Middle Class Affordability Rankings™ - State of Virginia

Most Affordable Colleges in the state of Virginia for 2026

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Which colleges are most affordable for Virginia residents ? The answer may surprise you.
These rankings of the most affordable colleges for Virginia residents are based on the estimated net price for a "typical" middle class family living in the state of Virginia.
Note: Net price is the actual cost of the school paid by the student and family, after factoring in merit and grant aid from the college federal programs and work study.The net prices displayed in these rankings are College Raptor's estimates.

“Typical” middle class family values used in the Net Price estimates on this page are:

  • Number of people in family: 4
  • Number of students in college: 1
  • Total income: $80,000
  • Total assets: $50,000
Virginia
Rank Institution Typical Net Price Sticker Price % Savings Undergraduates Est. Median SAT Acceptance Rate Save
1 Patrick Henry College 5000 40500 0.8754 425 1345 0.7744
#1

#1 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Patrick Henry College
Purcellville, VA

Sticker Price

$40,500

% Savings

88%

Undergraduates

425

Est. Median SAT

1,345

Acceptance Rate

77.4 %

2 Washington and Lee University 6700 80400 0.9162 1,886 1488 0.1397
#2

#2 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA

Sticker Price

$80,400

% Savings

92%

Undergraduates

1,886

Est. Median SAT

1,488

Acceptance Rate

14.0 %

3 University of Richmond 8000 87400 0.9089 3,053 1484 0.222
#3

#3 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA

Sticker Price

$87,400

% Savings

91%

Undergraduates

3,053

Est. Median SAT

1,484

Acceptance Rate

22.2 %

4 William & Mary 9800 42900 0.7705 7,060 1462 0.3407
#4

#4 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA

Sticker Price

$42,900

% Savings

77%

Undergraduates

7,060

Est. Median SAT

1,462

Acceptance Rate

34.1 %

5 University of Virginia-Main Campus 12500 38500 0.6754 17,885 1470 0.1681
#5

#5 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA

Sticker Price

$38,500

% Savings

68%

Undergraduates

17,885

Est. Median SAT

1,470

Acceptance Rate

16.8 %

6 Virginia Military Institute 12600 34400 0.6326 1,527 1218 0.7125
#6

#6 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA

Sticker Price

$34,400

% Savings

63%

Undergraduates

1,527

Est. Median SAT

1,218

Acceptance Rate

71.3 %

7 University of Virginia's College at Wise 12800 29000 0.5592 1,911 1065 0.9392
#7

#7 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

University of Virginia's College at Wise
Wise, VA

Sticker Price

$29,000

% Savings

56%

Undergraduates

1,911

Est. Median SAT

1,065

Acceptance Rate

93.9 %

8 Norfolk State University 13500 26700 0.4947 5,510 950 0.8746
#8

#8 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Norfolk State University
Norfolk, VA

Sticker Price

$26,700

% Savings

49%

Undergraduates

5,510

Est. Median SAT

950

Acceptance Rate

87.5 %

9 Radford University 13800 22000 0.3719 6,143 1070 0.8953
#9

#9 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Radford University
Radford, VA

Sticker Price

$22,000

% Savings

37%

Undergraduates

6,143

Est. Median SAT

1,070

Acceptance Rate

89.5 %

10 Virginia State University 16400 29300 0.4411 4,829 935 0.891
#10

#10 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Virginia State University
Petersburg, VA

Sticker Price

$29,300

% Savings

44%

Undergraduates

4,829

Est. Median SAT

935

Acceptance Rate

89.1 %

11 James Madison University 17700 28700 0.3814 21,045 1260 0.7151
#11

#11 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA

Sticker Price

$28,700

% Savings

38%

Undergraduates

21,045

Est. Median SAT

1,260

Acceptance Rate

71.5 %

12 Virginia Commonwealth University 17900 33600 0.4669 21,210 1171 0.9232
#12

#12 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA

Sticker Price

$33,600

% Savings

47%

Undergraduates

21,210

Est. Median SAT

1,171

Acceptance Rate

92.3 %

13 Christopher Newport University 18300 32800 0.4425 4,407 1209 0.8796
#13

#13 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA

Sticker Price

$32,800

% Savings

44%

Undergraduates

4,407

Est. Median SAT

1,209

Acceptance Rate

88.0 %

14 Emory & Henry University 18500 52400 0.6478 1,107 1070 0.9633
#14

#14 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Emory & Henry University
Emory, VA

Sticker Price

$52,400

% Savings

65%

Undergraduates

1,107

Est. Median SAT

1,070

Acceptance Rate

96.3 %

15 Randolph College 18700 47600 0.6061 693 1140 0.9371
#15

#15 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Randolph College
Lynchburg, VA

Sticker Price

$47,600

% Savings

61%

Undergraduates

693

Est. Median SAT

1,140

Acceptance Rate

93.7 %

16 Longwood University 19000 32800 0.4211 3,223 1125 0.848
#16

#16 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Longwood University
Farmville, VA

Sticker Price

$32,800

% Savings

42%

Undergraduates

3,223

Est. Median SAT

1,125

Acceptance Rate

84.8 %

17 Mary Baldwin University 19500 45300 0.5705 1,217 1099 1
#17

#17 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Mary Baldwin University
Staunton, VA

Sticker Price

$45,300

% Savings

57%

Undergraduates

1,217

Est. Median SAT

1,099

Acceptance Rate

100.0 %

18 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 19800 43700 0.548 30,962 1366 0.5499
#18

