2026 Best Value Value Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Our analysis ranked George Mason University the best value for a degree in value in Virginia. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $63,131 early in their careers. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Value graduates carry a median of $23,813 in student loans. Value graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $57,000 early in their careers. Set against $23,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $60,004. Set against $23,393 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong value education at a price that pays off.
