Highest ROI College Degrees in Virginia

Top 20 college + major combinations in Virginia ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

#	College	Major	20-Yr Net ROI	Median Salary	Annual Cost
1	Virginia Commonwealth University Grad rate: 64.9%	Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.	+$3,599,948	$225,432	$34,346	Full ROI →
2	University of Virginia-Main Campus Grad rate: 95.3%	Law.	+$2,943,996	$193,013	$38,132	Full ROI →
3	Virginia Commonwealth University Grad rate: 64.9%	Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing.	+$2,660,916	$181,915	$34,346	Full ROI →
4	University of Virginia-Main Campus Grad rate: 95.3%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$2,608,476	$176,237	$38,132	Full ROI →
5	Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine	Medicine.	+$1,901,520	$137,076	N/A	Full ROI →
6	Virginia Commonwealth University Grad rate: 64.9%	Dentistry.	+$1,782,868	$134,578	$34,346	Full ROI →
7	Appalachian College of Pharmacy	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,750,100	$129,505	N/A	Full ROI →
8	George Mason University Grad rate: 69.9%	Systems Engineering.	+$1,657,776	$127,586	$26,972	Full ROI →
9	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Grad rate: 86.3%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$1,604,460	$125,427	$32,040	Full ROI →
10	University of Virginia-Main Campus Grad rate: 95.3%	Computer Software and Media Applications.	+$1,598,316	$125,729	$38,132	Full ROI →
11	Shenandoah University Grad rate: 66.5%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,574,400	$125,770	$50,500	Full ROI →
12	Virginia Commonwealth University Grad rate: 64.9%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,529,368	$121,903	$34,346	Full ROI →
13	George Mason University Grad rate: 69.9%	Homeland Security.	+$1,517,516	$120,573	$26,972	Full ROI →
14	University of Virginia-Main Campus Grad rate: 95.3%	Business/Commerce, General.	+$1,490,976	$120,362	$38,132	Full ROI →
15	George Mason University Grad rate: 69.9%	Computer and Information Sciences, General.	+$1,453,596	$117,377	$26,972	Full ROI →
16	James Madison University Grad rate: 81.0%	Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions.	+$1,437,314	$116,887	$30,213	Full ROI →
17	George Mason University Grad rate: 69.9%	Computer Engineering.	+$1,419,916	$115,693	$26,972	Full ROI →
18	George Mason University Grad rate: 69.9%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$1,383,976	$113,896	$26,972	Full ROI →
19	Shenandoah University Grad rate: 66.5%	Business Administration, Management and Operations.	+$1,326,480	$113,374	$50,500	Full ROI →
20	Hampton University Grad rate: 50.5%	Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration.	+$1,310,828	$116,735	$45,968	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.