Rankings / By State
Best Online Colleges in Virginia
- 50
- Schools
- $48,421
- Avg. Earnings
- 50%
- Avg. Graduation
- $14,273
- Avg. Net Price
- $18,553
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Graduate earnings span a wide band on this list, from $31,664 at the low end to $86,863 at the top. That 2.7× spread shows how much outcomes vary within a single category.
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Eastern Shore Community College offers the strongest payback. Graduates earn a median of $32,418 against $2,495 in annual net price, the best earnings-to-cost ratio in this ranking.
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The most budget-friendly option on this list is Eastern Shore Community College, at $2,495 annually in net price.
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Completion rates separate this field: University of Virginia-Main Campus graduates 95% of its students, well above the 50% list average. Finishing what you start matters as much as where you start.
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Debt-to-earnings ratios favor Paul D Camp Community College: graduates owe only 0.19× their yearly income, the most manageable debt burden on the list.
Surprising Comparisons
- The top spot belongs to William & Mary ($73,490 earnings), not the highest earner, University of Virginia-Main Campus ($86,863). That is what weighting mobility and value over salary alone produces.
- Price and payoff diverge sharply here. Eastern Shore Community College ($2,495/yr) and University of Richmond ($31,309/yr) produce graduates earning $32,418 and $76,178 respectively, a far narrower earnings gap than the $28,814 cost difference would suggest.
- On a cost-adjusted basis, Eastern Shore Community College outperforms University of Virginia-Main Campus: similar career earnings at a much lower net price.
The Takeaway
A consistent pattern: the schools that finish at the top get there by delivering strong earnings, manageable debt, and real mobility rather than by charging more or rejecting more applicants. Those outcomes are what define educational value.
What This Means for Students
For students evaluating these schools, begin with Eastern Shore Community College and University of Virginia-Main Campus. Look past sticker price: pull each school's net price for your income level, compare it against projected earnings, and let the data guide the decision instead of the brand.
Why this ranking matters
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $44K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-20
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 William & Mary #1 overall | $73,490 ▲ +52% vs avg | $19,096 | 90% | 77 |
| 2 University of Virginia's College at Wise #2 overall | $45,325 ▼ -6% vs avg | $9,210 | 48% | 74 |
| 3 | $81,698 ▲ +69% vs avg | $24,953 | 86% | 74 |
| $69,954 ▲ +44% vs avg | $23,322 | 80% | 73 | |
| $76,343 ▲ +58% vs avg | $17,915 | 69% | 73 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Online Colleges in Virginia
This analysis ranks 50 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $48,421 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 50% and an average net price of $14,273.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Eastern Shore Community College — Net Price: $2,495 | Graduation Rate: 38%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: University of Virginia-Main Campus — 95% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: University of Virginia-Main Campus — Median alumni earnings: $86,863
Data Insight
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Access & Flexibility Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about online education and the working-adult learner?
$44,463
Median earnings (10yr)
45%
Median graduation rate
$14,288
Median net price
1.5%
Avg. mobility rate
The online education market has matured. What was once a niche offering for non-traditional students is now a central way Americans access higher education. The programs that succeed pair flexibility with the support structures and academic rigor that lead to completion and career outcomes rather than enrollment alone.
Start with the medians across these 50 schools. Graduates earn a median of $44,463 ten years after enrollment. The median graduation rate is 45%, and the typical net price (what students pay after grants) runs $14,288 a year with about $20,750 in federal debt. Pell grants reach 33% of students on average, and the average mobility rate, the share of students lifted from the bottom income quintile to the top, is 1.5%.
