Top 50 Best Doctoral Degree Programs in Virginia by ROI

Every Doctoral Degree 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

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$539,558

Across all Virginia programs

Average Annual Cost

$36,993

Cost of attendance

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost	Avg Debt
1	Virginia Commonwealth University Grad rate: 64.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$2,660,916	$181,915	$34,346	N/A	Full ROI →
2	Appalachian College of Pharmacy	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,750,100	$129,505	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
3	Hampton University Grad rate: 50.5%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,310,828	$116,735	$45,968	N/A	Full ROI →
4	University of Virginia-Main Campus Grad rate: 95.3%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,151,012	$107,177	$38,132	N/A	Full ROI →
5	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Grad rate: 86.3%	Veterinary Medicine.	+$1,109,200	$103,868	$32,040	N/A	Full ROI →
6	George Mason University Grad rate: 69.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,086,152	$101,702	$26,972	N/A	Full ROI →
7	South University-Richmond Grad rate: 20.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,073,820	$102,466	$33,875	N/A	Full ROI →
8	South University-Virginia Beach Grad rate: 21.6%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$1,073,820	$102,466	$33,875	N/A	Full ROI →
9	George Mason University Grad rate: 69.9%	Psychology, General.	+$801,132	$87,451	$26,972	N/A	Full ROI →
10	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Grad rate: 86.3%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$731,640	$84,990	$32,040	N/A	Full ROI →
11	George Mason University Grad rate: 69.9%	Education, General.	+$676,252	$81,207	$26,972	N/A	Full ROI →
12	Virginia Commonwealth University Grad rate: 64.9%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$672,016	$82,470	$34,346	N/A	Full ROI →
13	Regent University Grad rate: 54.3%	Human Resources Management and Services.	+$639,100	$80,065	$30,550	N/A	Full ROI →
14	William & Mary Grad rate: 91.0%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$605,888	$80,518	$41,118	N/A	Full ROI →
15	Old Dominion University Grad rate: 46.2%	Education, Other.	+$603,220	$77,597	$27,180	N/A	Full ROI →
16	Shenandoah University Grad rate: 66.5%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$600,200	$82,110	$50,500	N/A	Full ROI →
17	DeVry University-Virginia	Management Information Systems and Services.	+$597,316	$78,577	$33,556	N/A	Full ROI →
18	Marymount University Grad rate: 59.3%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$585,768	$82,438	$55,748	N/A	Full ROI →
19	Radford University Grad rate: 51.7%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$536,036	$74,138	$26,681	N/A	Full ROI →
20	Regent University Grad rate: 54.3%	Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.	+$478,820	$72,051	$30,550	N/A	Full ROI →
21	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Grad rate: 86.3%	Curriculum and Instruction.	+$469,380	$71,877	$32,040	N/A	Full ROI →
22	Hampton University Grad rate: 50.5%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$468,628	$74,625	$45,968	N/A	Full ROI →
23	DeVry University-Virginia	Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications.	+$464,756	$71,949	$33,556	N/A	Full ROI →
24	University of Virginia-Main Campus Grad rate: 95.3%	Education, General.	+$459,232	$72,588	$38,132	N/A	Full ROI →
25	Virginia Commonwealth University Grad rate: 64.9%	Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions.	+$376,656	$67,702	$34,346	N/A	Full ROI →
26	Strayer University-Virginia Grad rate: 23.4%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$339,240	$58,962	N/A	N/A	Full ROI →
27	George Mason University Grad rate: 69.9%	Natural Resources Conservation and Research.	+$303,012	$62,545	$26,972	N/A	Full ROI →
28	DeVry University-Virginia	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$298,996	$63,661	$33,556	N/A	Full ROI →
29	DeVry University-Virginia	Accounting and Related Services.	+$250,176	$61,220	$33,556	N/A	Full ROI →
30	George Mason University Grad rate: 69.9%	Special Education and Teaching.	+$242,212	$59,505	$26,972	N/A	Full ROI →
31	Liberty University Grad rate: 64.5%	Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries.	+$236,552	$62,169	$41,707	N/A	Full ROI →
32	Liberty University Grad rate: 64.5%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$214,212	$61,052	$41,707	N/A	Full ROI →
33	George Mason University Grad rate: 69.9%	Curriculum and Instruction.	+$186,112	$56,700	$26,972	N/A	Full ROI →
34	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Grad rate: 86.3%	Health/Medical Preparatory Programs.	+$172,580	$57,037	$32,040	N/A	Full ROI →
35	Liberty University Grad rate: 64.5%	Theological and Ministerial Studies.	+$100,892	$55,386	$41,707	N/A	Full ROI →
36	DeVry University-Virginia	Human Resources Management and Services.	+$85,376	$52,980	$33,556	N/A	Full ROI →
37	Regent University Grad rate: 54.3%	Communication and Media Studies.	+$74,340	$51,827	$30,550	N/A	Full ROI →
38	University of Richmond Grad rate: 87.9%	Educational Administration and Supervision.	+$35,900	$59,253	$77,290	N/A	Full ROI →
39	Liberty University Grad rate: 64.5%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	-$122,768	$44,203	$41,707	N/A	Full ROI →
40	George Mason University Grad rate: 69.9%	Biology, General.	-$189,088	$37,940	$26,972	N/A	Full ROI →
41	University of Richmond Grad rate: 87.9%	Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods.	-$239,020	$45,507	$77,290	N/A	Full ROI →
42	Liberty University Grad rate: 64.5%	Special Education and Teaching.	-$309,168	$34,883	$41,707	N/A	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.