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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Economics in Virginia

27 Ranked Colleges
1,329 Degrees Awarded
$32,200 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2020-2021, 49,055 people earned their degree in economics, making the major the 19th most popular in the United States. 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.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia” ranking looked at 27 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in economics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular economics programs in the United States.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia

The colleges and universities below are the best for virginia economics students.

1
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia. University of Virginia is a large school located in Charlottesville, Virginia that handed out 528 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Economics at University of Virginia

2
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend George Mason University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia list. GMU is located in Fairfax, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 202 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at GMU

3
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William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

Out of the 27 schools in the Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, William & Mary landed the #3 spot on the list. William & Mary is a public institution located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 127 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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

4
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Out of the 27 schools in the Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Tech landed the #4 spot on the list. Virginia Tech is a large school located in Blacksburg, Virginia that handed out 102 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

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 1.2% 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%.

Read full report on Economics at Virginia Tech

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Washington and Lee University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia. This small school is located in Lexington, Virginia, and it awarded 63 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Economics at Washington and Lee University

6
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James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University ranked #6 on this year’s Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia list. Harrisonburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s economics degrees to 57 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 full report on Economics at JMU

7
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Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, Virginia

Virginia Military Institute landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking. VMI is a small public school situated in Lexington, Virginia. It awarded 48 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

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 full report on Economics at VMI

8
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University of Richmond
University of Richmond, Virginia

With a ranking of #8, University of Richmond did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia 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.

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. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 University of Richmond Economics Report

9
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Hampden - Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, Virginia

Hampden - Sydney College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking. This small school is located in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, and it awarded 36 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Hampden - Sydney

10
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University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, Virginia

University of Mary Washington came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking. University of Mary Washington is a public institution located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at University of Mary Washington

11
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Christopher Newport University
Newport News, Virginia

With a ranking of #11, Christopher Newport University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia list. Christopher Newport University is a small school located in Newport News, Virginia that handed out 19 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full CNU Economics Report

12
Marymount crest
Marymount University
Arlington, Virginia

Marymount University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking. Marymount is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Arlington, Virginia. It awarded 16 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Marymount Economics Report

13
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Radford University
Radford, Virginia

Radford University ranked #13 on this year’s Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia list. Radford University is a public institution located in Radford, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Radford University Economics Report

14
Lynchburg crest
University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia

University of Lynchburg ranked #14 on this year’s Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia list. University of Lynchburg is located in Lynchburg, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 9 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

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

Read full report on Economics at University of Lynchburg

14
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Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

Old Dominion University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking. Old Dominion University is a public institution located in Norfolk, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Old Dominion University Economics Report

16
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Randolph - Macon College
Ashland, Virginia

Randolph - Macon College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking. Randolph - Macon College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Ashland, Virginia. It awarded 7 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 College

17
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Randolph College
Lynchburg, Virginia

Randolph College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking. Randolph is a small school located in Lynchburg, Virginia that handed out 5 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate 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. 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 Randolph Economics Report

18
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Hollins University
Roanoke, Virginia

Hollins University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #18. Hollins University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Roanoke, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Hollins Economics Report

18
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Longwood University
Farmville, Virginia

Longwood University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #18. Longwood is located in Farmville, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Longwood

18
Roanoke crest
Roanoke College
Salem, Virginia

Roanoke College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #18. This small school is located in Salem, Virginia, and it awarded 3 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%.

Full Roanoke Economics Report

21
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Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, Virginia

Bridgewater College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #21. Bridgewater College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bridgewater, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Bridgewater College Economics Report

21

Emory and Henry College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking. This small school is located in Emory, Virginia, and it awarded 2 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate 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 Emory & Henry College

21

With a ranking of #21, Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia list. VCU is located in Richmond, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s economics degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Economics at Virginia Commonwealth University

24
Mary Baldwin crest
Mary Baldwin University
Staunton, Virginia

Mary Baldwin University came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking. Mary Baldwin University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Staunton, Virginia. It awarded 1 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Economics at Mary Baldwin University

25

Strayer University - Virginia did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #25. This small school is located in Arlington, Virginia, and it awarded 0 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Economics at Strayer University - Virginia

25
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Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, Virginia

Sweet Briar College landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking. Sweet Briar College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sweet Briar, Virginia. It awarded 0 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

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 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 Sweet Briar College

25
Eastern Mennonite crest
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

Eastern Mennonite University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Economics Major in Virginia ranking, coming in at #25. Eastern Mennonite University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It awarded 0 ’s economics degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate 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 Eastern Mennonite University

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