2026 Best Value General Business/Commerce Schools in Virginia
[General Business/Commerce](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/general-business-commerce/) 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
George Mason University earned the #1 spot for value among general business/commerce schools in Virginia. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $23,529. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $63,131. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Virginias College At Wise earned it the #2 place for general business/commerce. Set in the town of Wise, The University Of Virginias College At Wise is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,780, with out-of-state students paying around $28,010. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $17,714 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general business/commerce degree recipients from The University Of Virginias College At Wise generally make around $43,988. That is a strong return on a $17,714 median debt. Roughly 28% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in general business/commerce will find it at Norfolk State University, which ranked #3. Norfolk State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Norfolk. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,180, with out-of-state students paying around $21,682. General Business/commerce graduates of Norfolk State University earn a median of $54,971 early in their careers. Norfolk State University admits about 88% of applicants.
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. Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $18,752. Students borrow a median of $19,302 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Bryant And Stratton College Virginia Beach earn a median of $30,059 early in their careers. Set against $19,302 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Virginia Commonwealth University earned it the #5 place for general business/commerce. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $50,173. That is a strong return on a $23,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Hollins University came in at #6 for value in general business/commerce this year. Set in the suburb of Roanoke, Hollins University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $43,560. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $26,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hollins University admits about 68% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #7 position for value in general business/commerce this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. General Business/commerce graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans. 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. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Virginia University landed the #8 spot for general business/commerce value this year. Southern Virginia University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Buena Vista. In-state tuition and fees average $21,030. Students borrow a median of $18,500 to complete the general business/commerce program here. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $22,024. That is a strong return on a $18,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Randolph Macon College came in at #9 for value in general business/commerce this year. Randolph Macon College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ashland. Students from in state pay about $49,466 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for general business/commerce graduates is $27,000. Early-career general business/commerce graduates make about $51,366. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value general business/commerce schools. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Students borrow a median of $28,416 to complete the general business/commerce program here. General Business/commerce graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $43,425 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,416 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
More General Business/Commerce Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 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.
