Best Social Work 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
8
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$217,576
Across Virginia programs
Average Annual Cost
$31,491
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Christopher Newport University
Grad rate: 75.6% |
+$2,337 | $50,286 | $32,242 | $25,492 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
James Madison University
Grad rate: 81.0% |
-$172,767 | $40,686 | $30,213 | $18,989 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
George Mason University
Grad rate: 69.9% |
-$178,921 | $40,081 | $26,972 | $24,188 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Longwood University
Grad rate: 63.9% |
-$245,265 | $38,094 | $32,870 | $26,419 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Virginia Commonwealth University
Grad rate: 64.9% |
-$254,274 | $37,843 | $34,346 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Radford University
Grad rate: 51.7% |
-$266,924 | $35,745 | $26,681 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Virginia State University
Grad rate: 39.3% |
-$295,762 | $34,139 | $24,173 | $31,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Mary Baldwin University
Grad rate: 48.5% |
-$329,036 | $36,688 | $44,435 | $33,375 | 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 Social Work Degrees by State
Browse Social Work programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.