State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard
Cheapest Colleges in Virginia
According to U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, 106 Virginia colleges ranked by average net price, what students actually paid after grant and scholarship aid, not the published sticker price.
- $1,317
- Cheapest net price
- $19,096
- Virginia median
- 106
- Schools ranked
Data updated June 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage
The list in one line
Virginia Beach City Public Schools School of Practical Nursing has the lowest average net price in Virginia at $1,317/year, and the state's median net price is 12% above the $17,083 national median across 4,942 schools.
- $1,317
- cheapest ranked net price
- $19,096
- Virginia median net price
- 42 public / 64 private
- schools in this ranking
- $15,265
- avg net price, <$30K income families
Average net price is the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, not counting loans that must be repaid. A very low figure at a specialty or religious institution can reflect a narrow enrollment mix rather than typical affordability, check the sector label and enrollment before comparing.
Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Washington and Lee University, where in-state published tuition of $68,045 falls to an average net price of $23,781 after aid, a $44,264 gap. This is the widest sticker-to-net-price gap among ranked Virginia schools, and a reminder that published tuition alone is a poor guide to what most admitted students actually pay.
Across all 106 ranked Virginia schools, 42 are public institutions and 64 are private (nonprofit or for-profit). Sector is shown next to every school below because a low sticker-adjacent price at a small religious, seminary, or specialty school can reflect an unusual enrollment mix rather than broad affordability, check enrollment and sector before drawing conclusions from rank alone.
Average net price also blends every income bracket into one figure, so a family's own bracket can land well above or below the number shown here. Federal reporting requires an institution to have enough surveyed aid recipients in a bracket before that bracket is published, so a very small school can show only a partial income-bracket breakdown even when its overall average net price is fully reported. Use the school's own profile page for the full income-bracket table before treating a single average as a personal cost estimate.
Virginia's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Beach City Public Schools School of Practical Nursing Virginia Beach, VA · Public | $1,317 97% of the leader · rank #1 | $842 | - | - | 65 |
| 2 | Eastern Shore Community College Melfa, VA · Public | $2,495 94% of the leader · rank #2 | $2,054 | - | $30,763 | 720 |
| 3 | Patrick & Henry Community College Martinsville, VA · Public | $4,102 89% of the leader · rank #3 | $3,671 | - | $29,895 | 1,932 |
| 4 | Paul D Camp Community College Franklin, VA · Public | $4,126 89% of the leader · rank #4 | $2,709 | $6,880 | $30,338 | 1,168 |
| 5 | Rappahannock Community College Glenns, VA · Public | $4,343 89% of the leader · rank #5 | $2,915 | - | $33,145 | 2,767 |
| 6 | Wytheville Community College Wytheville, VA · Public | $4,622 88% of the leader · rank #6 | $3,647 | $7,500 | $30,289 | 2,119 |
| 7 | Mountain Gateway Community College Clifton Forge, VA · Public | $4,861 87% of the leader · rank #7 | $4,393 | $9,182 | $29,997 | 1,002 |
| 8 | Virginia Western Community College Roanoke, VA · Public | $4,966 87% of the leader · rank #8 | $4,105 | $11,000 | $33,847 | 6,170 |
| 9 | J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond, VA · Public | $5,168 87% of the leader · rank #9 | $3,865 | $10,500 | $32,102 | 7,707 |
