Home / Affordable colleges / Virginia / public universities

Most affordable public universities in Virginia

15 public universities in Virginia report net price data, ranging from $10,409 at the lowest to higher costs at more selective schools. The median net price across these is $18,900. Virginia's public universities run a bit higher than the national average for the kind. The list below shows the most affordable options, ranked by net price.

Median net price in Virginia

$18,900

National median for public universities

$10,692

public universities reporting in Virginia

15

The most affordable public universities in Virginia, ranked by net price

1

University of Virginia's College at Wise

VA

Net price

$10,409

Receive grant aid

100%

2

Norfolk State University

VA

Net price

$12,272

Receive grant aid

97%

3

Old Dominion University

VA

Net price

$16,150

Receive grant aid

94%

4

Virginia State University

VA

Net price

$16,184

Receive grant aid

92%

5

Virginia Military Institute

VA

Net price

$17,229

Receive grant aid

81%

6

University of Virginia-Main Campus

VA

Net price

$17,831

Receive grant aid

28%

7

Radford University

VA

Net price

$18,282

Receive grant aid

99%

8

George Mason University

VA

Net price

$18,900

Receive grant aid

72%

9

William & Mary

VA

Net price

$20,422

Receive grant aid

40%

10

University of Mary Washington

VA

Net price

$21,615

Receive grant aid

98%

11

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

VA

Net price

$22,205

Receive grant aid

55%

12

Virginia Commonwealth University

VA

Net price

$22,852

Receive grant aid

99%

13

Christopher Newport University

VA

Net price

$22,864

Receive grant aid

65%

14

Longwood University

VA

Net price

$22,900

Receive grant aid

99%

15

James Madison University

VA

Net price

$26,317

Receive grant aid

81%

What makes a school affordable here

In Virginia, the most affordable public universities share two things in common. First, low published net prices reflect both reasonable sticker prices and meaningful institutional or state aid. Second, a high share of students receive grant aid. At University of Virginia's College at Wise, the most affordable on this list, 100% of students receive grant aid. Net price reflects what a typical family actually pays, not the sticker price you see at first glance. A school with a $50,000 sticker price and a $10,000 net price is more affordable for most families than a school with a $20,000 sticker and a $19,000 net price.

Affordable colleges in Virginia, other types

Affordable public universities in other states

Find your personalized cost

National rankings use publicly available federal cost data. Plug in your actual aid offer and family situation for a Worth-It Score that reflects your specific picture.

Affordability rankings use publicly available federal higher-ed cost data. Net price reflects the average cost a family pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from total cost of attendance, for the 2022-23 reporting year. See full methodology →