Top 50 Best Certificate Programs in Virginia by ROI

Every Certificate program in Virginia ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all majors. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in Virginia

135

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$252,112

Across all Virginia programs

Average Annual Cost

$21,509

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Northern Virginia Community College Grad rate: 36.3%	Accounting and Related Services.	+$435,425	$65,714	$15,821	$17,062	Full ROI →
2	Virginia Commonwealth University Grad rate: 64.9%	Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General.	+$390,356	$64,737	$34,346	$22,250	Full ROI →
3	Riverside College of Health Careers	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$315,197	$59,247	$29,743	N/A	Full ROI →
4	Radford University Grad rate: 51.7%	Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions.	+$303,359	$58,502	$26,681	N/A	Full ROI →
5	Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing Grad rate: 66.8%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	+$268,373	$58,462	$40,954	$14,750	Full ROI →
6	Germanna Community College Grad rate: 38.8%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$263,112	$56,512	$12,278	$11,000	Full ROI →
7	Laurel Ridge Community College Grad rate: 40.0%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$167,796	$51,580	$11,552	$9,075	Full ROI →
8	Northern Virginia Community College Grad rate: 36.3%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$109,239	$48,253	$15,821	N/A	Full ROI →
9	University of Mary Washington Grad rate: 68.1%	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	+$94,666	$48,195	$29,234	N/A	Full ROI →
10	Wytheville Community College Grad rate: 45.1%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$91,604	$47,822	$11,952	$9,543	Full ROI →
11	Laurel Ridge Community College Grad rate: 40.0%	Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians.	+$67,528	$45,954	$11,552	N/A	Full ROI →
12	Danville Community College Grad rate: 40.7%	Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians.	+$39,261	$45,206	$14,060	$7,999	Full ROI →
13	Virginia Western Community College Grad rate: 36.5%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	+$28,000	$45,289	$11,892	$19,176	Full ROI →
14	Chester Career College Grad rate: 52.2%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	+$23,199	$46,447	$30,480	$26,119	Full ROI →
15	Danville Community College Grad rate: 40.7%	Precision Metal Working.	+$14,040	$43,405	$14,060	N/A	Full ROI →
16	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas Grad rate: 42.4%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	+$9,001	$46,100	$29,124	$32,500	Full ROI →
17	Laurel Ridge Community College Grad rate: 40.0%	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	+$2,808	$42,718	$11,552	N/A	Full ROI →
18	Patrick & Henry Community College Grad rate: 43.4%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$247	$43,333	$11,242	$11,604	Full ROI →
19	Tidewater Community College Grad rate: 28.7%	Ground Transportation.	-$8,497	$42,776	$15,291	$6,464	Full ROI →
20	Centura College-Richmond Main Grad rate: 56.8%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$10,759	$42,987	$30,499	N/A	Full ROI →
21	Centura College-Virginia Beach	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$12,383	$42,987	$32,123	N/A	Full ROI →
22	Centura College-Norfolk Grad rate: 63.6%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$12,791	$42,987	$32,531	N/A	Full ROI →
23	Fortis College-Richmond Grad rate: 35.6%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$13,197	$44,053	$26,643	$20,455	Full ROI →
24	Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk Grad rate: 40.8%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	-$17,781	$44,441	$26,469	$29,728	Full ROI →
25	Eastern Virginia Career College Grad rate: 89.8%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$21,836	$44,305	$44,311	$17,500	Full ROI →
26	Fortis College-Norfolk Grad rate: 35.9%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$22,495	$44,053	$35,941	$20,455	Full ROI →
27	Blue Ridge Community College Grad rate: 34.0%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	-$22,957	$41,624	$15,437	N/A	Full ROI →
28	Northern Virginia Community College Grad rate: 36.3%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	-$48,044	$41,111	$15,821	$10,699	Full ROI →
29	Germanna Community College Grad rate: 38.8%	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	-$51,230	$40,605	$12,278	$8,187	Full ROI →
30	Advanced Technology Institute Grad rate: 66.7%	Precision Metal Working.	-$55,389	$41,363	$25,540	$12,674	Full ROI →
31	ECPI University Grad rate: 47.8%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$62,506	$41,979	$27,999	$25,250	Full ROI →
32	J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Grad rate: 28.2%	Dental Support Services and Allied Professions.	-$107,759	$37,208	$11,919	N/A	Full ROI →
33	Blue Ridge Community College Grad rate: 34.0%	Ground Transportation.	-$126,197	$36,462	$15,437	N/A	Full ROI →
34	Wytheville Community College Grad rate: 45.1%	Construction Trades, General.	-$127,232	$36,236	$11,952	N/A	Full ROI →
35	Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics	Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services.	-$128,063	$36,799	$14,669	$6,944	Full ROI →
36	Paul D Camp Community College Grad rate: 25.3%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$128,138	$36,177	$11,678	N/A	Full ROI →
37	Centra College	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$134,554	$37,744	$31,771	$13,084	Full ROI →
38	Northern Virginia Community College Grad rate: 36.3%	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	-$136,933	$36,670	$15,821	$10,750	Full ROI →
39	Blue Ridge Community College Grad rate: 34.0%	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	-$139,074	$36,375	$15,437	$8,250	Full ROI →
40	Wytheville Community College Grad rate: 45.1%	Criminal Justice and Corrections.	-$139,172	$35,639	$11,952	N/A	Full ROI →
41	Advanced Technology Institute Grad rate: 66.7%	Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.	-$145,715	$36,978	$25,540	$14,619	Full ROI →
42	Riverside College of Health Careers	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$156,820	$36,608	$29,743	$14,250	Full ROI →
43	Liberty University Grad rate: 64.5%	Legal Support Services.	-$158,667	$36,152	$41,707	N/A	Full ROI →
44	Southside Virginia Community College Grad rate: 34.5%	Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants.	-$164,160	$34,957	$13,401	$7,333	Full ROI →
45	Brightpoint Community College Grad rate: 34.7%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	-$170,263	$35,006	$11,686	$13,850	Full ROI →
46	Virginia Peninsula Community College Grad rate: 32.3%	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	-$170,331	$34,831	$12,945	$10,375	Full ROI →
47	Tidewater Community College Grad rate: 28.7%	Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions.	-$177,251	$33,902	$15,291	N/A	Full ROI →
48	Virginia Western Community College Grad rate: 36.5%	Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions.	-$177,712	$33,709	$11,892	N/A	Full ROI →
49	Blue Ridge Community College Grad rate: 34.0%	Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions.	-$180,737	$33,735	$15,437	N/A	Full ROI →
50	Brightpoint Community College Grad rate: 34.7%	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.	-$200,258	$33,162	$11,686	$8,750	Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.