2027 Best Value General Physics Schools in Virginia
[General Physics](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/general-physics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general physics schools.
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2027 Best Value General Physics Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general physics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Physics Schools
George Mason University tops our 2027 list of the best value general physics schools 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, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $23,529. Early-career general physics graduates make about $63,131. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
College Of William And Mary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general physics, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. General Physics graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. General Physics graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $53,338 early in their careers. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. College Of William And Mary admits about 34% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general physics, landing the #3 spot this year. 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, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general physics graduates is $18,627. General Physics graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Students looking for strong value in general physics will find it at James Madison University, which ranked #4. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. General Physics graduates carry a median of $21,218 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $52,997. That is a strong return on a $21,218 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Commonwealth University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general physics, landing the #5 spot 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 $25,250 to complete the general physics program here. General Physics graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $39,804 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #6 spot for general physics value this year. 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. General Physics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. General Physics graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $58,061 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Liberty University earned the #7 position for value in general physics this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Students borrow a median of $27,414 to complete the general physics program here. Soon after graduation, general physics degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $45,877. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
