Top 50 Best Master's Degree Programs in Virginia by ROI

Every Master's 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

250

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$427,336

Across all Virginia programs

Average Annual Cost

$35,340

Cost of attendance

# College Major 20-Yr Net ROI Median Salary Annual Cost Avg Debt
1 Virginia Commonwealth University

Grad rate: 64.9%

 Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences. +$3,599,948 $225,432 $34,346 N/A Full ROI →
2 University of Virginia-Main Campus

Grad rate: 95.3%

 Law. +$2,943,996 $193,013 $38,132 N/A Full ROI →
3 University of Virginia-Main Campus

Grad rate: 95.3%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$2,608,476 $176,237 $38,132 N/A Full ROI →
4 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Medicine. +$1,901,520 $137,076 N/A N/A Full ROI →
5 Virginia Commonwealth University

Grad rate: 64.9%

 Dentistry. +$1,782,868 $134,578 $34,346 N/A Full ROI →
6 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Systems Engineering. +$1,657,776 $127,586 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
7 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Grad rate: 86.3%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$1,604,460 $125,427 $32,040 N/A Full ROI →
8 University of Virginia-Main Campus

Grad rate: 95.3%

 Computer Software and Media Applications. +$1,598,316 $125,729 $38,132 N/A Full ROI →
9 Shenandoah University

Grad rate: 66.5%

 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. +$1,574,400 $125,770 $50,500 N/A Full ROI →
10 Virginia Commonwealth University

Grad rate: 64.9%

 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. +$1,529,368 $121,903 $34,346 N/A Full ROI →
11 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Homeland Security. +$1,517,516 $120,573 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
12 University of Virginia-Main Campus

Grad rate: 95.3%

 Business/Commerce, General. +$1,490,976 $120,362 $38,132 N/A Full ROI →
13 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Computer and Information Sciences, General. +$1,453,596 $117,377 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
14 James Madison University

Grad rate: 81.0%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$1,437,314 $116,887 $30,213 N/A Full ROI →
15 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Computer Engineering. +$1,419,916 $115,693 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
16 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$1,383,976 $113,896 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
17 Shenandoah University

Grad rate: 66.5%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$1,326,480 $113,374 $50,500 N/A Full ROI →
18 Radford University

Grad rate: 51.7%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$1,300,498 $109,693 $26,681 N/A Full ROI →
19 University of Virginia-Main Campus

Grad rate: 95.3%

 Systems Engineering. +$1,282,856 $109,956 $38,132 N/A Full ROI →
20 South University-Richmond

Grad rate: 20.9%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$1,242,530 $107,514 $33,875 N/A Full ROI →
21 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Grad rate: 86.3%

 Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other. +$1,234,540 $106,931 $32,040 N/A Full ROI →
22 Eastern Virginia Medical School Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$1,223,900 $103,195 N/A N/A Full ROI →
23 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications. +$1,219,336 $105,664 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
24 University of Richmond

Grad rate: 87.9%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$1,217,060 $110,582 $77,290 N/A Full ROI →
25 James Madison University

Grad rate: 81.0%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$1,214,934 $105,768 $30,213 N/A Full ROI →
26 Marymount University

Grad rate: 59.3%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,202,584 $107,704 $55,748 N/A Full ROI →
27 Virginia Commonwealth University

Grad rate: 64.9%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,202,188 $105,544 $34,346 N/A Full ROI →
28 Old Dominion University

Grad rate: 46.2%

 Engineering, Other. +$1,187,780 $104,107 $27,180 N/A Full ROI →
29 Old Dominion University

Grad rate: 46.2%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,173,220 $103,379 $27,180 N/A Full ROI →
30 Shenandoah University

Grad rate: 66.5%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,142,640 $104,182 $50,500 N/A Full ROI →
31 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Medical Illustration and Informatics. +$1,138,136 $101,604 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
32 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Human Resources Management and Services. +$1,100,496 $99,722 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
33 South University-Richmond

Grad rate: 20.9%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,052,710 $98,023 $33,875 N/A Full ROI →
34 South University-Virginia Beach

Grad rate: 21.6%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,052,710 $98,023 $33,875 N/A Full ROI →
35 Virginia Commonwealth University

Grad rate: 64.9%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$1,049,168 $97,893 $34,346 N/A Full ROI →
36 Marymount University

Grad rate: 59.3%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$1,007,384 $97,944 $55,748 N/A Full ROI →
37 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$1,001,756 $94,785 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
38 Virginia Commonwealth University

Grad rate: 64.9%

 Information Science/Studies. +$976,188 $94,244 $34,346 N/A Full ROI →
39 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Security Science and Technology. +$937,736 $91,584 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
40 Liberty University

Grad rate: 64.5%

 Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations. +$915,866 $91,964 $41,707 N/A Full ROI →
41 University of Mary Washington

Grad rate: 68.1%

 Business Administration, Management and Operations. +$913,452 $90,596 $29,234 N/A Full ROI →
42 Virginia Commonwealth University

Grad rate: 64.9%

 Health and Medical Administrative Services. +$904,588 $90,664 $34,346 N/A Full ROI →
43 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Law. +$902,216 $89,808 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
44 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Civil Engineering. +$865,836 $87,989 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
45 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Grad rate: 86.3%

 Public Administration. +$849,080 $87,658 $32,040 N/A Full ROI →
46 Liberty University

Grad rate: 64.5%

 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. +$833,206 $87,831 $41,707 N/A Full ROI →
47 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Economics. +$799,736 $84,684 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
48 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Accounting and Related Services. +$793,856 $84,390 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
49 George Mason University

Grad rate: 69.9%

 Health and Medical Administrative Services. +$787,796 $84,087 $26,972 N/A Full ROI →
50 Shenandoah University

Grad rate: 66.5%

 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. +$786,400 $86,370 $50,500 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.