The Cheapest Colleges in Virginia by Out of State Total Cost for 2023
If you're looking for an affordable university in Virginia but aren't a state resident, these are the least expensive out of state colleges to consider. Additionally, if you are a foreign citizen and cannot qualify for in-state tuition, these are the cheapest universities in Virginia for international students.
Affordable doesn't simply mean finding a school with a low published out of state total cost. It's important to research the typical financial aid package offered by a school, the average net price actually paid and most importantly the quality of education you receive for your tuition dollar. Sometimes a school which appears cheap based on list price can be a poor relative value if it can't award competitive financial aid or doesn't offer a quality education. The list below is a ranking on published out of state total cost with no consideration of actual average price paid or academic quality of the school. Please see the CollegeCalc best value colleges in Virginia list for a ranking which considers school quality and average net price.
Total cost may factor in an estimated off-campus living expense if a school doens't provide housing. This estimate may vary widely by college. To view a rank by academic fees alone please see our Virginia tuition ranking.
The most affordable four year colleges in Virginia are listed by one year's out of state total cost list price for the 2021/2022 school year. Total cost includes tuition, room and board or estimated off campus living expenses, books and supplies and other fees.
What is the cheapest college in Virginia? Leading the colleges list is University of Management and Technology (The) in Arlington with an out of state total cost of $16,125.
Academic Rating is a CollegeCalc rating of a college's overall academics and effectiveness. The score ranges from zero to one hundred, with fifty being the median for all eligible colleges. Dollar value is a measure of a school's academic rating compared with the average price paid by students. Colleges which are ranked "n/a" didn't report sufficient data to formulate a score. Learn more about our rating methodology.
All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's 2021/2022 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2021/2022 academic year.
| College | Out of State Total Cost | Rating | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
#21 Jefferson College of Health SciencesRoanoke, Private Not For Profit |
$33,180 | NA | NA |
#22 Virginia Intermont CollegeBristol, Private Not For Profit |
$33,691 | NA | NA |
#23 Norfolk State UniversityNorfolk, Public Not For Profit |
$33,869 | 24 | 8 |
#24 Radford UniversityRadford, Public Not For Profit |
$34,767 | 49 | 32 |
#25 Liberty UniversityLynchburg, Private Not For Profit |
$35,634 | 38 | 4 |
#26 Chamberlain College of Nursing VirginiaArlington, Private For Profit |
$35,798 | NA | NA |
#27 Sweet Briar CollegeSweet Briar, Private Not For Profit |
$38,260 | 61 | 38 |
#28 Randolph CollegeLynchburg, Private Not For Profit |
$39,170 | 55 | 93 |
#29 Bluefield CollegeBluefield, Private Not For Profit |
$39,987 | NA | NA |
#30 Christopher Newport UniversityNewport News, Public Not For Profit |
$40,470 | 58 | 17 |
#31 Longwood UniversityFarmville, Public Not For Profit |
$40,888 | 43 | 10 |
#32 James Madison UniversityHarrisonburg, Public Not For Profit |
$41,626 | 65 | 51 |
#33 Mary Baldwin CollegeStaunton, Private Not For Profit |
$41,770 | NA | NA |
#34 The University of Virginia's College at WiseWise, Public Not For Profit |
$43,170 | 46 | 73 |
#35 Hampton UniversityHampton, Private Not For Profit |
$43,398 | NA | NA |
#36 University of Mary WashingtonFredericksburg, Public Not For Profit |
$43,546 | 67 | 45 |
#37 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBlacksburg, Public Not For Profit |
$44,463 | 78 | 64 |
#38 Old Dominion UniversityNorfolk, Public Not For Profit |
$44,723 | 49 | 28 |
#39 Shenandoah UniversityWinchester, Private Not For Profit |
$47,010 | 54 | 22 |
#40 University of LynchburgLynchburg, Private Not For Profit |
$47,190 | NA | NA |