Virginia

Average student debt in Virginia — 26 colleges, and what their graduates earn

Every Virginia university with published federal figures, ordered by how fast the debt clears. The typical graded US university clears its debt in 1.3 years on median earnings of $57,146 against $22,500 of debt.

#UniversityGradeYou borrowMonthlyYou earnDebt clears in
1 Washington & Lee University Virginia A $19,500 $222 $94,810 0.4 yrs
2 University of Virginia Virginia A $17,500 $199 $86,863 0.4 yrs
3 George Mason University Virginia A $19,500 $222 $76,343 0.5 yrs
4 University of Richmond Virginia A $21,000 $239 $76,178 0.6 yrs
5 Virginia Military Institute Virginia B $22,996 $261 $77,369 0.6 yrs
6 James Madison University Virginia B $20,093 $228 $69,954 0.7 yrs
7 Marymount University Virginia B $25,000 $284 $67,516 0.9 yrs
8 Hampden-Sydney College Virginia B $26,000 $296 $67,640 0.9 yrs
9 University of Mary Washington Virginia C $20,500 $233 $60,613 1 yrs
10 Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia C $21,500 $244 $58,128 1.2 yrs
11 Christopher Newport University Virginia C $25,000 $284 $60,509 1.2 yrs
12 Hampton University Virginia C $25,442 $289 $59,159 1.3 yrs
13 Shenandoah University Virginia C $25,000 $284 $58,433 1.3 yrs
14 Randolph-Macon College Virginia C $27,000 $307 $58,448 1.4 yrs
15 Roanoke College Virginia C $27,000 $307 $58,047 1.5 yrs
16 Old Dominion University Virginia C $24,000 $273 $54,914 1.6 yrs
17 Eastern Mennonite University Virginia C $24,813 $282 $54,869 1.6 yrs
18 Radford University Virginia D $24,000 $273 $53,739 1.7 yrs
19 Bridgewater College Virginia D $26,000 $296 $53,453 1.9 yrs
20 Longwood University Virginia D $25,000 $284 $52,347 2 yrs
21 Sweet Briar College Virginia D $27,000 $307 $51,943 2.2 yrs
22 Virginia State University Virginia F $26,500 $301 $45,543 4.4 yrs
23 Liberty University Virginia F $24,500 $279 $44,813 4.6 yrs
24 Regent University Virginia F $24,534 $279 $44,498 4.9 yrs
25 Norfolk State University Virginia F $29,000 $330 $44,666 5.6 yrs
26 ECPI University Virginia F $20,000 $227 $42,837 6 yrs

In-state tuition is the lever that moves this most

The debt column is shaped far more by residency and institutional aid than by anything else. If you are applying from another state or another country, the figures here understate what you would borrow — check the university's own net price for your situation.

Read the salary next to the debt, never alone

Two universities in this state with identical graduate salaries can be two grades apart, because one leaves students owing twice as much. The payback column is the one that combines both.

Questions

Which university in Virginia pays back fastest?
Washington & Lee University — $94,810 median earnings against $19,500 of debt, clearing in about 0.4 years.
How much do US students typically borrow?
Across the 810 universities we grade, median debt at graduation is $22,500 — about $256 a month on the standard ten-year federal plan.
Can scholarships change these numbers?
Directly. Every award comes off the borrowing before you ever repay it, which shortens the payback on each university page. Each page lists the scholarships we hold for that institution.
All payback rankings Fastest payback Lowest debt Highest earnings Scholarships that cut the debt How we calculate this

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures cover students who received federal financial aid and blend every subject at each institution. Information only, not financial advice.