by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. College Factual has developed its Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. This list is proof that you shouldn't avoid normally high-priced schools, since the actual price may be very affordable if you qualify for financial aid.
In This Year's Value Report:
We analyzed 41 schools across Virginia to determine which have the best value Bachelor's Degree programs. Our ranking for the best value schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a good education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Washington and Lee University the best value (income $0-$30k) school in Virginia for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Washington and Lee University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Lexington, Virginia.
Washington and Lee University has the honor of being ranked #3 in Virginia for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $769.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William & Mary. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia list. William & Mary is a medium-sized public school located in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Not only is William & Mary a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Virginia for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,579.
Out of the 41 bachelor’s degree schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Virginia - Main Campus a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Virginia for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,987.
Read full value report on University of Virginia - Main Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Tech. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia list. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Virginia Tech has the honor of being ranked #2 in Virginia for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $11,740.
A rank of #5 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia list means George Mason University is a great place for students working on their degree. GMU is located in Fairfax, Virginia and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is George Mason University a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Virginia for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $13,342.
With a ranking of #6, James Madison University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia list. JMU is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, James Madison University is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Virginia. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,588.
Virginia Military Institute ranked #7 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia list. Lexington, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Virginia Military Institute a great value, but it is also ranked #10 in Virginia for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,705.
University of Richmond did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia ranking, coming in at #8. University of Richmond is a small private not-for-profit school located in University of Richmond, Virginia.
Not only is University of Richmond a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Virginia for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $13,287.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia list. VCU is located in Richmond, Virginia and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Virginia Commonwealth University is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Virginia. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,601.
Old Dominion University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia ranking. Old Dominion is located in Norfolk, Virginia and has a large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Old Dominion University a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Virginia for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $13,765.
Radford University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia ranking. Located in Radford, Virginia, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Radford University has the honor of being ranked #21 in Virginia for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $12,335.
University of Mary Washington did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Mary Washington is ranked #19 for quality in the state of Virginia. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,549.
Norfolk State University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia list. Norfolk, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Norfolk State University a great value, but it is also ranked #33 in Virginia for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $10,761.
Randolph - Macon College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia ranking, coming in at #14. Randolph - Macon is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ashland, Virginia.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Randolph - Macon College is ranked #16 for quality in the state of Virginia. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $17,993.
Longwood University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia list. Longwood is a small public school situated in Farmville, Virginia.
Not only is Longwood University a great value, but it is also ranked #34 in Virginia for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,210.
Bridgewater College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia list. Bridgewater is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bridgewater, Virginia.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Bridgewater College is ranked #24 for quality in the state of Virginia. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $15,242.
Hampden - Sydney College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia.
Hampden - Sydney College has the honor of being ranked #17 in Virginia for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $19,494.
Strayer University - Virginia landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia ranking. Located in Arlington, Virginia, the school is a small private for-profit institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Strayer University - Virginia is ranked #14 for quality in the state of Virginia. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $20,047.
Emory and Henry College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia ranking, coming in at #19. Emory and Henry College is a small private not-for-profit school located in Emory, Virginia.
Not only is Emory and Henry College a great value, but it is also ranked #23 in Virginia for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $17,679.
Christopher Newport University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia ranking, coming in at #20. Christopher Newport University is a small public school located in Newport News, Virginia.
Not only is Christopher Newport University a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in Virginia for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $21,160.
With a ranking of #21, Eastern Mennonite University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia list. Eastern Mennonite is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Not only is Eastern Mennonite University a great value, but it is also ranked #15 in Virginia for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $21,176.
With a ranking of #22, Regent University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia list. Regent University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Regent University has the honor of being ranked #25 in Virginia for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $17,055.
Bluefield College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia ranking, coming in at #23. Bluefield, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Bluefield College is ranked #30 for quality in the state of Virginia. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $16,476.
Mary Baldwin University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia list. Mary Baldwin is a private not-for-profit institution located in Staunton, Virginia.
Not only is Mary Baldwin University a great value, but it is also ranked #35 in Virginia for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $14,820.
Shenandoah University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia ranking. Shenandoah University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Winchester, Virginia.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Shenandoah University is ranked #12 for quality in the state of Virginia. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $21,992.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