Online delivery is no longer a compromise; the best programs post outcomes competitive with their on-campus peers. With median earnings of $44,463 and a net price of $14,288, these programs show that flexibility and quality can coexist.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
William & Mary lands at #1 with a 77/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (73/100). Graduates earn a median $73,490 a decade after enrolling, 52% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,096 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 #2
University of Virginia's College at Wise lands at #2 with a 74/100 composite, led by social mobility (92/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (64/100). Graduates earn a median $45,325 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $9,210 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
Blacksburg, VA · 55% accepted · $24,953 net
Why it ranks #3
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University lands at #3 with a 74/100 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, 69% 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
James Madison University lands at #4 with a 73/100 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, 44% 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
Why it ranks #5
George Mason University lands at #5 with a 73/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (60/100). Graduates earn a median $76,343 a decade after enrolling, 58% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,915 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 #6
University of Richmond lands at #6 with a 72/100 composite, led by academic quality (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $76,178 a decade after enrolling, 57% above this list's average, and net price runs $31,309 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 #7
University of Mary Washington lands at #7 with a 71/100 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, 25% above this list's average, and net price runs $20,667 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
Old Dominion University lands at #8 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by academic quality (57/100). Graduates earn a median $54,914 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,638 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 #9
Virginia Commonwealth University lands at #9 with a 69/100 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, 20% 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 #10
Radford University lands at #10 with a 69/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (62/100). Graduates earn a median $53,739 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,578 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
Charlottesville, VA · 17% accepted · $21,565 net
Why it ranks #11
University of Virginia-Main Campus lands at #11 with a 69/100 composite, led by academic quality (95/100) and pulled down by social mobility (59/100). Graduates earn a median $86,863 a decade after enrolling, 79% above this list's average, and net price runs $21,565 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 #12
Longwood University lands at #12 with a 69/100 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% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,066 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
Northern Virginia Community College lands at #13 with a 68/100 composite, led by value per dollar (81/100) and pulled down by academic quality (55/100). Graduates earn a median $53,557 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $9,919 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
Germanna Community College lands at #14 with a 68/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $39,644 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,541 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Randolph College lands at #15 with a 67/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (54/100). Graduates earn a median $53,409 a decade after enrolling, 10% above this list's average, and net price runs $15,921 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 #16
Piedmont Virginia Community College lands at #16 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (52/100). Graduates earn a median $40,752 a decade after enrolling, 16% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,963 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Eastern Mennonite University lands at #17 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (43/100). Graduates earn a median $54,869 a decade after enrolling, 13% above this list's average, and net price runs $24,588 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 #18
Wytheville Community College lands at #18 with a 66/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by academic quality (50/100). Graduates earn a median $34,303 a decade after enrolling, 29% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,622 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Emory & Henry University lands at #19 with a 65/100 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, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,061 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
New River Community College lands at #20 with a 65/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (49/100). Graduates earn a median $40,025 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,279 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #21
Virginia Wesleyan University lands at #21 with a 65/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $50,074 a decade after enrolling, 3% above this list's average, and net price runs $19,676 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 #22
Central Virginia Community College lands at #22 with a 65/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (51/100). Graduates earn a median $36,627 a decade after enrolling, 24% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,928 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #23
Averett University lands at #23 with a 65/100 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, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,925 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 #24
Virginia Western Community College lands at #24 with a 65/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (49/100). Graduates earn a median $38,787 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,966 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #25
Danville Community College lands at #25 with a 64/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $31,664 a decade after enrolling, 35% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,669 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #26
Hollins University lands at #26 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (85/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (48/100). Graduates earn a median $40,075 a decade after enrolling, 17% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,896 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #27
Hampton University lands at #27 with a 64/100 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, 22% 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 carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #28
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College lands at #28 with a 64/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (49/100). Graduates earn a median $39,529 a decade after enrolling, 18% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,168 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #29
Marymount University lands at #29 with a 64/100 composite, led by social mobility (82/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $67,516 a decade after enrolling, 39% above this list's average, and net price runs $29,137 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 #30
Tidewater Community College lands at #30 with a 63/100 composite, led by value per dollar (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (49/100). Graduates earn a median $38,349 a decade after enrolling, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,762 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #31