| 10 | Southside Virginia Community College Alberta, VA · Public | $5,338 86% of the leader · rank #10 | $4,751 | - | $30,192 | 3,258 |
| 11 | Virginia Highlands Community College Abingdon, VA · Public | $5,375 86% of the leader · rank #11 | $4,927 | - | $31,926 | 2,052 |
| 12 | Brightpoint Community College Chester, VA · Public | $5,490 86% of the leader · rank #12 | $4,150 | $9,500 | $35,568 | 9,023 |
| 13 | Germanna Community College Locust Grove, VA · Public | $5,541 86% of the leader · rank #13 | $3,816 | $8,400 | $35,697 | 8,082 |
| 14 | Piedmont Virginia Community College Charlottesville, VA · Public | $5,963 85% of the leader · rank #14 | $5,491 | $8,750 | $34,000 | 5,174 |
| 15 | Southwest Virginia Community College Richlands, VA · Public | $6,005 84% of the leader · rank #15 | $5,800 | - | $30,954 | 2,288 |
| 16 | Laurel Ridge Community College Middletown, VA · Public | $6,013 84% of the leader · rank #16 | $4,521 | $9,750 | $36,455 | 5,935 |
| 17 | New River Community College Dublin, VA · Public | $6,279 84% of the leader · rank #17 | $4,883 | $9,000 | $32,910 | 4,156 |
| 18 | Danville Community College Danville, VA · Public | $6,669 83% of the leader · rank #18 | $5,343 | $9,000 | $29,054 | 2,489 |
| 19 | Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg, VA · Public | $6,928 82% of the leader · rank #19 | $5,752 | $8,625 | $31,969 | 3,410 |
| 20 | Virginia Peninsula Community College Hampton, VA · Public | $7,012 82% of the leader · rank #20 | $5,074 | $9,500 | $31,354 | 6,127 |
| 21 | Another Level Barbering and Cosmetology School Petersburg, VA · Private for-profit | $7,780 80% of the leader · rank #21 | $7,780 | $11,833 | - | 77 |
| 22 | Central School of Practical Nursing Norfolk, VA · Public | $8,029 79% of the leader · rank #22 | $8,029 | - | $47,274 | 24 |
| 23 | Mountain Empire Community College Big Stone Gap, VA · Public | $8,852 77% of the leader · rank #23 | $8,148 | - | $30,368 | 2,015 |
| 24 | University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise, VA · Public | $9,210 76% of the leader · rank #24 | $8,891 | $16,750 | $39,725 | 1,911 |
| 25 | Staunton School of Cosmetology Staunton, VA · Private for-profit | $9,504 75% of the leader · rank #25 | $8,598 | - | $22,783 | 25 |
See all 106 ranked Virginia schools →
| # | College | Avg net price | Net price (<$30K income) | Median debt | Median earnings, 6yr | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA · Public | $9,919 74% of the leader · rank #26 | $7,463 | $11,000 | $40,698 | 53,810 |
| 27 | Columbia College Vienna, VA · Private for-profit | $10,171 74% of the leader · rank #27 | $10,042 | $7,940 | $23,950 | 239 |
| 28 | Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics Ashland, VA · Private for-profit | $10,219 74% of the leader · rank #28 | $10,219 | - | $19,839 | 37 |
| 29 | Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA · Public | $11,762 70% of the leader · rank #29 | $10,222 | $10,000 | $32,700 | 15,912 |
| 30 | Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofit | $12,038 69% of the leader · rank #30 | $11,808 | $21,549 | $27,873 | 1,339 |
| 31 | Tomorrow's Image Barber And Beauty Academy of Virginia Newport News, VA · Private for-profit | $12,093 69% of the leader · rank #31 | $10,947 | $12,179 | - | 18 |
| 32 | Mary Baldwin University Staunton, VA · Private nonprofit | $12,756 67% of the leader · rank #32 | $12,717 | $26,586 | $39,075 | 1,792 |
| 33 | Richard Bland College South Prince George, VA · Public | $13,045 66% of the leader · rank #33 | $10,245 | $11,000 | $34,377 | 2,598 |
| 34 | Virginia Union University Richmond, VA · Private nonprofit | $13,235 66% of the leader · rank #34 | $11,424 | $29,000 | $27,977 | 1,662 |
| 35 | Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave, VA · Public | $13,997 64% of the leader · rank #35 | $12,832 | $10,409 | $37,349 | 3,718 |
