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2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k

14 Ranked Colleges
1,247 Degrees Awarded
$13,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

General Economics is the 29th most popular major in the country with 28,837 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across Virginia, there were 1,247 general economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general economics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general economics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general economics program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 14 Best Value Colleges for General Economics (Income $0-$30k) in Virginia

1
Washington and Lee crest
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, Virginia

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington and Lee University landed the #1 spot on the list. Washington and Lee is located in Lexington, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 63 ’s general economics degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our virginia general economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, Washington and Lee has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best General Economics Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $205 for Virginia General Economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Washington and Lee University.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about General Economics at Washington and Lee

2
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, this large public school awarded 528 degrees to qualified ’s general economics students in 2020-2021.

University of Virginia also took the #1 spot in our “Best General Economics Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus is $12,476 for virginia general economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Economics at University of Virginia

3
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William & Mary. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. William & Mary is a medium-sized public school situated in Williamsburg, Virginia. It awarded 127 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

William & Mary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Economics Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $5,972 for Virginia General Economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend William & Mary.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Economics at William & Mary

4
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Virginia Tech. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Blacksburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general economics degrees to 74 students in 2020-2021.

Virginia Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best General Economics Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Virginia Tech is $11,934 for Virginia General Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.

Full Virginia Tech General Economics Report

5
VMI crest
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, Virginia

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Military Institute. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k. VMI is a public institution located in Lexington, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 48 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

VMI also made our “Best General Economics Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #8. It costs about $10,556 for virginia general economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Virginia Military Institute.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full VMI General Economics Report

6
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. James Madison University is a large school located in Harrisonburg, Virginia that handed out 57 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

JMU also took the #6 spot in our “Best General Economics Schools in Virginia” ranking. The yearly cost to attend James Madison University is $14,288 for Virginia General Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full James Madison University General Economics Report

7
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

George Mason University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. GMU is a large public school situated in Fairfax, Virginia. It awarded 202 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

GMU also made our “Best General Economics Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for GMU is $14,781 for virginia general economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on General Economics at GMU

8
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

Old Dominion University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Norfolk, Virginia, this large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified ’s general economics students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Old Dominion, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best General Economics Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Old Dominion University is $13,335 for virginia general economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Old Dominion University General Economics Report

9
UMW crest
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, Virginia

University of Mary Washington landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UMW is a public institution located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our virginia general economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMW has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best General Economics Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $14,589 for Virginia General Economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UMW.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Economics at University of Mary Washington

10
Radford crest
Radford University
Radford, Virginia

Radford University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Radford, Virginia, and it awarded 13 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

Radford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best General Economics Schools in Virginia” list. The yearly cost to attend Radford is $11,420 for virginia general economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on General Economics at Radford University

11
CNU crest
Christopher Newport University
Newport News, Virginia

With a ranking of #11, Christopher Newport University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Christopher Newport University is a small public school situated in Newport News, Virginia. It awarded 19 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

CNU also made our “Best General Economics Schools in Virginia” list, coming in at #9. The yearly cost to attend CNU is $15,862 for virginia general economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Christopher Newport University General Economics Report

12
Lynchburg crest
University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia

University of Lynchburg ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s general economics degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our virginia general economics students whose families make $0-$30k list, Lynchburg has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best General Economics Schools in Virginia” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Lynchburg is $17,706 for Virginia General Economics students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about General Economics at Lynchburg

13
Randolph - Macon crest
Randolph - Macon College
Ashland, Virginia

Randolph - Macon College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Randolph - Macon is located in Ashland, Virginia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s general economics degrees to qualified students.

Randolph - Macon not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best General Economics Schools in Virginia” list. It costs about $20,454 for Virginia General Economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Randolph - Macon College.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on General Economics at Randolph - Macon College

14
Hampden - Sydney crest
Hampden - Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, Virginia

With a ranking of #14, Hampden - Sydney College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value General Economics Schools in Virginia For Those Making $0-$30k list. This small school is located in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, and it awarded 32 ’s general economics degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Hampden - Sydney, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best General Economics Schools in Virginia” ranking. It costs about $25,847 for virginia general economics students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Hampden - Sydney.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on General Economics at Hampden - Sydney

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