Best Design and Applied Arts Degrees in Virginia by ROI
Colleges in Virginia ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in Virginia
5
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$185,091
Across Virginia programs
Average Annual Cost
$38,104
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Grad rate: 86.3% |
+$86,927 | $54,496 | $32,040 | $25,802 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Marymount University
Grad rate: 59.3% |
-$102,422 | $49,851 | $55,748 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Radford University
Grad rate: 51.7% |
-$239,594 | $37,179 | $26,681 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Liberty University
Grad rate: 64.5% |
-$334,568 | $35,368 | $41,707 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Virginia Commonwealth University
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$335,798 | $33,830 | $34,346 | $25,937 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Design and Applied Arts Degrees by State
Browse Design and Applied Arts programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.