There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Associate Degree Colleges in Virginia ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
We analyzed 34 colleges and universities across Virginia to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Early-Career Salaries Are Higher
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a associate degree from the school. A associate degree holder from a school in Virginia makes an average starting salary of $33,630, but the students who attended schools in the top 24 of our list make an average of $34,504.
Starting Salary ( 29120 to 39214 )
Average Student Debt
In addition to average starting salaries, we also consider the average amount of student loans that students take on while pursuing their associate degree.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients from schools in Virginia have accumulated an average of $19,964 in student debt.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Associate Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
If you'd rather work on your associate degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Virginia Tech tops this year’s ranking as the best school for associate degrees in Virginia for overall quality. Virginia Tech is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 30 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Virginia Tech make an average of $33,436 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,000 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $291 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Out of the 34 associate degree schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, ECPI University landed the #2 spot on the list. ECPI University is a private for-profit institution located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2,049 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from ECPI University is $34,474 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $23,372 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $106 for a 10-year repayment plan.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northern Virginia Community College. The school came in at #3 in Virginia on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Located in Annandale, Virginia, the large public school handed out 6,023 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Northern Virginia Community College make an average of $37,936 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $14,412.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Radford University. The school came in at #4 in Virginia on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Located in Radford, Virginia, the medium-sized public school handed out 48 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Radford make an average of $48,523 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $30,250 after getting their degree.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Liberty University. The school came in at #5 in Virginia on this year’s best associate degree schools ranking. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 1,146 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $29,174 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $28,303 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #6, Richard Bland College of William and Mary did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. RBC is a public institution located in South Prince George, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 191 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from RBC make an average of $21,038 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,841. This translates to an average monthly payment of $129 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Strayer University - Virginia ranked #7 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in Arlington, Virginia, the small private for-profit school handed out 184 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Strayer University - Virginia go into careers with an average salary of $42,325 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $33,207 in student loans.
With a ranking of #8, Southside Virginia Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. Alberta, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 433 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $30,026 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $6,808 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #9, Germanna Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. Germanna Community College is located in Locust Grove, Virginia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,005 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $37,594 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,650 in student loans.
With a ranking of #10, John Tyler Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. This medium-sized public school is located in Chester, Virginia, and it awarded 988 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from John Tyler Community College is $34,207 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,815 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #11, Tidewater Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. Tidewater Community College is a fairly large public school located in Norfolk, Virginia that handed out 2,414 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Tidewater Community College go into careers with an average salary of $32,624 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $14,683.
With a ranking of #12, South University, Virginia Beach did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. South University, Virginia Beach is a small private for-profit school situated in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It awarded 13 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $31,040 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $31,000 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $165.
Patrick Henry Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Patrick Henry Community College is a small public school located in Martinsville, Virginia that handed out 368 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Patrick Henry go into careers with an average salary of $35,206 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,076 in student loans.
Regent University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 34 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Piedmont Virginia Community College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, and it awarded 454 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from PVCC make an average of $37,809 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,945.
Reynolds Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #16. This medium-sized public school is located in Richmond, Virginia, and it awarded 1,121 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Reynolds Community College make an average of $37,787 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $16,478 in student loans.
Lord Fairfax Community College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Lord Fairfax Community College is a public institution located in Middletown, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 887 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Lord Fairfax Community College is $34,402 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $11,419.
Rappahannock Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #18. This small public school is located in Glenns, Virginia, and it awarded 268 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from RCC make an average of $36,141 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $7,501 in student loans.
Danville Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. Danville Community College is a public institution located in Danville, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 207 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Danville Community College go into careers with an average salary of $33,364 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,275 after getting their degree.
Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 368 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $31,218 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $25,349 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $131 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Central Virginia Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, the small public school handed out 435 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Central Virginia Community College is $32,599 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $9,375 in student loans.
Thomas Nelson Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #22. This medium-sized public school is located in Hampton, Virginia, and it awarded 801 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from TNCC make an average of $31,974 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,445.
Virginia Western Community College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Virginia Western Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Roanoke, Virginia. It awarded 669 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Virginia Western Community College make an average of $34,129 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,464 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #24, New River Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia list. New River Community College is a small public school located in Dublin, Virginia that handed out 510 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $37,886 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $13,700 in student loans.
Blue Ridge Community College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. BRCC is a public institution located in Weyers Cave, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 489 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from BRCC make an average of $33,198 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $12,511.
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%.
college factual
