2026 Best Value Teaching Schools in Virginia
Looking for the best-value Teaching degree programs in Virginia? This list ranks 147 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Teaching Degree Search evaluated 19 schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Virginia
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Our analysis found James Madison University to be the best-value Teaching school in Virginia. Set in Harrisonburg, VA, James Madison University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. James Madison University Teaching students take on a median of $21,218 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $69,954. Set against $21,218 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. James Madison University has an acceptance rate of 72%. Read the full report on James Madison University
You'll get strong value at Longwood University, which ranked #2 this year. Longwood University is a public school based in Farmville, VA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,740, compared with $27,980 for out-of-state students. Typical Teaching student debt is $25,649. Longwood University alumni report median earnings of $52,347 a decade after entry. Set against $25,649 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Longwood University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Old Dominion University earned it the #3 place in Virginia. Set in Norfolk, VA, Old Dominion University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete their Teaching program here. Median earnings reach $54,914 ten years out. Set against $26,001 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%. Read more about Old Dominion University
Out of the 19 schools in Virginia in this year's value ranking, Eastern Mennonite University landed the #4 spot. Located in Harrisonburg, VA, Eastern Mennonite University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,920. Typical Teaching student debt is $25,415. Eastern Mennonite University alumni report median earnings of $54,869 a decade after entry. Set against $25,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Mennonite University has an acceptance rate of 100%. More on Eastern Mennonite University
Out of the 19 schools in Virginia in this year's value ranking, Radford University landed the #5 spot. Based in Radford, VA, Radford University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,548, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. Radford University Teaching students take on a median of $25,514 in debt. Median earnings reach $53,739 ten years out. Set against $25,514 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants. Get the full Radford University report
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. This public school is set in Blacksburg, VA. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Typical Teaching student debt is $23,393. Median earnings reach $81,698 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 55%. More on Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
George Mason University landed the #6 spot for value in Virginia this year. George Mason University is a public school based in Fairfax, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $76,343. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted. See the full George Mason University profile
College Of William And Mary came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Based in Williamsburg, VA, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $25,734 in tuition and fees, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. College Of William And Mary Teaching students take on a median of $18,935 in debt. College Of William And Mary alumni report median earnings of $73,490 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $18,935 median debt. College Of William And Mary has an acceptance rate of 34%. Read more about College Of William And Mary
Liberty University landed the #9 spot for value in Virginia this year. Located in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Typical Teaching student debt is $27,414. Liberty University alumni report median earnings of $44,813 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%. More on Liberty University
Virginia State University placed #10 among the best-value Teaching schools in Virginia. Set in Petersburg, VA, Virginia State University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,043, compared with $22,650 for out-of-state students. The median Teaching program debt is $29,010. Virginia State University alumni report median earnings of $45,543 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia State University admits about 89% of applicants. Read the full report on Virginia State University
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #11 among the best-value Teaching schools in Virginia. This public school is set in Charlottesville, VA. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Typical Teaching student debt is $18,627. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $86,863. Set against $18,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 17% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of Virginia Main Campus
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Located in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete their Teaching program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $58,128. That is a strong return on a $23,813 median debt. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants. Read more about Virginia Commonwealth University
Lynchburg College offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Set in Lynchburg, VA, Lynchburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,750. Graduates go on to earn a median of $56,380 ten years after entry. About 43% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Lynchburg College
Marymount University landed the #14 spot for value in Virginia this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Arlington, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $40,120. The median Teaching program debt is $26,880. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $67,516. That is a strong return on a $26,880 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%. Get the full Marymount University report
University Of Richmond offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Located in University of Richmond, VA, University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,230. Students borrow a median of $21,634 to complete their Teaching program here. University Of Richmond alumni report median earnings of $76,178 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of Richmond report
Mary Baldwin College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Staunton, VA, Mary Baldwin College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,187. Mary Baldwin College Teaching students take on a median of $29,562 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,427 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $29,562 median debt. See the full Mary Baldwin College profile
Shenandoah University landed the #17 spot for value in Virginia this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Winchester, VA. In-state tuition and fees run about $36,950. Graduates carry a median of $26,005 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,433 ten years after entry. Set against $26,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Shenandoah University admits about 77% of applicants. Read the full report on Shenandoah University
Regent University offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Virginia Beach, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. The median Teaching program debt is $29,451. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,498 ten years after entry. Set against $29,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants. Read more about Regent University
Emory And Henry College landed the #19 spot for value in Virginia this year. Located in Emory, VA, Emory And Henry College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $39,000. Graduates carry a median of $26,938 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $47,385. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Emory And Henry College has an acceptance rate of 84%. Get the full Emory And Henry College report
Agora University
Agora University came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. More on Agora University
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia placed #21 among the best-value Teaching schools in Virginia. More on Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia
Luckes Beauty Academy Llc ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Luckes Beauty Academy Llc
Fortis College Richmond offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on Fortis College Richmond
Lord Fairfax Community College landed the #24 spot for value in Virginia this year. More on Lord Fairfax Community College
Centura College Norfolk landed the #25 spot for value in Virginia this year. Read more about Centura College Norfolk
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Virginia
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
University Of Management And Technology placed #26 among the best-value Teaching schools in Virginia. Read the full report on University Of Management And Technology
Virginia Barber School offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Read the full report on Virginia Barber School
Virginia Military Institute ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. More on Virginia Military Institute
Hampton University came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Hampton University
Virginia Beach Theological Seminary ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Get the full Virginia Beach Theological Seminary report
Richmond School Of Health And Technology ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Get the full Richmond School Of Health And Technology report
Riverside College Of Health Careers landed the #32 spot for value in Virginia this year. More on Riverside College Of Health Careers
Paul Mitchell The School Mclean landed the #33 spot for value in Virginia this year. Get the full Paul Mitchell The School Mclean report
South Universityvirginia Beach came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. See the full South Universityvirginia Beach profile
Virginia Beach City Public Schools School Of Practical Nursing came in at #35 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Virginia Beach City Public Schools School Of Practical Nursing report
Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read the full report on Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy
Christopher Newport University landed the #37 spot for value in Virginia this year. More on Christopher Newport University
Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center placed #38 among the best-value Teaching schools in Virginia. Read the full report on Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center
Danville Community College landed the #39 spot for value in Virginia this year. Read more about Danville Community College
Fortis College Norfolk ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full Fortis College Norfolk profile
Bon Secours St Marys Hospital School Of Medical Imaging ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read the full report on Bon Secours St Marys Hospital School Of Medical Imaging
Central School Of Practical Nursing Norfolk placed #42 among the best-value Teaching schools in Virginia. Get the full Central School Of Practical Nursing Norfolk report
Galen Health Institutes Roanoke landed the #43 spot for value in Virginia this year. Read the full report on Galen Health Institutes Roanoke
Bon Secours Memorial College Of Nursing came in at #44 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Bon Secours Memorial College Of Nursing
Potomac College Herndon ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. Read more about Potomac College Herndon
Tidewater Tech Trades placed #46 among the best-value Teaching schools in Virginia. See the full Tidewater Tech Trades profile
Washington And Lee University landed the #47 spot for value in Virginia this year. See the full Washington And Lee University profile
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. See the full Northern Virginia Community College profile
Patrick Henry College offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Read the full report on Patrick Henry College
Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Manassas placed #50 among the best-value Teaching schools in Virginia. Get the full Aviation Institute Of Maintenance Manassas report
More Teaching Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 19 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 147 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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