2026 Best Value Hospitality Management Schools in Virginia
[Hospitality Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/hospitality-management/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for hospitality management students.
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2026 Best Value Hospitality Management Schools in Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in hospitality management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Hospitality Management Schools
Leading the list is Virginia Highlands Community College, our #1 best value for hospitality management in Virginia. Located in the suburb of Abingdon, Virginia Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,022, with out-of-state students paying around $11,460. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $7,490. Early-career hospitality management graduates make about $33,529. Set against $7,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Tidewater Community College earned it the #2 place for hospitality management. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,858, with out-of-state students paying around $12,296. Students borrow a median of $19,010 to complete the hospitality management program here. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from Tidewater Community College generally make around $21,416. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at George Mason University earned it the #3 place for hospitality management. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Students borrow a median of $24,722 to complete the hospitality management program here. Early-career hospitality management graduates make about $45,151. Set against $24,722 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #4 makes Virginia State University one of the best values for hospitality management. Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Petersburg. Students from in state pay about $10,043 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,650. Students borrow a median of $29,010 to complete the hospitality management program here. Hospitality Management graduates of Virginia State University earn a median of $40,620 early in their careers. Set against $29,010 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value hospitality management schools. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Typical student debt for hospitality management graduates is $22,250. Hospitality Management graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $46,915 early in their careers. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Ecpi University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value hospitality management schools. Ecpi University is a large private for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $18,484. Students borrow a median of $30,138 to complete the hospitality management program here. Hospitality Management graduates of Ecpi University earn a median of $33,711 early in their careers. Set against $30,138 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value hospitality management schools. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Students borrow a median of $25,680 to complete the hospitality management program here. Soon after graduation, hospitality management degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $45,771. Set against $25,680 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
More Hospitality Management Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
