2026 Best Value Value Schools in Virginia
[Value](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/data-analytics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Value Schools in Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
For return on investment in value, no school beat George Mason University this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. 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. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value value schools. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $57,000. 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. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Value graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $60,004. That is a strong return on a $23,393 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 12 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.
