Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Virginia
Colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Virginia19 schools
19 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Virginia.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Virginia
- Pays back in about 2.0 years
- Earnings $94,810 ten years out
- 2
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- Pays back in about 2.2 years
- Earnings $86,863 ten years out
- 3
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA · PublicTop 9% for earnings
- Pays back in about 2.4 years
- Earnings $77,369 ten years out
- 4
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · PublicTop 10% for earnings
- Pays back in about 2.6 years
- Earnings $76,343 ten years out
- 5Tie
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 6% for graduation
- Pays back in about 3.0 years
- Earnings $81,698 ten years out
- 5Tie
Chamberlain University-Virginia
Vienna, VA · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- Pays back in about 3.0 years
- Earnings $92,405 ten years out
- 5Tie
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Pays back in about 3.0 years
- Earnings $73,490 ten years out
- 8
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · PublicTop 11% for graduation
- Pays back in about 4.3 years
- Earnings $69,954 ten years out
- 9
University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Pays back in about 4.5 years
- Earnings $76,178 ten years out
- 10
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, VA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Pays back in about 4.6 years
- Earnings $67,640 ten years out
- 11
Riverside College of Health Careers
Newport News, VA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- Pays back in about 4.7 years
- Earnings $66,072 ten years out
- 12
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA · PublicVery good: Compass grade B+
- Pays back in about 6.7 years
- Earnings $60,613 ten years out
- 13
Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA · PublicTop 18% for graduation
- Pays back in about 7.6 years
- Earnings $60,509 ten years out
- 14
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 9.6 years
- Earnings $58,128 ten years out
- 15
Roanoke College
Salem, VA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- Pays back in about 10.1 years
- Earnings $58,047 ten years out
- 16
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, VA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Pays back in about 11.0 years
- Earnings $58,448 ten years out
- 17
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 12.0 years
- Earnings $58,433 ten years out
- 18
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- Pays back in about 15.1 years
- Earnings $54,869 ten years out
- 19
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 19.8 years
- Earnings $51,943 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington and Lee University | $23,781 | $19,500 | $94,810 | 94% |
| University of Virginia | $21,565 | $17,500 | $86,863 | 96% |
| Virginia Military Institute | $17,113 | $22,996 | $77,369 | 76% |
| George Mason University | $17,915 | $19,500 | $76,343 | 68% |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | $24,953 | $21,500 | $81,698 | 86% |
| Chamberlain University-Virginia | $33,199 | $20,919 | $92,405 | 100% |
| William & Mary | $19,096 | $18,500 | $73,490 | 89% |
| James Madison University | $23,322 | $20,093 | $69,954 | 80% |
| University of Richmond | $31,309 | $21,000 | $76,178 | 85% |
| Hampden-Sydney College | $22,400 | $26,000 | $67,640 | 62% |
| Riverside College of Health Careers | $20,744 | $14,787 | $66,072 | 100% |
| University of Mary Washington | $20,667 | $20,500 | $60,613 | 66% |
| Christopher Newport University | $23,015 | $25,000 | $60,509 | 72% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | $23,433 | $21,500 | $58,128 | 63% |
| Roanoke College | $24,503 | $27,000 | $58,047 | 67% |
| Randolph-Macon College | $27,866 | $27,000 | $58,448 | 70% |
| Shenandoah University | $30,298 | $25,000 | $58,433 | 67% |
| Eastern Mennonite University | $24,588 | $24,813 | $54,869 | 67% |
| Sweet Briar College | $17,758 | $27,000 | $51,943 | 52% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 5
- Arizona 3
- Arkansas 5
- California 54
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 15
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 19
- Indiana 19
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 5
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 7
- Maryland 14
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 19
- Minnesota 17
- Missouri 13
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 16
- New York 67
- North Carolina 15
- Ohio 28
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 9
- Pennsylvania 54
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 6
- Tennessee 7
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 5
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 13