2024 Best Grad Schools in Virginia for Doctorate Degrees
It's not easy to decide which grad school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Doctor's Degree Colleges in Virginia ranking is part of that endeavor.
Jump to Any of the Following Sections: * Our Methodology
Finding Your Best Grad School Match
We analyzed 19 grad schools across Virginia to determine which have the best doctorate degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best grad schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Early-Career Earnings
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of doctorate graduates during the early years of their career. After all, your doctorate degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
Average Student Debt
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that graduate students take on while they are working on their doctorate degree.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty doctorate recipients will have paying back their loans.
Other Ranking Factors in Our Methodology
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Doctorate Degree Schools ranking.
Several other factors - such as how much the school spends on educational resources, the demand of the school, the availability of online learning options, and the student body caliber - go into our rankings.
Find out more about our graduate school ranking methodology
Customizing Your List of Rankings
Are you more interested in the top doctorate degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list
by location. In addition, we've put together a number of other
college rankings that may help you in your search.
Still not sure what graduate degree you wish to pursue? You may want to visit our Best Master's Degree Schools ranking.
Top Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia
Learn more about these excellent grad schools below:
794
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$105,096
Average Early-Career Earnings
Our 2024 rankings named University of Virginia - Main Campus the best grad school in Virginia in terms of overall quality for students working on their doctorate degree. Charlottesville, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate degrees to 794 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from University of Virginia is $105,096 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About University of Virginia - Main Campus
655
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$71,981
Average Early-Career Earnings
A rank of #2 on our Best Doctorate Degrees in Virginia list means Virginia Tech is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, the large public school handed out 655 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Virginia Tech make an average of $71,981 a year.
Learn More About Virginia Tech
283
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$92,214
Average Early-Career Earnings
A rank of #3 on our Best Doctorate Degrees in Virginia list means Shenandoah University is a great place for students working on their degree. Shenandoah is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winchester, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 283 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Shenandoah is $92,214 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Shenandoah University
118
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$63,586
Average Early-Career Earnings
The excellent doctorate degree programs at Washington and Lee University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Virginia. Lexington, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate degrees to 118 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Washington and Lee make an average of $63,586 a year.
Read full report on Washington and Lee University
240
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$75,186
Average Early-Career Earnings
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William & Mary. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia list. William & Mary is a public institution located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 240 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from William & Mary go into careers with an average salary of $75,186 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on William & Mary
795
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$90,633
Average Early-Career Earnings
Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #6. VCU is a large public school situated in Richmond, Virginia. It awarded 795 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from VCU go into careers with an average salary of $90,633 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Virginia Commonwealth University
439
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$87,532
Average Early-Career Earnings
George Mason University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia list. GMU is a public institution located in Fairfax, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 439 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from GMU make an average of $87,532 a year.
Read full report on George Mason University
995
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$71,133
Average Early-Career Earnings
Liberty University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia list. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate degrees to 995 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, doctorate degree graduates from Liberty University make an average of $71,133 a year.
Read full report on Liberty University
340
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$69,732
Average Early-Career Earnings
University of Lynchburg came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. University of Lynchburg is a small private not-for-profit school located in Lynchburg, Virginia that handed out 340 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Lynchburg go into careers with an average salary of $69,732 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About University of Lynchburg
45
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
James Madison University landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, the large public school handed out 45 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Learn More About James Madison University
233
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$74,043
Average Early-Career Earnings
Old Dominion University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. This large public school is located in Norfolk, Virginia, and it awarded 233 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $74,043 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Old Dominion University
464
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$61,435
Average Early-Career Earnings
With a ranking of #12, Regent University did quite well on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia list. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and it awarded 464 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Regent go into careers with an average salary of $61,435 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Regent University
52
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$76,183
Average Early-Career Earnings
Marymount University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Marymount is a private not-for-profit institution located in Arlington, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 52 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, doctorate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $76,183 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Marymount University
51
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$69,901
Average Early-Career Earnings
Radford University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #14. Radford is a medium-sized public school situated in Radford, Virginia. It awarded 51 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Radford go into careers with an average salary of $69,901 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Radford University
134
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$58,083
Average Early-Career Earnings
University of Richmond came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. University of Richmond, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate degrees to 134 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from URichmond is $58,083 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About University of Richmond
70
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$66,214
Average Early-Career Earnings
Mary Baldwin University landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Mary Baldwin is located in Staunton, Virginia and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 70 doctorate degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a doctorate degree from Mary Baldwin is $66,214 during the early years of their career.
Full Mary Baldwin University Report
23
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
University of Management and Technology came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. University of Management and Technology is a private for-profit institution located in Arlington, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 23 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Learn More About University of Management and Technology
86
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$82,434
Average Early-Career Earnings
Hampton University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #18. Hampton is a private not-for-profit institution located in Hampton, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 86 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a doctorate degree from Hampton go into careers with an average salary of $82,434 during the early years of their career.
Learn More About Hampton University
15
Doctorate Degrees Awarded
$50,668
Average Early-Career Earnings
Virginia Union University did quite well in the 2024 Best Doctorate Degree Schools in Virginia ranking, coming in at #19. VUU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Richmond, Virginia. It awarded 15 doctorate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a doctorate degree from VUU make an average of $50,668 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Virginia Union University Report
Best Doctorate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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