2026 Best Value Engineering Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Engineering Schools
For return on investment in engineering, no school beat J Sargeant Reynolds Community College this year. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,718. Engineering graduates carry a median of $10,500 in student loans. Engineering graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of $36,965 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at John Tyler Community College earned it the #2 place for engineering. Located in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,082, with out-of-state students paying around $11,520. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $11,262. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from John Tyler Community College generally make around $36,623. Set against $11,262 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Lord Fairfax Community College one of the best values for engineering. Lord Fairfax Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Middletown. Students from in state pay about $5,072 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,510. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $10,698. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Lord Fairfax Community College generally make around $37,531. That is a strong return on a $10,698 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in engineering will find it at Virginia Western Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Engineering graduates carry a median of $13,715 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Virginia Western Community College earn a median of $36,245 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Germanna Community College one of the best values for engineering. Located in the rural area of Locust Grove, Germanna Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,257 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,648. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $10,999. Engineering graduates of Germanna Community College earn a median of $41,880 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Piedmont Virginia Community College landed the #6 spot for engineering value this year. Piedmont Virginia Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,072, while out-of-state students pay about $11,510. Students borrow a median of $12,495 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Piedmont Virginia Community College earn a median of $46,129 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,495 median debt.
Tidewater Community College earned the #7 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,858, with out-of-state students paying around $12,296. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $12,250. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Tidewater Community College generally make around $68,555. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Virginia Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of $16,790 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Thomas Nelson Community College earned the #9 position for value in engineering this year. Set in the suburb of Hampton, Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,088 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,526. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $14,402. Engineering graduates of Thomas Nelson Community College earn a median of $36,758 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,402 median debt.
George Mason University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,093 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $87,312. Set against $25,093 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Southwest Virginia Community College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the rural area of Cedar Bluff, Southwest Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,075, with out-of-state students paying around $11,513. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $32,277. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Old Dominion University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Typical student debt for engineering graduates is $25,247. Early-career engineering graduates make about $74,737. Set against $25,247 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Norfolk State University came in at #13 for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,180, compared with $21,682 for out-of-state students. Engineering graduates of Norfolk State University earn a median of $54,971 early in their careers. Norfolk State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #14 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,517 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $78,310. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Virginia Military Institute came in at #15 for value in engineering this year. Set in the town of Lexington, Virginia Military Institute is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,046, with out-of-state students paying around $52,638. Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,837 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Virginia Military Institute generally make around $61,240. Set against $25,837 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Military Institute admits about 71% of applicants.
James Madison University placed #16 among the best values for engineering. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $71,176. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. James Madison University admits about 72% of applicants.
Ecpi University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Ecpi University is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,484. Students borrow a median of $27,988 to complete the engineering program here. Engineering graduates of Ecpi University earn a median of $48,429 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Engineering graduates carry a median of $15,838 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $84,977. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Christopher Newport University came in at #19 for value in engineering this year. Set in the city of Newport News, Christopher Newport University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $16,828 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,178. Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,094 in student loans. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Christopher Newport University generally make around $41,656. That is a strong return on a $25,094 median debt. Christopher Newport University admits about 86% of applicants.
Sweet Briar College landed the #20 spot for engineering value this year. Located in the rural area of Sweet Briar, Sweet Briar College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $26,160 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,943 ten years after entry. Sweet Briar College admits about 76% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #21 spot for engineering value this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Students borrow a median of $25,739 to complete the engineering program here. Soon after graduation, engineering degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $80,465. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Randolph Macon College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Ashland, Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,466. Engineering graduates carry a median of $24,706 in student loans. Engineering graduates of Randolph Macon College earn a median of $40,317 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University earned the #23 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,905 to complete the engineering program here. Early-career engineering graduates make about $73,730. Set against $26,905 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Hampton University earned the #24 position for value in engineering this year. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $30,592 in tuition and fees. Engineering graduates carry a median of $26,169 in student loans. Early-career engineering graduates make about $46,870. That is a strong return on a $26,169 median debt. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 44 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
[Engineering](/majors/engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong engineering education at a price that pays off.
