2026 Best Value General Education Schools in Virginia
[General Education](/majors/education/general-education/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general education education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find the best return on investment for general education students.
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2026 Best Value General Education Schools in Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Education Schools
For return on investment in general education, no school beat Piedmont Virginia Community College this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,072, with out-of-state students paying around $11,510. General Education graduates carry a median of $12,495 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Piedmont Virginia Community College generally make around $46,129. Set against $12,495 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes Northern Virginia Community College one of the best values for general education. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $14,413. Early-career general education graduates make about $40,126. Set against $14,413 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes George Mason University one of the best values for general education. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $89,993 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Radford University earned it the #4 place for general education. Radford University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Radford. In-state tuition and fees average $12,548, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,514 in student loans. General Education graduates of Radford University earn a median of $48,802 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $23,813 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $65,654. That is a strong return on a $23,813 median debt. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Lynchburg College came in at #6 for value in general education this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,750. Early-career general education graduates make about $107,159. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Virginia Wesleyan College came in at #7 for value in general education this year. Virginia Wesleyan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Students from in state pay about $37,500 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,925 to complete the general education program here. General Education graduates of Virginia Wesleyan College earn a median of $45,517 early in their careers. Set against $27,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Longwood University earned the #8 position for value in general education this year. Located in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,740, while out-of-state students pay about $27,980. General Education graduates carry a median of $25,649 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from Longwood University generally make around $53,052. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary Washington ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,905, while out-of-state students pay about $28,083. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $22,825. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from University Of Mary Washington generally make around $53,665. That is a strong return on a $22,825 median debt. University Of Mary Washington admits about 80% of applicants.
James Madison University landed the #10 spot for general education value this year. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,966, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $21,218. Soon after graduation, general education degree recipients from James Madison University generally make around $55,195. Set against $21,218 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value general education schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. General Education graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Early-career general education graduates make about $72,080. That is a strong return on a $18,627 median debt. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
Liberty University earned the #12 position for value in general education this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Students borrow a median of $42,160 to complete the general education program here. Early-career general education graduates make about $38,144. That is a strong return on a $42,160 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Shenandoah University landed the #13 spot for general education value this year. Set in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,950. Typical student debt for general education graduates is $26,005. Early-career general education graduates make about $65,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Shenandoah University admits about 77% of applicants.
More General Education Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 ranked 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 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
