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 5800 40500 0.8556 425 1345 0.7744
#1

#1 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Patrick Henry College
Purcellville, VA

Sticker Price

$40,500

% Savings

86%

Undergraduates

425

Est. Median SAT

1,345

Acceptance Rate

77.4 %

2 Washington and Lee University 7700 80400 0.9038 1,886 1488 0.1397
#2

#2 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA

Sticker Price

$80,400

% Savings

90%

Undergraduates

1,886

Est. Median SAT

1,488

Acceptance Rate

14.0 %

3 University of Richmond 8000 87400 0.9089 3,055 1484 0.222
#3

#3 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA

Sticker Price

$87,400

% Savings

91%

Undergraduates

3,055

Est. Median SAT

1,484

Acceptance Rate

22.2 %

4 William & Mary 10700 42900 0.7495 7,063 1462 0.3407
#4

#4 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA

Sticker Price

$42,900

% Savings

75%

Undergraduates

7,063

Est. Median SAT

1,462

Acceptance Rate

34.1 %

5 University of Virginia-Main Campus 13200 38500 0.6572 17,901 1470 0.1681
#5

#5 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA

Sticker Price

$38,500

% Savings

66%

Undergraduates

17,901

Est. Median SAT

1,470

Acceptance Rate

16.8 %

6 Virginia Military Institute 13300 34400 0.6143 1,527 1218 0.7125
#6

#6 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA

Sticker Price

$34,400

% Savings

61%

Undergraduates

1,527

Est. Median SAT

1,218

Acceptance Rate

71.3 %

7 University of Virginia's College at Wise 13500 29000 0.5332 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

53%

Undergraduates

1,911

Est. Median SAT

1,065

Acceptance Rate

93.9 %

8 Norfolk State University 13700 26700 0.4873 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 14300 22000 0.3491 6,161 1070 0.8953
#9

#9 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Radford University
Radford, VA

Sticker Price

$22,000

% Savings

35%

Undergraduates

6,161

Est. Median SAT

1,070

Acceptance Rate

89.5 %

10 Virginia State University 16900 29300 0.424 4,829 935 0.891
#10

#10 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Virginia State University
Petersburg, VA

Sticker Price

$29,300

% Savings

42%

Undergraduates

4,829

Est. Median SAT

935

Acceptance Rate

89.1 %

11 Virginia Commonwealth University 18400 33600 0.4521 21,210 1171 0.9232
#11

#11 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA

Sticker Price

$33,600

% Savings

45%

Undergraduates

21,210

Est. Median SAT

1,171

Acceptance Rate

92.3 %

12 James Madison University 18500 28700 0.3535 21,112 1260 0.7151
#12

#12 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA

Sticker Price

$28,700

% Savings

35%

Undergraduates

21,112

Est. Median SAT

1,260

Acceptance Rate

71.5 %

13 Randolph College 19300 60900 0.6833 694 1140 0.9371
#13

#13 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Randolph College
Lynchburg, VA

Sticker Price

$60,900

% Savings

68%

Undergraduates

694

Est. Median SAT

1,140

Acceptance Rate

93.7 %

14 Christopher Newport University 19500 32800 0.4059 4,407 1209 0.8796
#14

#14 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA

Sticker Price

$32,800

% Savings

41%

Undergraduates

4,407

Est. Median SAT

1,209

Acceptance Rate

88.0 %

15 Emory & Henry University 19600 52400 0.6254 1,107 1070 0.9633
#15

#15 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Emory & Henry University
Emory, VA

Sticker Price

$52,400

% Savings

63%

Undergraduates

1,107

Est. Median SAT

1,070

Acceptance Rate

96.3 %

15 Longwood University 19600 32800 0.4028 3,223 1125 0.848
#15

#15 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Longwood University
Farmville, VA

Sticker Price

$32,800

% Savings

40%

Undergraduates

3,223

Est. Median SAT

1,125

Acceptance Rate

84.8 %

17 Mary Baldwin University 19700 45300 0.5661 1,217 1099 0.947
#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

94.7 %

18 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 20400 43700 0.5343 31,035 1366 0.5499
#18

#18 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA

Sticker Price

$43,700

% Savings

53%

Undergraduates

31,035

Est. Median SAT

1,366

Acceptance Rate

55.0 %

19 Roanoke College 20500 54200 0.621 1,824 1180 0.8007
#19

#19 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Roanoke College
Salem, VA