| 36 | Jazz Barber and Hairstyling Academy Petersburg, VA · Private for-profit | $14,175 63% of the leader · rank #36 | $14,176 | - | - | 36 |
| 37 | Radford University Radford, VA · Public | $14,578 62% of the leader · rank #37 | $8,965 | $24,000 | $44,830 | 7,531 |
| 38 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA · Public | $14,638 62% of the leader · rank #38 | $9,739 | $24,000 | $46,732 | 22,541 |
| 39 | Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center Culpeper, VA · Public | $14,999 61% of the leader · rank #39 | $16,280 | - | $17,548 | 68 |
| 40 | Norfolk State University Norfolk, VA · Public | $15,282 61% of the leader · rank #40 | $12,804 | $29,000 | $33,412 | 6,045 |
| 41 | Avi Career Training Great Falls, VA · Private for-profit | $15,361 60% of the leader · rank #41 | $15,361 | $6,333 | $24,324 | 74 |
| 42 | Virginia State University Petersburg, VA · Public | $15,840 59% of the leader · rank #42 | $13,220 | $26,500 | $33,630 | 5,190 |
| 43 | Randolph College Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit | $15,921 59% of the leader · rank #43 | $13,048 | $26,950 | $39,122 | 634 |
| 44 | Advanced Technology Institute Virginia Beach, VA · Private for-profit | $16,358 58% of the leader · rank #44 | $14,906 | $14,873 | $41,870 | 377 |
| 45 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA · Public | $17,113 56% of the leader · rank #45 | $12,697 | $22,996 | $63,545 | 1,560 |
| 46 | Cayce/Reilly School of Massage Virginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofit | $17,312 55% of the leader · rank #46 | $17,605 | - | $21,679 | 25 |
| 47 | Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar, VA · Private nonprofit | $17,758 54% of the leader · rank #47 | $11,734 | $27,000 | $35,533 | 464 |
| 48 | Bridgewater College Bridgewater, VA · Private nonprofit | $17,800 54% of the leader · rank #48 | $13,283 | $26,000 | $45,620 | 1,436 |
| 49 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA · Public | $17,915 54% of the leader · rank #49 | $11,942 | $19,500 | $60,536 | 39,527 |
| 50 | Rudy & Kelly Academy, A Paul Mitchell Partner School Virginia Beach, VA · Private for-profit | $18,024 53% of the leader · rank #50 | $13,563 | $12,500 | $24,379 | 206 |
| 51 | American National University Salem, VA · Private for-profit | $18,036 53% of the leader · rank #51 | $17,281 | $12,814 | $23,830 | 824 |
| 52 | Emory & Henry College Emory, VA · Private nonprofit | $19,061 51% of the leader · rank #52 | $14,246 | $26,332 | $39,448 | 1,364 |
| 53 | Longwood University Farmville, VA · Public | $19,066 51% of the leader · rank #53 | $11,896 | $25,000 | $46,058 | 4,545 |
| 54 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VA · Public | $19,096 51% of the leader · rank #54 | $3,106 | $18,500 | $62,959 | 9,762 |
| 55 | Strayer University-Virginia Arlington, VA · Private for-profit | $19,578 49% of the leader · rank #55 | $19,578 | $40,621 | $36,582 | 2,382 |
| 56 | Virginia Wesleyan University Virginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofit | $19,676 49% of the leader · rank #56 | $14,080 | $27,000 | $39,200 | 1,711 |
| 57 | Regent University Virginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofit | $19,923 49% of the leader · rank #57 | $20,064 | $24,534 | $42,066 | 10,168 |
| 58 | Ferrum College Ferrum, VA · Private nonprofit | $20,082 48% of the leader · rank #58 | $16,940 | $27,000 | $36,418 | 767 |
| 59 | Paul Mitchell the School-Roanoke Roanoke, VA · Private for-profit | $20,318 47% of the leader · rank #59 | $18,544 | $9,833 | $13,518 | 73 |
| 60 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA · Public | $20,667 47% of the leader · rank #60 | $10,304 | $20,500 | $49,411 | 3,808 |
