# Best Education Colleges in Virginia

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-08-03 | Schools: 18 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-education-virginia

## Methodology

Education 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.

## Summary

Choosing the right education college in Virginia involves more than just looking at campus amenities; it’s about long-term outcomes. The schools on this list have strong education programs that show promising results in graduate success. For families weighing their options, it's essential to look at how graduates fare in the job market and what their debt looks like after graduation.

The top institutions here are ranked based on key outcomes: earnings, graduation rates, net price, and debt. These factors provide a clearer picture of what to expect after college. For example, James Madison University leads with average earnings of $69,954, while Old Dominion University shows a lower graduation rate of 45%. Understanding these differences can help families make informed choices that align with their priorities.

Take James Madison University and Longwood University, for instance. While James Madison boasts a graduation rate of 80% and significantly higher earnings, Longwood's lower graduation rate of 61% comes with higher debt levels. This kind of contrast illustrates the tradeoffs that families need to consider when selecting a college. Each school has its strengths and weaknesses, and knowing what they are can guide students towards the right fit for their needs.

## Key Findings

- James Madison University graduates earn an average of $69,954, the highest in this ranking.
- The average graduation rate among these schools is 53%, highlighting a significant variation in student success.
- Old Dominion University has the lowest graduation rate at 45%, which may impact long-term earnings.
- Longwood University graduates carry an average debt of $25,000, which is among the highest in this list.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [James Madison University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/james-madison-university) | Harrisonburg, VA | 80% | $69,954 | $23,322 | $20,093 | 0.29x |
| 2 | [University of Mary Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-mary-washington) | Fredericksburg, VA | 67% | $60,613 | $20,667 | $20,500 | 0.34x |
| 3 | [Longwood University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/longwood-university) | Farmville, VA | 61% | $52,347 | $19,066 | $25,000 | 0.48x |
| 4 | [Virginia Commonwealth University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-commonwealth-university) | Richmond, VA | 64% | $58,128 | $23,433 | $21,500 | 0.37x |
| 5 | [Old Dominion University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/old-dominion-university) | Norfolk, VA | 45% | $54,914 | $14,638 | $24,000 | 0.44x |
| 6 | [Ferrum College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ferrum-college) | Ferrum, VA | 30% | $44,296 | $20,082 | $27,000 | 0.61x |
| 7 | [Randolph College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/randolph-college) | Lynchburg, VA | 49% | $53,409 | $15,921 | $26,950 | 0.5x |
| 8 | [Virginia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-state-university) | Petersburg, VA | 40% | $45,543 | $15,840 | $26,500 | 0.58x |
| 9 | [Roanoke College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/roanoke-college) | Salem, VA | 67% | $58,047 | $24,503 | $27,000 | 0.47x |
| 10 | [Sweet Briar College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sweet-briar-college) | Sweet Briar, VA | 50% | $51,943 | $17,758 | $27,000 | 0.52x |
| 11 | [Emory & Henry University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emory-henry-university) | Emory, VA | 55% | $47,385 | $19,061 | $26,332 | 0.56x |
| 12 | [Shenandoah University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/shenandoah-university) | Winchester, VA | 69% | $58,433 | $30,298 | $25,000 | 0.43x |
| 13 | [Bluefield University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bluefield-university) | Bluefield, VA | 22% | $48,896 | $25,573 | $21,855 | 0.45x |
| 14 | [Mary Baldwin University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mary-baldwin-university) | Staunton, VA | 43% | $44,427 | $12,756 | $26,586 | 0.6x |
| 15 | [University of Lynchburg](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-lynchburg) | Lynchburg, VA | 60% | $56,380 | $22,235 | $27,000 | 0.48x |
| 16 | [Virginia Union University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-union-university) | Richmond, VA | 39% | $38,275 | $13,235 | $29,000 | 0.76x |
| 17 | [Regent University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/regent-university) | Virginia Beach, VA | 56% | $44,498 | $19,923 | $24,534 | 0.55x |
| 18 | [Liberty University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/liberty-university) | Lynchburg, VA | 64% | $44,813 | $29,357 | $24,500 | 0.55x |

## 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 Education Colleges in Virginia." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-08-03. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-education-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/.