2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in Virginia
[General Business/Commerce](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/general-business-commerce/business-commerce-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for general business/commerce students.
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2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general business/commerce, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools
Our analysis ranked George Mason University the best value for a degree in general business/commerce in Virginia. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $63,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The University Of Virginias College At Wise came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. The University Of Virginias College At Wise is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Wise. Students from in state pay about $11,780 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,010. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $17,714. General Business/commerce graduates of The University Of Virginias College At Wise earn a median of $43,988 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 28% of applicants are accepted.
Norfolk State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Norfolk, Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,180, with out-of-state students paying around $21,682. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $54,971. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general business/commerce, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,752. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $19,302. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $30,059. That is a strong return on a $19,302 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Virginia Commonwealth University one of the best values for general business/commerce. 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. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $50,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Hollins University placed #6 among the best values for general business/commerce. Hollins University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Roanoke. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,560. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Hollins University generally make around $26,798. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Hollins University admits about 68% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #7 among the best values for general business/commerce. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $23,393. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $60,004. Set against $23,393 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
Southern Virginia University came in at #8 for value in general business/commerce this year. Southern Virginia University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buena Vista. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,030. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $18,500. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Southern Virginia University generally make around $22,024. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Virginia University admits about 96% of applicants.
Randolph Macon College landed the #9 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Set in the suburb of Ashland, Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,466. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $51,366. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Liberty University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $28,416. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $43,425. That is a strong return on a $28,416 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
More General Business/Commerce Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
