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Best Value Degrees in Virginia (2026)

Top 100 of 601 programs in Virginia · Updated 2026

The best college programs in Virginia, ranked by overall value. We scored 601 programs across Virginia schools on earnings, AI resilience, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $67,311/yr in graduate earnings.

Programs in VA

601

Avg Earnings (Top 100)

$67,311/yr

Avg DW Score

80/100

#1 Program

Finance

James Madison University

Top Programs in Virginia

Top 100 programs by DegreeWorth Score. Click any row for full analysis.

#	Program	DW Score	Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
1	Finance James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA	85 77–90	$67,849/yr	Very High	19.9x
2	Computer & Information Science Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA	89 77–91	$96,432/yr	Very High	20.8x
3	Management Science & Analytics Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA	89 80–91	$77,877/yr	Very High	16.7x
4	Computer & Information Science James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA	87 76–89	$81,761/yr	Very High	19.2x
5	Business Administration James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA	87 81–87	$65,931/yr	High	14.2x
6	Computer & Information Science University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA	87 73–90	$98,067/yr	Very High	18.2x
7	Computer & Information Science George Mason University · Fairfax, VA	87 75–89	$78,800/yr	Very High	19.2x
8	Computer Science George Mason University · Fairfax, VA	87 75–89	$84,632/yr	Very High	20.0x
9	Nursing (RN/BSN) George Mason University · Fairfax, VA	87 81–84	$78,365/yr	High	15.1x
10	Management Science & Analytics George Mason University · Fairfax, VA	87 78–89	$68,049/yr	Very High	16.8x
11	Nursing (RN/BSN) Centra College · Lynchburg, VA	88 83–86	$80,832/yr	High	15.5x
12	Nursing (RN/BSN) Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA	87 82–84	$76,527/yr	High	16.1x
13	Computer & Information Science Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA	86 74–88	$84,338/yr	Very High	16.8x
14	Homeland Security George Mason University · Fairfax, VA	84 82–84	$90,956/yr	Moderate	15.5x
15	Finance George Mason University · Fairfax, VA	82 75–87	$62,989/yr	Very High	16.6x
16	Finance Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA	82 74–87	$66,601/yr	Very High	15.4x
17	Information Science James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA	85 74–87	$80,173/yr	Very High	19.5x
18	Nursing (RN/BSN) James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA	86 81–82	$76,490/yr	High	13.7x
19	Accounting James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA	82 75–85	$71,563/yr	Very High	15.3x
20	Computer & Information Science University of Mary Washington · Fredericksburg, VA	85 74–87	$76,301/yr	Very High	16.5x
21	Nursing (RN/BSN) Strayer University-Virginia · Arlington, VA	87 82–85	$81,061/yr	High	13.6x
22	Business Administration William & Mary · Williamsburg, VA	82 76–84	$75,038/yr	High	9.3x
23	Business Administration George Mason University · Fairfax, VA	82 76–84	$55,147/yr	High	12.6x
24	Accounting George Mason University · Fairfax, VA	81 73–85	$67,291/yr	Very High	15.8x
25	Computer & Information Science Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA	84 71–86	$64,530/yr	Very High	18.7x
26	Nursing (RN/BSN) University of Virginia's College at Wise · Wise, VA	86 81–84	$72,911/yr	High	13.8x
27	Business Administration Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA	83 77–84	$60,678/yr	High	11.7x
28	Computer Science William & Mary · Williamsburg, VA	80 66–86	$84,956/yr	Very High	13.5x
29	Public Administration George Mason University · Fairfax, VA	81 76–82	$56,674/yr	High	12.2x
30	Systems Science and Theory James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA	78 75–79	$65,683/yr	Moderate	17.7x
31	Health Administration James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA	80 73–82	$53,913/yr	High	12.8x
32	Nursing (RN/BSN) University of Mary Washington · Fredericksburg, VA	85 80–82	$76,013/yr	High	12.1x
33	Computer Science Radford University · Radford, VA	83 70–86	$66,857/yr	Very High	18.5x
34	Nursing (RN/BSN) Radford University · Radford, VA	84 79–80	$69,662/yr	High	13.4x
35	Finance Radford University · Radford, VA	77 69–84	$48,446/yr	Very High	16.5x
36	Accounting Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA	80 72–84	$70,303/yr	Very High	14.3x
37	Management Science & Analytics University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA	87 80–86	$93,565/yr	Very High	10.1x
38	Computer Engineering George Mason University · Fairfax, VA	83 72–85	$87,466/yr	Very High	18.7x
39	Economics James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA	80 71–83	$62,286/yr	Very High	16.8x
40	Business (General) Strayer University-Virginia · Arlington, VA	81 76–80	$55,431/yr	High	10.6x
41	Computer Engineering Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA	82 71–85	$86,636/yr	Very High	19.0x
42	Nursing (RN/BSN) Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA	82 77–80	$71,847/yr	High	12.1x
43	Nursing (RN/BSN) ECPI University · Virginia Beach, VA	82 78–79	$77,550/yr	High	10.9x
44	Nursing (RN/BSN) South University-Richmond · Glen Allen, VA	83 78–80	$77,635/yr	High	11.4x
45	Nursing (RN/BSN) South University-Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach, VA	83 78–80	$77,635/yr	High	11.4x
46	Nursing (RN/BSN) Chamberlain University-Virginia · Vienna, VA	82 78–79	$83,188/yr	High	10.3x
47	Computer Science Christopher Newport University · Newport News, VA	81 68–82	$72,128/yr	Very High	13.4x
48	Business Administration Christopher Newport University · Newport News, VA	80 73–81	$54,432/yr	High	10.8x
49	Business Administration Longwood University · Farmville, VA	78 71–81	$49,213/yr	High	11.7x
50	Computer Engineering Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA	81 69–84	$70,298/yr	Very High	21.2x