Sticker Price

$54,200

% Savings

62%

Undergraduates

1,824

Est. Median SAT

1,180

Acceptance Rate

80.1 %

20 Virginia Union University 20700 29400 0.2956 1,170 900 0.978
#20

#20 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Virginia Union University
Richmond, VA

Sticker Price

$29,400

% Savings

30%

Undergraduates

1,170

Est. Median SAT

900

Acceptance Rate

97.8 %

20 Virginia University of Lynchburg 20700 25600 0.1928 170 0 0.8173
#20

#20 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Virginia University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, VA

Sticker Price

$25,600

% Savings

19%

Undergraduates

170

Est. Median SAT

--

Acceptance Rate

81.7 %

22 University of Lynchburg 21200 52100 0.5931 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 %

23 Virginia Wesleyan University 21700 54000 0.5983 1,749 1279 0.7287
#23

#23 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Beach, VA

Sticker Price

$54,000

% Savings

60%

Undergraduates

1,749

Est. Median SAT

1,279

Acceptance Rate

72.9 %

24 Averett University 23600 55000 0.5704 1,180 1010 0.478
#24

#24 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Averett University
Danville, VA

Sticker Price

$55,000

% Savings

57%

Undergraduates

1,180

Est. Median SAT

1,010

Acceptance Rate

47.8 %

25 George Mason University 24100 33500 0.2815 28,331 1268 0.8748
#25

#25 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

George Mason University
Fairfax, VA

Sticker Price

$33,500

% Savings

28%

Undergraduates

28,331

Est. Median SAT

1,268

Acceptance Rate

87.5 %

26 Southern Virginia University 24300 36300 0.3313 967 1070 0.9973
#26

#26 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Southern Virginia University
Buena Vista, VA

Sticker Price

$36,300

% Savings

33%

Undergraduates

967

Est. Median SAT

1,070

Acceptance Rate

99.7 %

27 Ferrum College 25500 44700 0.4296 747 1035 1
#27

#27 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Ferrum College
Ferrum, VA

Sticker Price

$44,700

% Savings

43%

Undergraduates

747

Est. Median SAT

1,035

Acceptance Rate

100.0 %

28 Sweet Briar College 28200 44900 0.373 464 1174 0.7174
#28

#28 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA

Sticker Price

$44,900

% Savings

37%

Undergraduates

464

Est. Median SAT

1,174

Acceptance Rate

71.7 %

29 Eastern Mennonite University 28300 62000 0.5439 791 1269 1
#29

#29 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA

Sticker Price

$62,000

% Savings

54%

Undergraduates

791

Est. Median SAT

1,269

Acceptance Rate

100.0 %

30 Marymount University 28600 69500 0.5887 2,216 1095 0.8021
#30

#30 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Marymount University
Arlington, VA

Sticker Price

$69,500

% Savings

59%

Undergraduates

2,216

Est. Median SAT

1,095

Acceptance Rate

80.2 %

31 Bridgewater College 28900 40200 0.2818 1,407 1174 0.9172
#31

#31 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, VA

Sticker Price

$40,200

% Savings

28%

Undergraduates

1,407

Est. Median SAT

1,174

Acceptance Rate

91.7 %

32 Hollins University 30100 63700 0.5271 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 30900 31900 0.032 3,660 1283 0.7978
#33

#33 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA

Sticker Price

$31,900

% Savings

3%

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 Bluefield University 32000 43200 0.2604 694 995 0.6272
#35

#35 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Bluefield University
Bluefield, VA

Sticker Price

$43,200

% Savings

26%

Undergraduates

694

Est. Median SAT

995

Acceptance Rate

62.7 %

35 Shenandoah University 32000 52900 0.3957 2,641 1127 0.7695
#35

#35 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA

Sticker Price

$52,900

% Savings

40%

Undergraduates

2,641

Est. Median SAT

1,127

Acceptance Rate

77.0 %

37 Old Dominion University 32100 32100 0.0009 17,746 1205 0.9036
#37

#37 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA

Sticker Price

$32,100

% Savings

0%

Undergraduates

17,746

Est. Median SAT

1,205

Acceptance Rate

90.4 %

38 Hampton University 32200 46100 0.3001 3,728 956 0.6225
#38

#38 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Hampton University
Hampton, VA

Sticker Price

$46,100

% Savings

30%

Undergraduates

3,728

Est. Median SAT

956

Acceptance Rate

62.3 %

39 Liberty University 32700 43100 0.24 52,823 1181 0.9932
#39

#39 Middle Class Affordability Rankings

Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

Sticker Price

$43,100

% Savings

24%

Undergraduates

52,823

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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