The cost of college in Virginia — and what it pays back
Across the 81 Virginia institutions we profile, the median net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $19,066/yr, $2,164 above the $16,902 national median. Graduates earn a median $44,666 ten years after entry (above the $43,549 national median), and 34 of the 81 schools clear their full cost on institution-wide earnings. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
How Virginia's 81 colleges split by ROI verdict
Verdicts: payback under 5 / 10 / 20 / over 20 years (or none).
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington and Lee University | $23,781 | $94,810 | 2 yrs |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | $21,565 | $86,863 | 2.2 yrs |
| Riverside College of Health Sciences | $20,744 | $66,072 | 2.3 yrs |
| Virginia Military Institute | $17,113 | $77,369 | 2.4 yrs |
| George Mason University | $17,915 | $76,343 | 2.6 yrs |
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Shore Community College | $2,495 | $32,418 | no payback |
| Patrick & Henry Community College | $4,102 | $33,323 | no payback |
| Paul D Camp Community College | $4,126 | $36,031 | no payback |
| Rappahannock Community College | $4,343 | $36,121 | no payback |
| Wytheville Community College | $4,622 | $34,303 | no payback |
How many Virginia colleges actually pay for themselves?
34 of 81 — 42% of the Virginia institutions we profile clear their full net cost on institution-wide earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The rest need a high-paying major to pay off; the school average alone does not do it.
Do Virginia graduates out-earn the national median?
Virginia graduates report a median $44,666 ten years after entry, $1,118 above the $43,549 national median. Earnings track the local labour market and the mix of fields the state's colleges graduate, not the state border itself.