51	Business Administration Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA	79 73–81	$46,680/yr	High	12.3x
52	Health Administration Radford University · Radford, VA	80 75–80	$55,861/yr	High	11.0x
53	Computer & Information Science Strayer University-Virginia · Arlington, VA	82 70–82	$67,315/yr	Very High	14.0x
54	Computer Engineering University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA	82 71–83	$118,232/yr	Very High	15.6x
55	Public Administration James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA	77 71–80	$48,396/yr	High	11.8x
56	Computer Science Longwood University · Farmville, VA	83 72–83	$78,085/yr	Very High	11.8x
57	Nursing (RN/BSN) Longwood University · Farmville, VA	81 77–77	$69,962/yr	High	11.0x
58	Business Administration University of Mary Washington · Fredericksburg, VA	78 70–81	$47,315/yr	High	11.7x
59	IT Management Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA	81 72–82	$65,838/yr	Very High	12.4x
60	Information Science Strayer University-Virginia · Arlington, VA	81 70–82	$71,167/yr	Very High	14.7x
61	Construction Management Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA	80 73–80	$76,246/yr	High	14.7x
62	Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies Virginia State University · Petersburg, VA	75 72–75	$65,472/yr	Moderate	19.2x
63	Criminal Justice George Mason University · Fairfax, VA	74 69–77	$43,612/yr	Moderate	11.7x
64	Marketing James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA	77 69–79	$61,692/yr	Very High	14.8x
65	Accounting Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA	75 67–80	$52,226/yr	Very High	13.9x
66	Finance Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA	75 68–79	$48,125/yr	Very High	12.7x
67	Accounting Radford University · Radford, VA	75 67–80	$51,643/yr	Very High	14.4x
68	Business (General) Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA	78 72–79	$51,669/yr	High	9.8x
69	Nursing (RN/BSN) Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach · Virginia Beach, VA	80 75–77	$71,701/yr	High	8.7x
70	Computer & Information Science Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA	75 61–82	$56,258/yr	Very High	12.7x
71	Economics University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA	77 70–79	$74,958/yr	Very High	10.4x
72	Nursing (RN/BSN) University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA	79 75–76	$75,220/yr	High	8.8x
73	Business (General) DeVry University-Virginia · Arlington, VA	78 74–77	$57,020/yr	High	7.8x
74	Business Administration DeVry University-Virginia · Arlington, VA	77 73–77	$55,102/yr	High	7.9x
75	Economics George Mason University · Fairfax, VA	75 66–79	$53,024/yr	Very High	13.8x
76	Nursing (RN/BSN) Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA	78 73–75	$71,918/yr	High	8.4x
77	Business Administration Radford University · Radford, VA	77 72–77	$45,380/yr	High	10.3x
78	Economics Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA	75 66–79	$56,261/yr	Very High	13.0x
79	Business Administration Washington and Lee University · Lexington, VA	75 69–77	$76,627/yr	High	3.2x
80	Allied Health & Diagnostic Professions Radford University · Radford, VA	74 73–70	$58,997/yr	Moderate	11.0x
81	Nursing (RN/BSN) Shenandoah University · Winchester, VA	74 70–74	$81,678/yr	High	5.1x
82	Agricultural Business Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA	71 66–75	$48,557/yr	High	10.9x
83	Information Science Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA	76 64–78	$62,116/yr	Very High	12.2x
84	Computer Engineering Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA	79 69–80	$82,964/yr	Very High	11.6x
85	Information Science Christopher Newport University · Newport News, VA	75 62–78	$58,550/yr	Very High	12.5x
86	Systems Engineering George Mason University · Fairfax, VA	74 66–77	$84,942/yr	Very High	20.9x
87	Hospitality Management James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA	72 67–74	$46,915/yr	High	11.0x
88	Criminal Justice Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA	71 68–72	$48,855/yr	Moderate	5.9x
89	Nursing (RN/BSN) Marymount University · Arlington, VA	74 69–73	$80,090/yr	High	4.8x
90	Dental Hygiene Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA	73 71–69	$63,145/yr	Moderate	12.5x
91	Information Science Radford University · Radford, VA	74 59–78	$46,446/yr	Very High	16.2x
92	Business Administration University of Richmond · University of Richmond, VA	73 66–75	$68,151/yr	High	2.9x
93	Criminal Justice Strayer University-Virginia · Arlington, VA	71 69–72	$43,405/yr	Moderate	8.9x
94	Marketing Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA	72 65–76	$56,417/yr	Very High	12.3x
95	Allied Health & Diagnostic Professions Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA	73 72–70	$66,750/yr	Moderate	9.7x
96	Accounting Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA	73 66–76	$56,876/yr	Very High	9.9x
97	Nursing (RN/BSN) Bluefield University · Bluefield, VA	73 68–73	$70,698/yr	High	6.1x
98	Criminal Justice Regent University · Virginia Beach, VA	70 66–71	$46,005/yr	Moderate	6.4x
99	Business Administration Regent University · Virginia Beach, VA	72 67–74	$48,397/yr	High	6.1x
100	Teacher Education (Subject-Specific) George Mason University · Fairfax, VA	72 68–73	$45,108/yr	High	9.9x

Methodology

This ranking includes the top 100 programs at Virginia colleges and universities, drawn from 601 total programs with earnings data. Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score (0–100), which combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and tuition ROI.

Only in-state tuition is used for ROI calculations. Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best college program in Virginia?

By DegreeWorth Score, Finance at James Madison University ranks #1 in Virginia with a score of 85/100 and graduate earnings of $67,849/yr.

How many college programs are in Virginia?

Our database includes 601 programs across Virginia colleges with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Last updated 2025.