# Most Affordable Colleges in Virginia

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: By State (Affordable)
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-virginia

## Methodology

Ranked by lowest net price in Virginia

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

When considering higher education in Virginia, affordability is often a top priority for students and families. The colleges listed here share a commitment to providing accessible education at a lower cost. With net prices averaging around $4,600, these schools stand out as viable options for those looking to minimize debt while pursuing a degree.

What makes these institutions noteworthy is not just their affordability, but also the outcomes they deliver. The average earnings for graduates from these schools is about $46,357, with a graduation rate of 48%. This means that while students are paying less upfront, they are also positioned to earn a solid income after completing their programs. The list below outlines schools with the lowest net prices in Virginia, helping you identify potential pathways to a rewarding career without overwhelming debt.

Take Wytheville Community College and J Sargeant Reynolds Community College, for example. Wytheville has a net price of $4,622 and a graduation rate of 46%, while J Sargeant Reynolds has a higher net price of $5,168 and a lower graduation rate of 31%. This contrast highlights the importance of not just cost, but also the likelihood of successfully completing a program, which can significantly impact future earnings.

## Key Findings

- Wytheville Community College has a net price of $4,622 and an earning potential of $34,303.
- J Sargeant Reynolds Community College has a graduation rate of 31%, significantly lower than Wytheville's 46%.
- The average earnings for graduates from these colleges is $46,357.
- Virginia Western Community College has a higher average debt of $11,000 compared to Paul D Camp's $6,880.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Wytheville Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wytheville-community-college) | Wytheville, VA | 46% | $34,303 | $4,622 | $7,500 | 0.22x |
| 2 | [Virginia Western Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-western-community-college) | Roanoke, VA | 40% | $38,787 | $4,966 | $11,000 | 0.28x |
| 3 | [Paul D Camp Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/paul-d-camp-community-college) | Franklin, VA | 30% | $36,031 | $4,126 | $6,880 | 0.19x |
| 4 | [J Sargeant Reynolds Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/j-sargeant-reynolds-community-college) | Richmond, VA | 31% | $39,529 | $5,168 | $10,500 | 0.27x |
| 5 | [Germanna Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/germanna-community-college) | Locust Grove, VA | 42% | $39,644 | $5,541 | $8,400 | 0.21x |
| 6 | [Piedmont Virginia Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/piedmont-virginia-community-college) | Charlottesville, VA | 37% | $40,752 | $5,963 | $8,750 | 0.21x |
| 7 | [New River Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/new-river-community-college) | Dublin, VA | 47% | $40,025 | $6,279 | $9,000 | 0.22x |
| 8 | [Mountain Gateway Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mountain-gateway-community-college) | Clifton Forge, VA | 42% | $34,293 | $4,861 | $9,182 | 0.27x |
| 9 | [Eastern Shore Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-shore-community-college) | Melfa, VA | 38% | $32,418 | $2,495 | N/A | N/A |
| 10 | [Danville Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/danville-community-college) | Danville, VA | 39% | $31,664 | $6,669 | $9,000 | 0.28x |
| 11 | [Central Virginia Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-virginia-community-college) | Lynchburg, VA | 43% | $36,627 | $6,928 | $8,625 | 0.24x |
| 12 | [Brightpoint Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brightpoint-community-college) | Chester, VA | 39% | $41,223 | $5,490 | $9,500 | 0.23x |
| 13 | [University of Virginia's College at Wise](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-virginias-college-at-wise) | Wise, VA | 48% | $45,325 | $9,210 | $16,750 | 0.37x |
| 14 | [Laurel Ridge Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/laurel-ridge-community-college) | Middletown, VA | 42% | $41,000 | $6,013 | $9,750 | 0.24x |
| 15 | [Patrick & Henry Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/patrick-henry-community-college) | Martinsville, VA | 43% | $33,323 | $4,102 | N/A | N/A |
| 16 | [Rappahannock Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rappahannock-community-college) | Glenns, VA | 43% | $36,121 | $4,343 | N/A | N/A |
| 17 | [Virginia Peninsula Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-peninsula-community-college) | Hampton, VA | 34% | $37,996 | $7,012 | $9,500 | 0.25x |
| 18 | [Southside Virginia Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southside-virginia-community-college) | Alberta, VA | 38% | $32,371 | $5,338 | N/A | N/A |
| 19 | [Virginia Highlands Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-highlands-community-college) | Abingdon, VA | 41% | $32,681 | $5,375 | N/A | N/A |
