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Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Virginia

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2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Virginia

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

22 Colleges
$22,983 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$38,951 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Social Sciences School for You

Out of the majors we analyze each year, social sciences was ranked 5th in Virginia. In fact, 7,636 were awarded in the state in 2020-2021.

There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Virginia ranking. Our analysis looked at 22 schools in Virginia to see which programs offered the best value experiences for social sciences students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

This ranking is not just a list of inexpensive schools. We also consider each school's quality, since we believe a low-quality school may not be a 'bargain' at any price. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

For nationwide and regional rankings, we use out-of-state tuition and fees in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Virginia

Check out the social sciences programs at these schools if you want to get the best value for your educational dollar.

Top 10 Best Social Sciences Schools

$5,565 Average Tuition & Fees

Our analysis found Northern Virginia Community College to be the best value school for social sciences students who want to pursue a degree in Virginia. Northern Virginia Community College is a fairly large public school located in the large suburb of Annandale.

Northern Virginia Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $5,565 in in-state tuition and fees each year. Social Sciences majors at Northern Virginia Community College take out an average of $11,000 in student loans while working on their egree.

In addition to its great value ranking, Northern Virginia Community College is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Social Sciences Schools in Virginia list.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Northern Virginia Community College

#2

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA
$10,800 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Old Dominion University. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Virginia list. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion is a public school with a very large student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Old Dominion are $10,800 per year. Social Sciences majors at Old Dominion take out an average of $24,895 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $197, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Social Sciences at Old Dominion University Report

#3

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA
$12,638 Average Tuition & Fees

A rank of #3 on this year’s list means James Madison University is a great value for social sciences students. JMU is a fairly large public school located in the small city of Harrisonburg.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at JMU are $12,638 per year. Social Sciences majors at JMU take out an average of $20,378 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $448.

In addition to its great value ranking, JMU is in the top 10% of all schools on our Best Social Sciences Schools in Virginia list.

Full Social Sciences at James Madison University Report

#4

Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, VA
$14,174 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Tech. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Virginia list. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech is a public school with a very large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Virginia Tech are $14,174 a year. While working on their degree, social sciences majors at Virginia Tech accumulate an average of around $23,198 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $450.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Virginia Tech is ranked #3 for overall quality for social sciences in Virginia.

Full Social Sciences at Virginia Tech Report

#5

Christopher Newport University

Newport News, VA
$14,924 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 22 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Christopher Newport University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in the city of Newport News, CNU is a public school with a small student population.

CNU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,924 in in-state tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, social sciences graduates from CNU carry an average student debtload of $24,150. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $427.

CNU excels when it comes to quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Social Sciences Schools in Virginia list.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Christopher Newport University

$19,785 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for social sciences students. It came in at #6 on the list. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University of Virginia is a public school with a very large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at University of Virginia are $19,785 a year. After completing their degree, social sciences graduates from University of Virginia carry an average student debtload of $18,255. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $386.

In addition to its best value ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, University of Virginia is ranked #1 for overall quality for social sciences in Virginia.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Virginia - Main Campus

#7

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA
$13,119 Average Tuition & Fees

George Mason University landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value social sciences programs. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, GMU is a public college with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at GMU are $13,119 a year. The average amount in student loans that social sciences majors at GMU take out is $22,401. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $359, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

In addition to its great value ranking, GMU is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Social Sciences Schools in Virginia list.

Full Social Sciences at George Mason University Report

#8

University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg, VA
$13,800 Average Tuition & Fees

University of Mary Washington did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for social sciences students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Fredericksburg, UMW is a public school with a small student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at UMW are $13,800 a year. The average amount in student loans that social sciences majors at UMW take out is $24,746.

Read full report on Social Sciences at University of Mary Washington

#9

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA
$16,160 Average Tuition & Fees

Liberty University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for social sciences students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in the small city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.

Liberty University undergraduate students pay an average of $16,160 in in-state tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, social sciences majors at Liberty University accumulate an average of around $25,813 in student debt.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Liberty University

#10

Radford University

Radford, VA
$11,542 Average Tuition & Fees

Radford University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Virginia list. Radford is a moderately-sized public school located in the small suburb of Radford.

Radford undergraduate students pay an average of $11,542 in in-state tuition and fees each year. Social Sciences majors at Radford take out an average of $25,414 in student loans while working on their egree.

Read More…

Best Value Social Sciences Colleges in the Southeast Region

Explore all the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Southeast Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
North Carolina 5,208
West Virginia 788
South Carolina 1,876
Florida 8,162
Arkansas 897
Mississippi 722
Tennessee 2,210
Louisiana 1,534
Alabama 1,640
Kentucky 1,344
Georgia 3,932

Social Sciences Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Political Science & Government 49,282
Economics 49,055
Sociology 38,475
General Social Sciences 18,997
International Relations & National Security 14,306
Anthropology 11,415
Criminology 11,039
Geography & Cartography 8,526
Other Social Sciences 2,414
Urban Studies 1,507
Sociology & Anthropology 541
Archeology 339
Demography & Population Studies 88

Majors Similar to Social Sciences

Related Major Annual Graduates
Education 327,871
Psychology 195,678
Communication & Journalism 120,571
Family, Consumer & Human Sciences 55,820
History 32,731

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 22 schools only.

  • 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 the rest 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).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to AndrГ© KГјnzelmann.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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