Shenandoah University lands at #31 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (40/100). Graduates earn a median $58,433 a decade after enrolling, 21% above this list's average, and net price runs $30,298 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 #32
Ferrum College lands at #32 with a 63/100 composite, led by social mobility (84/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (44/100). Graduates earn a median $44,296 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $20,082 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, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #33
Norfolk State University lands at #33 with a 62/100 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, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $15,282 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 #34
Brightpoint Community College lands at #34 with a 62/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $41,223 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,490 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #35
Mary Baldwin University lands at #35 with a 61/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $44,427 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $12,756 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 #36
Laurel Ridge Community College lands at #36 with a 61/100 composite, led by value per dollar (87/100) and pulled down by academic quality (50/100). Graduates earn a median $41,000 a decade after enrolling, 15% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,013 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #37
Paul D Camp Community College lands at #37 with a 61/100 composite, led by value per dollar (91/100) and pulled down by academic quality (43/100). Graduates earn a median $36,031 a decade after enrolling, 26% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,126 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #38
Virginia Peninsula Community College lands at #38 with a 59/100 composite, led by value per dollar (86/100) and pulled down by academic quality (47/100). Graduates earn a median $37,996 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,012 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #39
Mountain Gateway Community College lands at #39 with a 58/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (44/100). Graduates earn a median $34,293 a decade after enrolling, 29% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,861 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #40
University of Lynchburg lands at #40 with a 57/100 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, 16% above this list's average, and net price runs $22,235 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 #41
Virginia Union University lands at #41 with a 56/100 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, 21% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,235 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 #42
Regent University lands at #42 with a 55/100 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, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,923 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 #43
Rappahannock Community College lands at #43 with a 51/100 composite, led by value per dollar (93/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (26/100). Graduates earn a median $36,121 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,343 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #44
Patrick & Henry Community College lands at #44 with a 51/100 composite, led by value per dollar (93/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (24/100). Graduates earn a median $33,323 a decade after enrolling, 31% below this list's average, and net price runs $4,102 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #45
Eastern Shore Community College lands at #45 with a 51/100 composite, led by value per dollar (96/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (24/100). Graduates earn a median $32,418 a decade after enrolling, 33% below this list's average, and net price runs $2,495 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #46
Southwest Virginia Community College lands at #46 with a 51/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (26/100). Graduates earn a median $34,221 a decade after enrolling, 29% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,005 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #47
Virginia Highlands Community College lands at #47 with a 50/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (25/100). Graduates earn a median $32,681 a decade after enrolling, 33% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,375 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #48
Southside Virginia Community College lands at #48 with a 50/100 composite, led by value per dollar (90/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (24/100). Graduates earn a median $32,371 a decade after enrolling, 33% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,338 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #49
Bluefield University lands at #49 with a 50/100 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, 1% above 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
Why it ranks #50
Blue Ridge Community College lands at #50 with a 50/100 composite, led by value per dollar (75/100) and pulled down by social mobility (37/100). Graduates earn a median $42,644 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,997 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 50 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
This ranking scores 50 institutions on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt burdens, and social mobility data from Opportunity Insights. Every data point comes from federal sources. No surveys, no opinions.
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in our algorithm. We use Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card — built on 30 million anonymized tax records — to measure whether a college changes a family's economic trajectory across generations. Schools that take low-income students and launch them into higher earnings rank higher than schools that admit wealthy students and take credit for their success.
The transparency penalty matters here. Schools that don't report their data get scored lower than schools that do. If an institution won't show you its numbers, we think you should know that before you write them a tuition check.
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 40 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.5%. 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 Marymount University (3.4%) and George Mason University (3.1%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 11.3% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Eastern Shore Community College enrolls the most, at 37%, 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 19.7% 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 1.37, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and University of Richmond 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Online Colleges in Virginia: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Online Colleges in Virginia ranking? +
William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Online Colleges in Virginia ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $73,490 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 90% 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? +
University of Virginia-Main Campus posts the highest median earnings on this list: $86,863 ten years after enrollment, well above the $48,421 average across the 50 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, Eastern Shore Community College leads: graduates earn a median $32,418 against net price of about $2,495 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? +
University of Virginia-Main Campus has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 95%, compared with a 50% 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 $14,273 a year across the 50 ranked schools with cost data. Eastern Shore Community College is among the most affordable at roughly $2,495. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Online 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 50 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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