Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in Virginia
Colleges whose average price after grants is furthest below their published sticker price.
Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in Virginia20 schools
20 schools qualify, ranked by discount off the sticker price.
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 a sticker price (cost of attendance) and a net price (average yearly cost after grants) from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by the discount, sticker price minus net price, largest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Virginia
- $63,219 off the sticker price
- Net price $23,781 a year
- 2
University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $49,652 off the sticker price
- Net price $31,309 a year
- 3
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, VA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- $47,925 off the sticker price
- Net price $22,400 a year
- 4
Hollins University
Roanoke, VA · Private nonprofit#17 in Virginia
- $37,802 off the sticker price
- Net price $20,896 a year
- 5
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, VA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- $36,119 off the sticker price
- Net price $27,866 a year
- 6
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- $32,168 off the sticker price
- Net price $24,588 a year
- 7
Roanoke College
Salem, VA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- $29,780 off the sticker price
- Net price $24,503 a year
- 8
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $26,140 off the sticker price
- Net price $17,758 a year
- 9
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $23,939 off the sticker price
- Net price $19,096 a year
- 10
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $21,630 off the sticker price
- Net price $30,298 a year
- 11
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- $18,361 off the sticker price
- Net price $21,565 a year
- 12
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA · PublicTop 9% for earnings
- $17,711 off the sticker price
- Net price $17,113 a year
- 13
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- $15,521 off the sticker price
- Net price $23,433 a year
- 14
Chamberlain University-Virginia
Vienna, VA · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- $12,395 off the sticker price
- Net price $33,199 a year
- 15
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 6% for graduation
- $11,998 off the sticker price
- Net price $24,953 a year
- 16
Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA · PublicTop 18% for graduation
- $10,751 off the sticker price
- Net price $23,015 a year
- 17
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · PublicTop 10% for earnings
- $10,689 off the sticker price
- Net price $17,915 a year
- 18
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA · PublicVery good: Compass grade B+
- $10,470 off the sticker price
- Net price $20,667 a year
- 19
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · PublicTop 11% for graduation
- $8,413 off the sticker price
- Net price $23,322 a year
- 20
Riverside College of Health Careers
Newport News, VA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- $6,274 off the sticker price
- Net price $20,744 a year
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 Richmond | $31,309 | $21,000 | $76,178 | 85% |
| Hampden-Sydney College | $22,400 | $26,000 | $67,640 | 62% |
| Hollins University | $20,896 | $27,000 | $40,075 | 65% |
| Randolph-Macon College | $27,866 | $27,000 | $58,448 | 70% |
| Eastern Mennonite University | $24,588 | $24,813 | $54,869 | 67% |
| Roanoke College | $24,503 | $27,000 | $58,047 | 67% |
| Sweet Briar College | $17,758 | $27,000 | $51,943 | 52% |
| William & Mary | $19,096 | $18,500 | $73,490 | 89% |
| Shenandoah University | $30,298 | $25,000 | $58,433 | 67% |
| University of Virginia | $21,565 | $17,500 | $86,863 | 96% |
| Virginia Military Institute | $17,113 | $22,996 | $77,369 | 76% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | $23,433 | $21,500 | $58,128 | 63% |
| Chamberlain University-Virginia | $33,199 | $20,919 | $92,405 | 100% |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | $24,953 | $21,500 | $81,698 | 86% |
| Christopher Newport University | $23,015 | $25,000 | $60,509 | 72% |
| George Mason University | $17,915 | $19,500 | $76,343 | 68% |
| University of Mary Washington | $20,667 | $20,500 | $60,613 | 66% |
| James Madison University | $23,322 | $20,093 | $69,954 | 80% |
| Riverside College of Health Careers | $20,744 | $14,787 | $66,072 | 100% |
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 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 63
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 15
- Massachusetts 47
- Michigan 20
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15