Cost of college in Virginia
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Virginia averages $15,802 a year, or $20,466 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $69,100 and owe about $21,312. The net price pays back in about 3.0 years.
How Virginia compares to the US
Virginia ranks #6 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #1 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #7 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Virginia | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $15,802 | $9,518 | +$6,284 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $37,955 | $23,652 | +$14,303 |
| Net price after aid | $20,466 | $13,788 | +$6,678 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $69,100 | $56,427 | +$12,673 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,312 | $17,856 | +$3,456 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Virginia pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Virginia costs about $81,864 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 3.0 years from the roughly $27,300-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #7 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Virginia list about $28,306 in tuition and net out to about $26,511 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Virginia?
At a public 4-year college in Virginia, in-state tuition and fees average about $15,802 a year and out-of-state runs about $37,955. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $20,466. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Virginia earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Virginia's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $69,100 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $21,312 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Virginia?
A public 4-year degree in Virginia costs about $81,864 over four years at net price and recoups in about 3.0 years from the roughly $27,300-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.