest
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

Eastern Mennonite University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid list. Eastern Mennonite University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Eastern Mennonite did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $21,842 for Virginia Liberal Arts students with aid per year to attend Eastern Mennonite.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts General Studies at Eastern Mennonite University

25
Mary Baldwin crest
Mary Baldwin University
Staunton, Virginia

Mary Baldwin University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts Schools in Virginia For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Staunton, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 33 degrees to qualified ’s liberal arts students in 2020-2021.

Mary Baldwin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Liberal Arts General Studies Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mary Baldwin University is $18,354 for virginia liberal arts students with aid.

Full Mary Baldwin University Liberal Arts General Studies Report

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