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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Economics in Virginia

20 Ranked Colleges
1,278 Degrees Awarded
$22,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor's in Virginia

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Economics is the 18th most popular major in the country with 48,831 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, economics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $47,295 and had an average of $21,978 in loans still to pay off.

Across Virginia, there were 1,392 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $47,150 and $23,646 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,278 economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia” ranking looked at 20 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in economics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great economics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the economics program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia.

Top 20 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Economics in Virginia

#1

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s economics degrees to 511 students in 2019-2020.

University of Virginia also made our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #1. It costs about $20,397 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Economics students per year to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low 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 full report on Economics at University of Virginia - Main Campus

#2

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Tech landed the #2 spot on the list. Blacksburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s economics degrees to 116 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our virginia bachelor’s degree economics students list, Virginia Tech has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Virginia Tech is $21,198 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.

The low 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full Virginia Tech Economics Report

#3

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, James Madison University landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, this large public school handed out 61 degrees to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at JMU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $22,169 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Economics students per year to attend JMU.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Economics at JMU

#4

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend George Mason University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia. GMU is located in Fairfax, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 132 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

GMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $21,048 for virginia bachelor’s degree economics students per year to attend George Mason University.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full GMU Economics Report

#5

Virginia Military Institute

Lexington, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Military Institute. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Lexington, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s economics degrees to 50 students in 2019-2020.

VMI also took the #7 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Virginia Military Institute is $17,804 for virginia bachelor’s degree economics students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Virginia Military Institute Economics Report

#6

Christopher Newport University

Newport News, Virginia

Christopher Newport University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. CNU is located in Newport News, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 35 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

CNU also made our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend CNU is $25,596 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Economics at CNU

#7

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia

With a ranking of #7, William & Mary did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, this medium-sized public school awarded 142 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

William & Mary also made our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #3. The estimated yearly cost for William & Mary is $19,800 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Economics at William & Mary

#8

University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg, Virginia

University of Mary Washington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking, coming in at #8. University of Mary Washington is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

UMW also took the #16 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Mary Washington is $21,907 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.0% 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 UMW

#9

Radford University

Radford, Virginia

Radford University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking, coming in at #9. Radford is located in Radford, Virginia and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our virginia bachelor’s degree economics students list, Radford has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $16,447 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Economics students per year to attend Radford.

Read full report on Economics at Radford University

#10

Longwood University

Farmville, Virginia
#17 in overall quality

Longwood University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Longwood is a small public school situated in Farmville, Virginia. It awarded 4 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Longwood also made our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #17. The estimated yearly cost for Longwood University is $19,462 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.

Read full report on Economics at Longwood

#11

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, Virginia
#18 in overall quality

Old Dominion University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. This large school is located in Norfolk, Virginia, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Old Dominion did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Old Dominion is $16,493 for virginia bachelor’s degree economics students.

Read more about Economics at Old Dominion University

#12

Emory and Henry College

Emory, Virginia
#12 in overall quality

Emory and Henry College landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. Emory and Henry College is a small school located in Emory, Virginia that handed out 5 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Emory & Henry College, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $18,593 for virginia bachelor’s degree economics students per year to attend Emory and Henry College.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Economics at Emory & Henry College

#13

Marymount University

Arlington, Virginia
#15 in overall quality

Marymount University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking, coming in at #13. This small school is located in Arlington, Virginia, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Marymount, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Marymount University is $26,078 for virginia bachelor’s degree economics students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Marymount University

#14

Bridgewater College

Bridgewater, Virginia
#13 in overall quality

Bridgewater College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Bridgewater is located in Bridgewater, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s economics degrees to qualified students.

Bridgewater also made our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Bridgewater College is $17,929 for virginia bachelor’s degree economics students.

Read full report on Economics at Bridgewater

#15

Randolph - Macon College

Ashland, Virginia

Randolph - Macon College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking, coming in at #15. Randolph - Macon College is a small school located in Ashland, Virginia that handed out 14 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Randolph - Macon, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $26,370 for virginia bachelor’s degree economics students per year to attend Randolph - Macon.

The low student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Economics at Randolph - Macon

#16

University of Lynchburg

Lynchburg, Virginia
#20 in overall quality

University of Lynchburg did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 degrees to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

Lynchburg did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Lynchburg is $23,207 for virginia bachelor’s degree economics students.

The impressive 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.

Read more about Economics at University of Lynchburg

#17

Roanoke College

Salem, Virginia
#10 in overall quality

Roanoke College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. Located in Salem, Virginia, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 11 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s economics students in 2019-2020.

Roanoke did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Roanoke College is $25,135 for virginia bachelor’s degree economics students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Economics at Roanoke

#18

Hampden - Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney, Virginia

With a ranking of #18, Hampden - Sydney College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia list. Hampden-Sydney, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s economics degrees to 23 students in 2019-2020.

Hampden - Sydney not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for Hampden - Sydney is $31,227 for Virginia Bachelor’s Degree Economics students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%.

Read full report on Economics at Hampden - Sydney

#19

University of Richmond

University of Richmond, Virginia

University of Richmond landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking. University of Richmond, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s economics degrees to 42 students in 2019-2020.

URichmond not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Richmond is $25,838 for virginia bachelor’s degree economics students.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive 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 more about Economics at URichmond

#20

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, Virginia

Washington and Lee University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Virginia ranking, coming in at #20. Washington and Lee is a small school located in Lexington, Virginia that handed out 56 bachelors’s economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Washington and Lee also took the #2 spot in our “Best Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Washington and Lee University is $22,615 for virginia bachelor’s degree economics students.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Washington and Lee

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to pixabay.

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