Best Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities 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
11
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$208,562
Across Virginia programs
Average Annual Cost
$38,999
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
George Mason University
Grad rate: 69.9% |
-$48,803 | $46,608 | $26,972 | $24,500 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Marymount University
Grad rate: 59.3% |
-$132,192 | $46,540 | $55,748 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
James Madison University
Grad rate: 81.0% |
-$132,299 | $42,997 | $30,213 | $23,250 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
University of Mary Washington
Grad rate: 68.1% |
-$133,213 | $42,695 | $29,234 | $22,354 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Virginia State University
Grad rate: 39.3% |
-$167,642 | $40,545 | $24,173 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Longwood University
Grad rate: 63.9% |
-$176,996 | $41,437 | $32,870 | $25,375 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Bridgewater College
Grad rate: 53.9% |
-$248,880 | $42,550 | $56,195 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Liberty University
Grad rate: 64.5% |
-$289,250 | $37,586 | $41,707 | $25,291 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Mary Baldwin University
Grad rate: 48.5% |
-$294,450 | $37,993 | $44,435 | $27,089 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Southern Virginia University
Grad rate: 41.6% |
-$297,299 | $34,997 | $33,066 | $18,500 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Eastern Mennonite University
Grad rate: 55.5% |
-$373,162 | $36,040 | $54,378 | $27,000 | 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 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Degrees by State
Browse Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.