Rankings / By State
Best Communications Colleges in Virginia
- 19
- Schools
- $57,070
- Avg. Earnings
- 59%
- Avg. Graduation
- $21,463
- Avg. Net Price
- $24,619
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 19 schools run from $38,275 to $94,810, a 2.5× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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Washington and Lee University delivers the most for the money: roughly $94,810 in median earnings against $23,781 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
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Virginia Union University is the lowest-cost school here at $13,235 a year in net price.
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Washington and Lee University graduates 94% of its students, versus a 59% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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Washington and Lee University carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.21× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- Virginia Union University costs $13,235 a year and Randolph-Macon College costs $27,866. Yet their graduates earn $38,275 and $58,448, nowhere near the $14,631 price gap.
- Graduation rates split the field: Washington and Lee University finishes 94% of students while Bluefield University finishes 22%. Same ranking, very different odds of leaving with a degree.
The Takeaway
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with Washington and Lee University. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
Why this ranking matters
Business is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $56K within a decade, and pr specialist roles are projected to grow 6%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Washington and Lee University #1 overall | $94,810 ▲ +66% vs avg | $23,781 | 94% | 79 |
| 2 James Madison University #2 overall | $69,954 ▲ +23% vs avg | $23,322 | 80% | 78 |
| 3 | $81,698 ▲ +43% vs avg | $24,953 | 86% | 76 |
| $60,509 ▲ +6% vs avg | $23,015 | 73% | 73 | |
| $60,613 ▲ +6% vs avg | $20,667 | 67% | 73 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Communications Colleges in Virginia
This analysis ranks 19 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $57,070 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 59% and an average net price of $21,463.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Washington and Lee University — Net Price: $23,781 | Graduation Rate: 94%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Washington and Lee University — 94% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Washington and Lee University — Median alumni earnings: $94,810
CollegeRanker Primary Research
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Humanities & Creative Fields Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the value of a humanities and creative education?
$56,380
Median earnings (10yr)
60%
Median graduation rate
$22,925
Median net price
1.3%
Avg. mobility rate
Arts, communications, and humanities programs draw perpetual skepticism about their payoff. Early earnings do start lower, and the path is less linear. The core skills compound, though. Writing, judgment, persuasion, and creative problem-solving gain value over a career, and they are the abilities automation has been slowest to replicate.
Across the 19 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $56,380 ten years after they first enrolled, about $8,380 more than the roughly $48,000 a typical American worker takes home. The median graduation rate is 60%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $22,925 a year, with about $25,000 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 35% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 1.3%.
What we’re seeing: outcomes in these fields vary widely, and affordability matters most precisely where early earnings start slow. Median earnings of $56,380 ten years after enrollment against a $22,925 net price show why low cost is the lever that turns a humanities degree into a clear win.