| 61 | Riverside College of Health Careers Newport News, VA · Private nonprofit | $20,744 46% of the leader · rank #61 | $20,744 | $14,787 | $54,261 | 325 |
| 62 | Hollins University Roanoke, VA · Private nonprofit | $20,896 46% of the leader · rank #62 | $17,511 | $27,000 | $29,863 | 782 |
| 63 | Virginia University of Lynchburg Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit | $21,253 45% of the leader · rank #63 | $19,700 | $24,250 | $24,718 | 589 |
| 64 | The Chrysm Institute of Esthetics Virginia Beach, VA · Private for-profit | $21,552 44% of the leader · rank #64 | $20,897 | $6,333 | $25,508 | 255 |
| 65 | University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA · Public | $21,565 44% of the leader · rank #65 | $8,174 | $17,500 | $72,359 | 25,924 |
| 66 | The Esthetic Institute Vienna, VA · Private for-profit | $22,147 43% of the leader · rank #66 | $21,192 | - | - | 107 |
| 67 | Southern Virginia University Buena Vista, VA · Private nonprofit | $22,213 43% of the leader · rank #67 | $18,957 | $24,224 | $36,988 | 967 |
| 68 | University of Lynchburg Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit | $22,235 43% of the leader · rank #68 | $20,692 | $27,000 | $44,261 | 2,592 |
| 69 | Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, VA · Private nonprofit | $22,400 42% of the leader · rank #69 | $13,422 | $26,000 | $55,846 | 876 |
| 70 | Averett University Danville, VA · Private nonprofit | $22,925 41% of the leader · rank #70 | $23,064 | $25,000 | $46,273 | 1,378 |
| 71 | ECPI University Virginia Beach, VA · Private for-profit | $22,965 41% of the leader · rank #71 | $21,807 | $20,000 | $41,278 | 11,745 |
| 72 | Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA · Public | $23,015 41% of the leader · rank #72 | $12,461 | $25,000 | $51,931 | 4,503 |
| 73 | Empire Beauty School-Newport News Newport News, VA · Private for-profit | $23,036 40% of the leader · rank #73 | $22,033 | $10,667 | $20,215 | 78 |
| 74 | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk Norfolk, VA · Private for-profit | $23,046 40% of the leader · rank #74 | $22,059 | $29,375 | $42,856 | 237 |
| 75 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA · Public | $23,322 40% of the leader · rank #75 | $11,444 | $20,093 | $57,438 | 22,758 |
| 76 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA · Public | $23,433 39% of the leader · rank #76 | $17,512 | $21,500 | $47,161 | 28,238 |
| 77 | Empire Beauty School-Richmond Richmond, VA · Private for-profit | $23,488 39% of the leader · rank #77 | $22,257 | $10,667 | $20,215 | 70 |
| 78 | Empire Beauty School-Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA · Private for-profit | $23,554 39% of the leader · rank #78 | $22,587 | $13,583 | $20,172 | 169 |
| 79 | Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA · Private nonprofit | $23,781 39% of the leader · rank #79 | Aid covers full cost | $19,500 | $76,516 | 2,277 |
| 80 | Galen Health Institutes-Richmond Richmond, VA · Private for-profit | $23,843 38% of the leader · rank #80 | $24,486 | $24,166 | $58,951 | 374 |
| 81 | Empire Beauty School-Midlothian Midlothian, VA · Private for-profit | $24,203 37% of the leader · rank #81 | $22,745 | $10,667 | $20,215 | 87 |
| 82 | Chester Career College Chester, VA · Private for-profit | $24,259 37% of the leader · rank #82 | $23,603 | $19,879 | $27,575 | 147 |
| 83 | Roanoke College Salem, VA · Private nonprofit | $24,503 37% of the leader · rank #83 | $15,204 | $27,000 | $45,330 | 1,835 |
| 84 | Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg, VA · Private nonprofit | $24,588 36% of the leader · rank #84 | $22,994 | $24,813 | $48,158 | 1,292 |
| 85 | Fortis College-Richmond Richmond, VA · Private for-profit | $24,635 36% of the leader · rank #85 | $24,304 | $9,500 | $27,043 | 399 |
