# Best Communications Colleges in Virginia

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 19 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-communications-virginia

## Methodology

Communications programs in Virginia ranked by outcomes and program concentration

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Washington and Lee University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washington-and-lee-university) | Lexington, VA | 94% | $94,810 | $23,781 | $19,500 | 0.21x |
| 2 | [James Madison University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/james-madison-university) | Harrisonburg, VA | 80% | $69,954 | $23,322 | $20,093 | 0.29x |
| 3 | [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university) | Blacksburg, VA | 86% | $81,698 | $24,953 | $21,500 | 0.26x |
| 4 | [University of Mary Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-mary-washington) | Fredericksburg, VA | 67% | $60,613 | $20,667 | $20,500 | 0.34x |
| 5 | [Christopher Newport University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/christopher-newport-university) | Newport News, VA | 73% | $60,509 | $23,015 | $25,000 | 0.41x |
| 6 | [Longwood University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/longwood-university) | Farmville, VA | 61% | $52,347 | $19,066 | $25,000 | 0.48x |
| 7 | [Virginia Commonwealth University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-commonwealth-university) | Richmond, VA | 64% | $58,128 | $23,433 | $21,500 | 0.37x |
| 8 | [Radford University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/radford-university) | Radford, VA | 49% | $53,739 | $14,578 | $24,000 | 0.45x |
| 9 | [Virginia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-state-university) | Petersburg, VA | 40% | $45,543 | $15,840 | $26,500 | 0.58x |
| 10 | [Hampton University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hampton-university) | Hampton, VA | 56% | $59,159 | $25,319 | $25,442 | 0.43x |
| 11 | [Emory & Henry University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emory-henry-university) | Emory, VA | 55% | $47,385 | $19,061 | $26,332 | 0.56x |
| 12 | [Bridgewater College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bridgewater-college) | Bridgewater, VA | 51% | $53,453 | $17,800 | $26,000 | 0.49x |
| 13 | [Roanoke College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/roanoke-college) | Salem, VA | 67% | $58,047 | $24,503 | $27,000 | 0.47x |
| 14 | [Hollins University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hollins-university) | Roanoke, VA | 67% | $40,075 | $20,896 | $27,000 | 0.67x |
| 15 | [Norfolk State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/norfolk-state-university) | Norfolk, VA | 36% | $44,666 | $15,282 | $29,000 | 0.65x |
| 16 | [Virginia Union University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-union-university) | Richmond, VA | 39% | $38,275 | $13,235 | $29,000 | 0.76x |
| 17 | [Randolph-Macon College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/randolph-macon-college) | Ashland, VA | 72% | $58,448 | $27,866 | $27,000 | 0.46x |
| 18 | [Regent University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/regent-university) | Virginia Beach, VA | 56% | $44,498 | $19,923 | $24,534 | 0.55x |
| 19 | [University of Lynchburg](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-lynchburg) | Lynchburg, VA | 60% | $56,380 | $22,235 | $27,000 | 0.48x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Communications Colleges in Virginia." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-communications-virginia

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.