2023 Best Schools in Virginia
Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. Or you may find the programs at a trade school or bootcamp to be a better alternative for you.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Schools in Virginia ranking. Our analysis looked at 57 schools in Virginia to see which programs offered the best educational experiences for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Schools in Virginia
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Virginia - Main Campus to be the best school for students in Virginia.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $18,266 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $383, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, University of Virginia graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $58,809 during the early year of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Virginia Military Institute. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Best Schools in Virginia list.
Degree recipients from VMI accumulate an average of $20,707 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, VMI graduates make an average of $40,578 annually.
The excellent programs at Virginia Tech helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Virginia.
On average, students take out $21,405 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $420.After graduating from Virginia Tech, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $52,444 during the early years of their career.
Out of the 57 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Randolph - Macon College landed the # 4 spot on the list.
On average, students take out $23,303 in loans while pursuing their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $412 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Randolph - Macon graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,361 during the early year of their career.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend William & Mary. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Schools in Virginia list.
On average, students take out $18,131 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $447. During the early years of their career, William & Mary graduates make an average of $47,762 annually.
With a ranking of #6, James Madison University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
Degree recipients from JMU accumulate an average of $20,564 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $394. Once they receive their degree, JMU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,195 during the early year of their career.
University of Richmond did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #7 on the list.
Degree recipients from URichmond accumulate an average of $20,430 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $573. During the early years of their career, URichmond graduates make an average of $49,274 annually.
With a ranking of #8, George Mason University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
Degree recipients from GMU accumulate an average of $22,883 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $355. During the early years of their career, GMU graduates make an average of $56,435 annually.
Christopher Newport University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Virginia ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $21,991 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $432.After graduating from CNU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,456 during the early years of their career.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Virginia ranking.
Degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College accumulate an average of $16,809 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Northern Virginia Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,967 during the early year of their career.
Roanoke College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #11 on the list.
On average, students take out $25,450 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $368. Once they receive their degree, Roanoke graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $32,335 during the early year of their career.
Shenandoah University landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $26,751 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $544. Once they receive their degree, Shenandoah graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $50,739 during the early year of their career.
Eastern Mennonite University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #13 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,351 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Eastern Mennonite graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $51,655 during the early year of their career.
University of Mary Washington came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Virginia ranking.
On average, students take out $21,222 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $371, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, UMW graduates make an average of $38,573 annually.
University of Lynchburg landed the #15 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
Degree recipients from Lynchburg accumulate an average of $23,311 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Lynchburg, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $40,538 during the early years of their career.
Old Dominion University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Schools in Virginia list.
On average, students take out $26,724 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $199, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Old Dominion graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $46,278 during the early year of their career.
Bridgewater College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Schools in Virginia list.
Degree recipients from Bridgewater accumulate an average of $23,678 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $316 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, Bridgewater graduates make an average of $32,393 annually.
Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #18 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,106 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $227, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, VCU graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $47,786 during the early year of their career.
Radford University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Virginia ranking.
On average, students take out $25,711 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $240, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Radford graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $43,099 during the early year of their career.
With a ranking of #20, Marymount University did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
Degree recipients from Marymount accumulate an average of $28,439 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $541. Once they receive their degree, Marymount graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $54,717 during the early year of their career.
John Tyler Community College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Schools in Virginia list.
On average, students take out $17,478 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from John Tyler Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $34,207 during the early years of their career.
ECPI University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for students. It came in at #22 on the list.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $28,707 in student loans. Those who take out this much in loans have to make a monthly payment of about $125 if they are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from ECPI University, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $41,263 during the early years of their career.
With a ranking of #23, Danville Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for students working.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,344 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Danville Community College graduates make an average of $39,785 annually.
Strayer University - Virginia came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Schools in Virginia ranking.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $38,671 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $121. During the early years of their career, Strayer University - Virginia graduates make an average of $52,529 annually.
Longwood University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best programs.
Degree recipients from Longwood accumulate an average of $23,561 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $371, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from Longwood, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $47,233 during the early years of their career.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- 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%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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