| 86 | Fortis College-Norfolk Norfolk, VA · Private for-profit | $24,764 36% of the leader · rank #86 | $24,616 | $9,500 | $27,043 | 431 |
| 87 | Centura College-Newport News Newport News, VA · Private for-profit | $24,842 36% of the leader · rank #87 | $24,276 | $14,750 | $26,077 | 210 |
| 88 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA · Public | $24,953 36% of the leader · rank #88 | $11,689 | $21,500 | $67,377 | 38,294 |
| 89 | Hampton University Hampton, VA · Private nonprofit | $25,319 35% of the leader · rank #89 | $32,101 | $25,442 | $42,721 | 3,649 |
| 90 | Bluefield University Bluefield, VA · Private nonprofit | $25,573 34% of the leader · rank #90 | $25,807 | $21,855 | $41,923 | 989 |
| 91 | Tidewater Tech-Trades Norfolk, VA · Private for-profit | $26,366 32% of the leader · rank #91 | $26,248 | $9,500 | $36,833 | 514 |
| 92 | Galen Health Institutes-Roanoke Roanoke, VA · Private for-profit | $26,945 30% of the leader · rank #92 | $26,480 | $24,166 | $58,951 | 173 |
| 93 | Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas Manassas, VA · Private for-profit | $27,320 29% of the leader · rank #93 | $26,092 | $31,959 | $51,880 | 189 |
| 94 | South University-Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA · Private for-profit | $27,843 28% of the leader · rank #94 | $25,368 | $26,123 | $34,115 | 270 |
| 95 | Randolph-Macon College Ashland, VA · Private nonprofit | $27,866 28% of the leader · rank #95 | $16,601 | $27,000 | $48,067 | 1,523 |
| 96 | Marymount University Arlington, VA · Private nonprofit | $29,137 25% of the leader · rank #96 | $27,413 | $25,000 | $57,801 | 3,667 |
| 97 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit | $29,357 24% of the leader · rank #97 | $30,667 | $24,500 | $39,707 | 103,068 |
| 98 | Shenandoah University Winchester, VA · Private nonprofit | $30,298 22% of the leader · rank #98 | $24,356 | $25,000 | $48,167 | 4,343 |
| 99 | South University-Richmond Glen Allen, VA · Private for-profit | $30,442 21% of the leader · rank #99 | $29,903 | $26,123 | $34,115 | 417 |
| 100 | Centura College-Norfolk Norfolk, VA · Private for-profit | $31,032 20% of the leader · rank #100 | $30,546 | $14,750 | $26,077 | 193 |
| 101 | University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA · Private nonprofit | $31,309 19% of the leader · rank #101 | $12,808 | $21,000 | $67,927 | 3,776 |
| 102 | Chamberlain University-Virginia Vienna, VA · Private for-profit | $33,199 14% of the leader · rank #102 | $33,199 | $20,919 | $84,533 | 567 |
| 103 | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Lafayette-Arlington Arlington, VA · Private for-profit | $33,455 14% of the leader · rank #103 | $33,849 | $7,916 | $19,975 | 211 |
| 104 | Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing Falls Church, VA · Private for-profit | $35,726 8% of the leader · rank #104 | $34,442 | $14,750 | $73,707 | 719 |
| 105 | DeVry University-Virginia Arlington, VA · Private for-profit | $36,609 5% of the leader · rank #105 | $36,609 | $24,807 | $42,178 | 32 |
| 106 | Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church Falls Church, VA · Private for-profit | $38,690 4% of the leader · rank #106 | $39,506 | $9,500 | $32,840 | 284 |
What this means for you
Use Virginia's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.
- Virginia Beach City Public Schools School of Practical Nursing reports the lowest average net price in Virginia, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Virginia Beach City
- See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
- Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. Virginia safety
Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.
Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23
Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.