by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia ranking. This list is proof that you shouldn't avoid normally high-priced schools, since the actual price may be very affordable if you qualify for financial aid.
In This Year's Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 62 schools in Virginia to determine which ones have the best value programs. Our ranking for the best value schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $30-$48k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named Washington and Lee University the best value (income $30-$48k) school in Virginia. Lexington, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Washington and Lee University has the honor of being ranked #3 in Virginia for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $743.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia list. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Virginia - Main Campus a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Virginia for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $7,775.
Out of the 62 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, William & Mary landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is William & Mary a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Virginia for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,717.
Out of the 62 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Military Institute landed the #4 spot on the list. This small public school is located in Lexington, Virginia.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Virginia Military Institute is ranked #11 for quality in the state of Virginia. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,552.
The quality degree programs at Virginia Tech helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia. Virginia Tech is a large public school located in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Virginia Tech has the honor of being ranked #2 in Virginia for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $13,739.
Northern Virginia Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia ranking, coming in at #6. Northern Virginia Community College is a large public school located in Annandale, Virginia.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northern Virginia Community College is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Virginia. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,729.
Learn More About Value at Northern Virginia Community College
Germanna Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia ranking. Germanna Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Locust Grove, Virginia.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Germanna Community College is ranked #28 for quality in the state of Virginia. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,296.
John Tyler Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Chester, Virginia.
Not only is John Tyler Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #29 in Virginia for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,430.
With a ranking of #9, Southside Virginia Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia list. Southside Virginia Community College is a small public school situated in Alberta, Virginia.
Southside Virginia Community College has the honor of being ranked #27 in Virginia for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,288.
Learn More About Value at Southside Virginia Community College
With a ranking of #10, Patrick Henry Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia list. Patrick Henry Community College is a small public school located in Martinsville, Virginia.
Patrick Henry Community College has the honor of being ranked #33 in Virginia for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,399.
George Mason University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia ranking. George Mason University is a large public school located in Fairfax, Virginia.
Not only is George Mason University a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Virginia for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $14,429.
Reynolds Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia ranking. Located in Richmond, Virginia, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is Reynolds Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #35 in Virginia for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,043.
University of Richmond did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia ranking, coming in at #13. URichmond is a private not-for-profit institution located in University of Richmond, Virginia.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Richmond is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Virginia. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,860.
With a ranking of #14, Wytheville Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia list. This small public school is located in Wytheville, Virginia.
Not only is Wytheville Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #52 in Virginia for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $2,851.
James Madison University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia ranking. JMU is a public institution located in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Not only is James Madison University a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Virginia for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $14,826.
Rappahannock Community College landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia ranking. RCC is a public institution located in Glenns, Virginia.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Rappahannock Community College is ranked #34 for quality in the state of Virginia. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,051.
Central Virginia Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia list. Central Virginia Community College is a small public school located in Lynchburg, Virginia.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Central Virginia Community College is ranked #49 for quality in the state of Virginia. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,336.
Read full value report on Central Virginia Community College
Tidewater Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia ranking, coming in at #18. This fairly large public school is located in Norfolk, Virginia.
Not only is Tidewater Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #32 in Virginia for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,591.
Thomas Nelson Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia list. This medium-sized public school is located in Hampton, Virginia.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Thomas Nelson Community College is ranked #50 for quality in the state of Virginia. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,597.
Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia ranking. Richmond, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Virginia Commonwealth University a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Virginia for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $14,349.
With a ranking of #21, Piedmont Virginia Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia list. PVCC is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Piedmont Virginia Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #44 in Virginia for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,079.
With a ranking of #22, Virginia Western Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia list. Located in Roanoke, Virginia, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Virginia Western Community College is ranked #47 for quality in the state of Virginia. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,674.
Paul D Camp Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia ranking, coming in at #23. Located in Franklin, Virginia, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Paul D Camp Community College is ranked #57 for quality in the state of Virginia. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $4,109.
With a ranking of #24, Danville Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia list. Danville Community College is located in Danville, Virginia and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Danville Community College has the honor of being ranked #38 in Virginia for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,123.
New River Community College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Virginia ranking. Located in Dublin, Virginia, the school is a small public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, New River Community College is ranked #51 for quality in the state of Virginia. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $5,563.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.