#18 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA

Sticker Price

$43,700

% Savings

55%

Undergraduates

30,962

Est. Median SAT

1,366

Acceptance Rate

55.0 %

19 Roanoke College 20100 54200 0.6284 1,824 1180 0.8007
#19

#19 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Roanoke College
Salem, VA

Sticker Price

$54,200

% Savings

63%

Undergraduates

1,824

Est. Median SAT

1,180

Acceptance Rate

80.1 %

19 Virginia Union University 20100 29400 0.316 1,170 900 0.978
#19

#19 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Virginia Union University
Richmond, VA

Sticker Price

$29,400

% Savings

32%

Undergraduates

1,170

Est. Median SAT

900

Acceptance Rate

97.8 %

21 Virginia University of Lynchburg 20300 25600 0.2084 170 0 0.8173
#21

#21 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Virginia University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, VA

Sticker Price

$25,600

% Savings

21%

Undergraduates

170

Est. Median SAT

--

Acceptance Rate

81.7 %

22 University of Lynchburg 21200 52100 0.5923 1,595 1124 0.4301
#22

#22 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, VA

Sticker Price

$52,100

% Savings

59%

Undergraduates

1,595

Est. Median SAT

1,124

Acceptance Rate

43.0 %

22 Virginia Wesleyan University 21200 54000 0.6075 1,749 1279 0.7287
#22

#22 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach, VA

Sticker Price

$54,000

% Savings

61%

Undergraduates

1,749

Est. Median SAT

1,279

Acceptance Rate

72.9 %

24 Averett University 23100 55000 0.5794 1,180 1010 0.478
#24

#24 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Averett University
Danville, VA

Sticker Price

$55,000

% Savings

58%

Undergraduates

1,180

Est. Median SAT

1,010

Acceptance Rate

47.8 %

25 George Mason University 23700 33500 0.2934 28,292 1268 0.8748
#25

#25 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

George Mason University
Fairfax, VA

Sticker Price

$33,500

% Savings

29%

Undergraduates

28,292

Est. Median SAT

1,268

Acceptance Rate

87.5 %

26 Southern Virginia University 24100 36300 0.3368 967 1070 0.9973
#26

#26 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Southern Virginia University
Buena Vista, VA

Sticker Price

$36,300

% Savings

34%

Undergraduates

967

Est. Median SAT

1,070

Acceptance Rate

99.7 %

27 Ferrum College 24700 44700 0.4465 747 1035 1
#27

#27 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Ferrum College
Ferrum, VA

Sticker Price

$44,700

% Savings

45%

Undergraduates

747

Est. Median SAT

1,035

Acceptance Rate

100.0 %

28 Eastern Mennonite University 27900 62000 0.5504 782 1269 1
#28

#28 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA

Sticker Price

$62,000

% Savings

55%

Undergraduates

782

Est. Median SAT

1,269

Acceptance Rate

100.0 %

28 Sweet Briar College 27900 44900 0.3797 464 1174 0.7174
#28

#28 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA

Sticker Price

$44,900

% Savings

38%

Undergraduates

464

Est. Median SAT

1,174

Acceptance Rate

71.7 %

30 Marymount University 28000 69500 0.5973 2,216 1095 0.8021
#30

#30 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Marymount University
Arlington, VA

Sticker Price

$69,500

% Savings

60%

Undergraduates

2,216

Est. Median SAT

1,095

Acceptance Rate

80.2 %

31 Bridgewater College 28100 40200 0.3006 1,388 1174 0.9172
#31

#31 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, VA

Sticker Price

$40,200

% Savings

30%

Undergraduates

1,388

Est. Median SAT

1,174

Acceptance Rate

91.7 %

32 Hollins University 30200 63700 0.5256 665 1285 0.6795
#32

#32 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Hollins University
Roanoke, VA

Sticker Price

$63,700

% Savings

53%

Undergraduates

665

Est. Median SAT

1,285

Acceptance Rate

68.0 %

33 University of Mary Washington 30400 31900 0.0477 3,660 1283 0.7978
#33

#33 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA

Sticker Price

$31,900

% Savings

5%

Undergraduates

3,660

Est. Median SAT

1,283

Acceptance Rate

79.8 %

34 Randolph-Macon College 31300 68700 0.5443 1,643 1140 0.8661
#34

#34 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, VA

Sticker Price

$68,700

% Savings

54%

Undergraduates

1,643

Est. Median SAT

1,140

Acceptance Rate

86.6 %

35 Shenandoah University 31400 52900 0.407 2,616 1127 0.7695
#35

#35 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA

Sticker Price

$52,900

% Savings

41%

Undergraduates

2,616

Est. Median SAT

1,127

Acceptance Rate

77.0 %

36 Hampton University 31800 46100 0.3088 3,728 956 0.6225
#36

#36 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Hampton University
Hampton, VA

Sticker Price

$46,100

% Savings

31%

Undergraduates

3,728

Est. Median SAT

956

Acceptance Rate

62.3 %

37 Bluefield University 32000 43200 0.2604 694 995 0.6272
#37

#37 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Bluefield University
Bluefield, VA

Sticker Price

$43,200

% Savings

26%

Undergraduates

694

Est. Median SAT

995

Acceptance Rate

62.7 %

37 Old Dominion University 32000 32100 0.004 17,735 1205 0.9036
#37

#37 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA

Sticker Price

$32,100

% Savings

0%

Undergraduates

17,735

Est. Median SAT

1,205

Acceptance Rate

90.4 %

39 Liberty University 32700 43100 0.24 70,898 1181 0.9932
#39

#39 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

Sticker Price

$43,100

% Savings

24%

Undergraduates

70,898

Est. Median SAT

1,181

Acceptance Rate

99.3 %

School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.

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