The podium
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Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
Washington and Lee University lands at #1 with a 79/100 composite, led by academic quality (89/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (74/100). Graduates earn a median $94,810 a decade after enrolling, 66% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,781 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
James Madison University lands at #2 with a 78/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (62/100). Graduates earn a median $69,954 a decade after enrolling, 23% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,322 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Blacksburg, VA · 55% accepted · $24,953 net
Why it ranks #3
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University lands at #3 with a 76/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (59/100). Graduates earn a median $81,698 a decade after enrolling, 43% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,953 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
Christopher Newport University lands at #4 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (57/100). Graduates earn a median $60,509 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,015 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
University of Mary Washington lands at #5 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (64/100). Graduates earn a median $60,613 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,667 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Longwood University lands at #6 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (58/100). Graduates earn a median $52,347 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,066 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Virginia Commonwealth University lands at #7 with a 71/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $58,128 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,433 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Virginia State University lands at #8 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $45,543 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,840 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Bridgewater College lands at #9 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $53,453 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,800 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Hampton University lands at #10 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (37/100). Graduates earn a median $59,159 a decade after enrolling, 4% above this list's average, and net price runs $25,319 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Emory & Henry University lands at #11 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (52/100). Graduates earn a median $47,385 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,061 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
Roanoke College lands at #12 with a 68/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $58,047 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,503 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
Averett University lands at #13 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (43/100). Graduates earn a median $51,516 a decade after enrolling, 10% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,925 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Norfolk State University lands at #14 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (51/100). Graduates earn a median $44,666 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,282 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Randolph-Macon College lands at #15 with a 60/100 composite, led by academic quality (72/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $58,448 a decade after enrolling, 2% above this list's average, and net price runs $27,866 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #16
Virginia Union University lands at #16 with a 59/100 composite, led by social mobility (67/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (51/100). Graduates earn a median $38,275 a decade after enrolling, 33% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,235 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
University of Lynchburg lands at #17 with a 58/100 composite, led by academic quality (70/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (43/100). Graduates earn a median $56,380 a decade after enrolling, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $22,235 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Regent University lands at #18 with a 57/100 composite, led by academic quality (71/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $44,498 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,923 a year. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Bluefield University lands at #19 with a 52/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (64/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (39/100). Graduates earn a median $48,896 a decade after enrolling, 14% below this list's average, and net price runs $25,573 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 19 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become PR Specialists and related roles — a field with $67,440 median pay and 6% projected growth.
See the PR Specialist career guide →Communications programs in Virginia are attracting attention for their strong outcomes and diverse offerings. With 19 colleges to choose from, students and families are looking for the best fit for their educational and career goals, especially as the demand for skilled communicators continues to grow in various industries.
The schools listed here stand out based on key metrics like graduation rates, post-graduate earnings, and student debt. These factors matter because they reflect the long-term value of the programs. For example, a higher graduation rate often correlates with strong academic support, while earnings figures can indicate how well the program prepares students for the job market after they graduate.
Take Washington and Lee University and James Madison University as examples. Washington and Lee boasts an impressive $94,810 average earnings for graduates, alongside a 94% graduation rate. In contrast, James Madison graduates earn $69,954 on average, with an 80% graduation rate. These differences illustrate how outcomes can vary significantly, even among strong programs, and highlight the importance of evaluating what each school can offer you personally.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 14 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.3%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Norfolk State University leads the group at 3.4%, with Hampton University (2.1%) and Virginia Commonwealth University (1.9%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 7.7% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Virginia State University enrolls the most, at 32.8%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 28.3% across the list, peaking at 60.7% at University of Mary Washington.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Washington and Lee University is highest at 1.82.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
Washington and Lee University and Christopher Newport University illustrate a significant contrast in outcomes within this ranking. While Washington and Lee graduates earn an average of $94,810, Christopher Newport graduates earn just $60,509. This stark difference emphasizes the importance of researching not only the program's reputation but also the financial implications of attending each institution.
After reviewing this data, consider your own priorities. Are you looking for a strong earning potential right after graduation, or is a lower net price more critical for your financial situation? Take the time to visit campuses, talk to current students, and assess how well each program aligns with your career aspirations and lifestyle.
Ultimately, the choice of college is a crucial step toward building a stable future. Each of these schools can lead to different paths, and understanding the data behind their programs can make a real difference for your family. The goal is to find a balance between quality education and financial feasibility that sets you up for success after graduation.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Communications Colleges in Virginia: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Communications Colleges in Virginia ranking? +
Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Communications Colleges in Virginia ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $94,810 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 94% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Washington and Lee University posts the highest median earnings on this list: $94,810 ten years after enrollment, well above the $57,070 average across the 19 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Washington and Lee University leads: graduates earn a median $94,810 against net price of about $23,781 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Washington and Lee University has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 94%, compared with a 59% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $21,463 a year across the 19 ranked schools with cost data. Virginia Union University is among the most affordable at roughly $13,235. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Communications Colleges in Virginia ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 19 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
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