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2026 Best Value Business Economics Schools in Virginia

[Business Economics](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-managerial-economics/business-economics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 10 schools to find the best return on investment for business economics students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Business Economics Schools in Virginia

2026 Best Value Business Economics Schools in Virginia

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the business economics degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Business Economics Schools

1

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA

$16,720 In-State Tuition & Fees

$21,500 Avg Student Debt

$58,128 Median Earnings (10yr)

Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #1 spot for value among business economics schools in Virginia. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Typical student debt for business economics graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, business economics degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $45,370. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.

2

Hampden Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, VA

$54,550 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,970 Avg Student Debt

$67,640 Median Earnings (10yr)

Hampden Sydney College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in business economics, landing the #2 spot this year. Hampden Sydney College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Hampden-Sydney. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,550. Typical student debt for business economics graduates is $26,970. Soon after graduation, business economics degree recipients from Hampden Sydney College generally make around $52,087. That is a strong return on a $26,970 median debt. Hampden Sydney College admits about 41% of applicants.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).

More about our data sources and methodologies.