2023 Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k
16
Ranked Colleges
1,329
Degrees Awarded
$13,600
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Economics is the 19th most popular major in the country with 49,055 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $48,736 and had an average of $22,046 in loans still to pay off.
Across Virginia, there were 1,329 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $54,485 and $22,499 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 16 colleges that offer a degree in economics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent economics programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the economics program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k
The colleges and universities below are the best for virginia economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
Top 16 Best Value Colleges for Economics (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia
Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington and Lee University landed the #1 spot on the list. Washington and Lee University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lexington, Virginia. It awarded 63 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
Washington and Lee not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Washington and Lee is $205 for Virginia Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% 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 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Economics at Washington and Lee
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, and it awarded 528 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
University of Virginia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Virginia - Main Campus is $12,476 for Virginia Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Economics at University of Virginia
Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, William & Mary landed the #3 spot on the list. William & Mary is a medium-sized public school situated in Williamsburg, Virginia. It awarded 127 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
William & Mary also made our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #5. It costs about $5,972 for Virginia Economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend William & Mary.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.
Full William & Mary Economics Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Richmond. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Richmond, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s economics degrees to 47 students in 2020-2021.
URichmond also took the #4 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $8,010 for virginia economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend URichmond.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full URichmond Economics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Tech. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in Blacksburg, Virginia, and it awarded 102 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
Virginia Tech also took the #2 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $11,934 for Virginia Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Full Virginia Tech Economics Report
Virginia Military Institute came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Lexington, Virginia, this small public school awarded 48 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
VMI also made our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #10. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Military Institute is $10,556 for Virginia Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 more about Economics at VMI
James Madison University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. JMU is a large school located in Harrisonburg, Virginia that handed out 57 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at JMU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend James Madison University is $14,288 for virginia economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 more about Economics at James Madison University
George Mason University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, this large public school awarded 202 degrees to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
GMU also made our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend George Mason University is $14,781 for virginia economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Economics at GMU
With a ranking of #9, Old Dominion University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Norfolk, Virginia, and it awarded 10 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
Old Dominion did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Old Dominion is $13,335 for Virginia Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Economics at Old Dominion University
University of Mary Washington ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and it awarded 24 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMW, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMW is $14,589 for Virginia Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UMW Economics Report
Radford University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Radford University is located in Radford, Virginia and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
Radford also took the #16 spot in our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Radford University is $11,420 for virginia economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
Read full report on Economics at Radford University
Roanoke College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Salem, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified ’s economics students in 2020-2021.
Roanoke also made our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend Roanoke College is $20,495 for virginia economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Roanoke Economics Report
Christopher Newport University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Newport News, Virginia, and it awarded 19 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.
CNU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Christopher Newport University is $15,862 for virginia economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Economics at CNU
University of Lynchburg came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s economics degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our virginia economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, Lynchburg has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lynchburg is $17,706 for Virginia Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Economics at Lynchburg
Randolph - Macon College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. Randolph - Macon is located in Ashland, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our virginia economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, Randolph - Macon has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Economics Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Randolph - Macon College is $20,454 for virginia economics students whose families make $0-$30k.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Randolph - Macon Economics Report
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