There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges in Virginia ranking is part of that endeavor.
Our analysis looked at 40 schools in Virginia to determine which ones have the best bachelor's 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
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of bachelor's graduates during the early years of their career. While bachelor's degree recipients from schools in Virginia earn an average starting salary of $39,553, those from the top 24 school on this list made an average of $40,141.
Starting Salary ( 33406 to 46712 )
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 bachelor's degree.
Upon graduation, bachelor's degree recipients from schools in Virginia have accumulated an average of $27,844 in student debt.
The average debt load at a particular school may not be bad, but it's an important thing to consider in conjunction with post-graduation earnings.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Bachelor's 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 bachelor's 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.
Our analysis found University of Virginia - Main Campus to be the best school for bachelor’s degrees in Virginia in this year’s ranking. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, the large public school handed out 5,493 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from University of Virginia make an average of $47,801 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $19,228. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $383.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Washington and Lee University helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Virginia. Washington and Lee is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lexington, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 585 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Washington and Lee make an average of $51,702 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $23,666 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $838.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Tech. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, the large public school handed out 7,699 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $47,788 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $24,250 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $426 for a 10-year repayment plan.
A rank of #4 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in Virginia list means William & Mary is a great place for students working on their degree. William & Mary is a public institution located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,983 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from William & Mary make an average of $40,570 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $19,322. This translates to an average monthly payment of $447 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Out of the 40 bachelor’s degree schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, George Mason University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, the large public school awarded 6,388 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from GMU is $42,617 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $23,030 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $355 for a 10-year repayment plan.
James Madison University landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the large public school awarded 5,002 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from JMU is $40,876 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $21,384 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $394 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Richmond, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 5,512 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from VCU make an average of $37,443 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $24,985 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $227 for a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Richmond ranked #8 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in University of Richmond, Virginia, and it awarded 984 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from URichmond go into careers with an average salary of $43,059 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $22,128. Average monthly loan payments are around $573 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Virginia Military Institute landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. VMI is located in Lexington, Virginia and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 413 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from VMI is $40,578 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $22,423.
Liberty University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 10,381 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Liberty University make an average of $35,286 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $28,875 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $420 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Eastern Mennonite University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #11. Eastern Mennonite University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Harrisonburg, Virginia that handed out 240 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Mennonite make an average of $52,497 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $27,021.
With a ranking of #12, Old Dominion University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Norfolk, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 4,024 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion is $39,465 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $25,690. This translates to an average monthly payment of $199 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Shenandoah University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #13. Winchester, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 567 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Shenandoah make an average of $32,153 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,050 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $544 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Marymount University landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Arlington, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 570 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Marymount go into careers with an average salary of $39,549 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $27,400 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $541 for a 10-year repayment plan.
ECPI University landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. ECPI University is a private for-profit institution located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1,310 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $43,471 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $35,620 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $175.
Christopher Newport University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. CNU is a public institution located in Newport News, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,200 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from CNU go into careers with an average salary of $33,845 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,144 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $432 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Hampden - Sydney College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Located in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 230 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Hampden - Sydney is $41,498 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,727 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $726 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
University of Mary Washington did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #18. UMW is a public institution located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,083 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UMW is $35,641 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $22,301 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $371.
Randolph - Macon College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Randolph - Macon is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Ashland, Virginia. It awarded 400 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Randolph - Macon make an average of $36,361 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,549. This translates to an average monthly payment of $412 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Radford University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #20. Radford is a public institution located in Radford, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,766 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Radford go into careers with an average salary of $36,497 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,844 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $240 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Roanoke College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Salem, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 458 students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $32,335 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,907. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $368.
Strayer University - Virginia did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #22. Strayer University - Virginia is a small private for-profit school located in Arlington, Virginia that handed out 667 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Strayer University - Virginia go into careers with an average salary of $51,854 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $48,775 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $121 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Regent University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Regent is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Virginia Beach, Virginia. It awarded 677 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $28,098 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $29,051. Average monthly loan payments are around $239 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Bridgewater College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Bridgewater, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 342 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Bridgewater make an average of $32,393 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $25,989. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $316.
Longwood University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Longwood is a public institution located in Farmville, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 777 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $25,049. Average monthly loan payments are around $371 for a 10-year repayment plan.
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%.
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