| 20 | [Northern Virginia Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northern-virginia-community-college) | Annandale, VA | 35% | $53,557 | $9,919 | $11,000 | 0.21x |
| 21 | [Southwest Virginia Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southwest-virginia-community-college) | Cedar Bluff, VA | 45% | $34,221 | $6,005 | N/A | N/A |
| 22 | [Tidewater Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tidewater-community-college) | Norfolk, VA | 31% | $38,349 | $11,762 | $10,000 | 0.26x |
| 23 | [Virginia Union University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-union-university) | Richmond, VA | 39% | $38,275 | $13,235 | $29,000 | 0.76x |
| 24 | [Old Dominion University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/old-dominion-university) | Norfolk, VA | 45% | $54,914 | $14,638 | $24,000 | 0.44x |
| 25 | [Mountain Empire Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mountain-empire-community-college) | Big Stone Gap, VA | 51% | $32,622 | $8,852 | N/A | N/A |
| 26 | [Radford University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/radford-university) | Radford, VA | 49% | $53,739 | $14,578 | $24,000 | 0.45x |
| 27 | [Mary Baldwin University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mary-baldwin-university) | Staunton, VA | 43% | $44,427 | $12,756 | $26,586 | 0.6x |
| 28 | [Virginia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-state-university) | Petersburg, VA | 40% | $45,543 | $15,840 | $26,500 | 0.58x |
| 29 | [Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bryant-stratton-college-virginia-beach) | Virginia Beach, VA | 26% | $32,568 | $12,038 | $21,549 | 0.66x |
| 30 | [Norfolk State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/norfolk-state-university) | Norfolk, VA | 36% | $44,666 | $15,282 | $29,000 | 0.65x |
| 31 | [Randolph College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/randolph-college) | Lynchburg, VA | 49% | $53,409 | $15,921 | $26,950 | 0.5x |
| 32 | [Blue Ridge Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/blue-ridge-community-college-va) | Weyers Cave, VA | 37% | $42,644 | $13,997 | $10,409 | 0.24x |
| 33 | [Virginia Military Institute](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-military-institute) | Lexington, VA | 79% | $77,369 | $17,113 | $22,996 | 0.3x |
| 34 | [George Mason University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/george-mason-university) | Fairfax, VA | 69% | $76,343 | $17,915 | $19,500 | 0.26x |
| 35 | [Sweet Briar College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sweet-briar-college) | Sweet Briar, VA | 50% | $51,943 | $17,758 | $27,000 | 0.52x |
| 36 | [Bridgewater College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bridgewater-college) | Bridgewater, VA | 51% | $53,453 | $17,800 | $26,000 | 0.49x |
| 37 | [William & Mary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-mary) | Williamsburg, VA | 90% | $73,490 | $19,096 | $18,500 | 0.25x |
| 38 | [Longwood University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/longwood-university) | Farmville, VA | 61% | $52,347 | $19,066 | $25,000 | 0.48x |
| 39 | [Emory & Henry University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emory-henry-university) | Emory, VA | 55% | $47,385 | $19,061 | $26,332 | 0.56x |
| 40 | [Virginia Wesleyan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-wesleyan-university) | Virginia Beach, VA | 46% | $50,074 | $19,676 | $27,000 | 0.54x |
| 41 | [Ferrum College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ferrum-college) | Ferrum, VA | 30% | $44,296 | $20,082 | $27,000 | 0.61x |
| 42 | [University of Mary Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-mary-washington) | Fredericksburg, VA | 67% | $60,613 | $20,667 | $20,500 | 0.34x |
| 43 | [Regent University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/regent-university) | Virginia Beach, VA | 56% | $44,498 | $19,923 | $24,534 | 0.55x |
| 44 | [Hollins University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hollins-university) | Roanoke, VA | 67% | $40,075 | $20,896 | $27,000 | 0.67x |
| 45 | [University of Virginia-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-virginia-main-campus) | Charlottesville, VA | 95% | $86,863 | $21,565 | $17,500 | 0.2x |
| 46 | [Southern Virginia University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-virginia-university) | Buena Vista, VA | 36% | $50,002 | $22,213 | $24,224 | 0.48x |
| 47 | [University of Lynchburg](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-lynchburg) | Lynchburg, VA | 60% | $56,380 | $22,235 | $27,000 | 0.48x |
| 48 | [Christopher Newport University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/christopher-newport-university) | Newport News, VA | 73% | $60,509 | $23,015 | $25,000 | 0.41x |
| 49 | [Averett University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/averett-university) | Danville, VA | 46% | $51,516 | $22,925 | $25,000 | 0.49x |
| 50 | [James Madison University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/james-madison-university) | Harrisonburg, VA | 80% | $69,954 | $23,322 | $20,093 | 0.29x |

## 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. "Most Affordable Colleges in Virginia." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-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/.