2024 Best Grad Schools in Virginia for Master's Degrees
It's not easy to decide which grad school to attend when you have so many options available. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Master's Degree Colleges in Virginia ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
Finding Your Best Grad School Match
After analyzing 32 grad schools in Virginia, we came up with our list of those that offered the best master's degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best grad 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 Earnings
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a master's degree from the school. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
Average Student Debt
Graduate students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their master's so we factor that into our rankings as well.
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 Master'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.
Find out more about our graduate school ranking methodology
Customizing Your List of Rankings
If you'd rather work on your master'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.
If you plan to take your education even further, you may want to visit our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Top Master's Degree Schools in Virginia
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
2,170
Master's Degrees Awarded
$69,366
Average Early-Career Earnings
Our 2024 rankings named University of Virginia - Main Campus the best grad school in Virginia in terms of overall quality for students working on their master’s degree. University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,170 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $69,366 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About University of Virginia - Main Campus
1,429
Master's Degrees Awarded
$65,977
Average Early-Career Earnings
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Tech. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Virginia Tech is a large public school located in Blacksburg, Virginia that handed out 1,429 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from Virginia Tech make an average of $65,977 a year.
Learn More About Virginia Tech
3,107
Master's Degrees Awarded
$70,519
Average Early-Career Earnings
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend George Mason University. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, the large public school awarded 3,107 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from GMU make an average of $70,519 a year.
Learn More About George Mason University
744
Master's Degrees Awarded
$59,000
Average Early-Career Earnings
The excellent master’s degree programs at William & Mary helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Virginia. William & Mary is a medium-sized public school located in Williamsburg, Virginia that handed out 744 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from William & Mary make an average of $59,000 per year during the early years of their career.
Learn More About William & Mary
300
Master's Degrees Awarded
$66,191
Average Early-Career Earnings
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Shenandoah University. The school came in at #5 in Virginia on this year’s best master’s degree schools ranking. Located in Winchester, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 300 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $66,191 during the early years of their career.
Full Shenandoah University Report
706
Master's Degrees Awarded
$62,149
Average Early-Career Earnings
James Madison University landed the #6 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Harrisonburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 706 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from JMU make an average of $62,149 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on James Madison University
104
Master's Degrees Awarded
$67,531
Average Early-Career Earnings
With a ranking of #7, University of Richmond did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in University of Richmond, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 104 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from URichmond make an average of $67,531 a year.
Read full report on University of Richmond
10,231
Master's Degrees Awarded
$46,894
Average Early-Career Earnings
Liberty University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #8. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lynchburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10,231 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Liberty University is $46,894 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Liberty University
1,274
Master's Degrees Awarded
$58,139
Average Early-Career Earnings
Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Richmond, Virginia, the large public school awarded 1,274 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from VCU is $58,139 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Virginia Commonwealth University
980
Master's Degrees Awarded
$62,301
Average Early-Career Earnings
With a ranking of #10, Old Dominion University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Old Dominion is a large public school situated in Norfolk, Virginia. It awarded 980 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $62,301 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Old Dominion University
438
Master's Degrees Awarded
$74,786
Average Early-Career Earnings
Marymount University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in Arlington, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 438 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Marymount make an average of $74,786 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Marymount University
79
Master's Degrees Awarded
$49,973
Average Early-Career Earnings
Eastern Mennonite University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Eastern Mennonite is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It awarded 79 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Eastern Mennonite make an average of $49,973 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Eastern Mennonite University Report
1,146
Master's Degrees Awarded
$45,533
Average Early-Career Earnings
With a ranking of #13, Regent University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Regent University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia that handed out 1,146 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Regent is $45,533 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Regent University
417
Master's Degrees Awarded
$57,575
Average Early-Career Earnings
Radford University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in Radford, Virginia, the medium-sized public school handed out 417 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Radford is $57,575 during the early years of their career.
Full Radford University Report
85
Master's Degrees Awarded
$45,461
Average Early-Career Earnings
With a ranking of #15, Christopher Newport University did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. This small public school is located in Newport News, Virginia, and it awarded 85 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, master’s degree graduates from CNU make an average of $45,461 a year.
Read full report on Christopher Newport University
181
Master's Degrees Awarded
$60,079
Average Early-Career Earnings
ECPI University landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. ECPI University is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 181 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from ECPI University is $60,079 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on ECPI University
146
Master's Degrees Awarded
$56,164
Average Early-Career Earnings
With a ranking of #17, University of Mary Washington did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. UMW is a public institution located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 146 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from UMW is $56,164 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About University of Mary Washington
30
Master's Degrees Awarded
Bridgewater College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Located in Bridgewater, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 30 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Full Bridgewater College Report
145
Master's Degrees Awarded
$54,869
Average Early-Career Earnings
Mary Baldwin University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #19. Mary Baldwin is a private not-for-profit institution located in Staunton, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 145 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, master’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $54,869 during the early years of their career.
Full Mary Baldwin University Report
204
Master's Degrees Awarded
$47,233
Average Early-Career Earnings
Longwood University did quite well in the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #20. This small public school is located in Farmville, Virginia, and it awarded 204 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Longwood is $47,233 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Longwood University
142
Master's Degrees Awarded
With a ranking of #21, Bluefield College did quite well on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in Bluefield, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 142 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Bluefield College
224
Master's Degrees Awarded
University of Management and Technology ranked #22 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. This small private for-profit school is located in Arlington, Virginia, and it awarded 224 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Learn More About University of Management and Technology
160
Master's Degrees Awarded
$48,941
Average Early-Career Earnings
University of Lynchburg landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 160 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a master’s degree from Lynchburg is $48,941 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About University of Lynchburg
78
Master's Degrees Awarded
$40,181
Average Early-Career Earnings
Emory and Henry College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Emory & Henry College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Emory, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 78 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a master’s degree from Emory & Henry College make an average of $40,181 per year during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Emory and Henry College
36
Master's Degrees Awarded
Virginia Wesleyan University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. VWU is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 master’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Read full report on Virginia Wesleyan University
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