Ashland, Virginia Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Ashland, Virginia: median public in-state tuition $49,466 (+797.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $58,448 (+7.5% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 92.8% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $27,000 (+103.5% vs U.S.) 1,646 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 1,646 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $49,466 (+797.4% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $58,448 (+7.5% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 92.8% (+4.9 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $19,042 (+91.0% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $27,000 (+103.5% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 70.5%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 83.7%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Ashland serve students across Virginia with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 1,646 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $49,466. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Ashland, Virginia and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Ashland vs Virginia & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland, Virginia | $49,466 | $19,042 | $27,000 | 70.5% | 1,646 |
| Virginia (state median) | $5,400 | $8,852 | $20,000 | 57.0% | 382,210 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Ashland, Virginia vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland, Virginia | $58,448 | 92.8% | 83.7% | 6.5% | — | 83.5% | 0.46 |
| Virginia (state median) | $54,869 | 86.8% | 75.7% | 4.1% | — | 74.4% | 0.45 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Virginia (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland, Virginia | $49,466 | $19,042 | $27,000 | 70.5% | 1,646 | $58,448 | 92.8% |
| Lynchburg | $17,724 | $21,253 | $24,250 | 57.4% | 55,015 | $53,409 | 82.4% |
| Norfolk | $16,337 | $19,164 | $14,750 | 42.4% | 36,344 | $49,790 | 87.0% |
| Blacksburg | $15,948 | $24,953 | $21,678 | 86.2% | 30,923 | $81,698 | 90.7% |
| Richmond | $16,945 | $23,460 | $20,000 | 48.7% | 29,458 | $58,128 | 88.6% |
| Richmond | $16,945 | $23,460 | $20,000 | 48.7% | 29,458 | $58,128 | 88.6% |
| Richmond | $16,945 | $23,460 | $20,000 | 48.7% | 29,458 | $58,128 | 88.6% |
| Fairfax | $14,220 | $17,915 | $19,500 | 67.8% | 27,752 | $76,343 | 86.1% |
| Harrisonburg | $29,085 | $23,955 | $22,453 | 73.4% | 21,642 | $62,412 | 90.2% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Ashland, Virginia by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 70.5%, Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Top college in Ashland, Virginia by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 92.8%, Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Most selective college in Ashland, Virginia (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 86.6%, Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Top college in Ashland, Virginia by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $51,366, Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Top college in Ashland, Virginia by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $71,844, Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Top college in Ashland, Virginia by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $48,067, Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Top college in Ashland, Virginia by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $54,896, Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Top college in Ashland, Virginia by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $58,448, Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Top college in Ashland, Virginia by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $130,234, Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Most affordable college in Ashland, Virginia (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $27,866, Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
Top college in Ashland, Virginia by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 83.7%, Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College
In-state tuition: Ashland, Virginia vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Ashland, Virginia median in-state tuition is $49,466, +797.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Ashland, Virginia vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Ashland, Virginia is $27,000 (+103.5% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Ashland, Virginia vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Ashland, Virginia center around $58,448 (+7.5% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Ashland, Virginia vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 92.8% at the median Ashland, Virginia campus (+4.9 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Ashland, Virginia median public in-state tuition is $49,466, about +797.4% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +890.9%.
Median graduate debt is $27,000 (+103.5% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Ashland, Virginia are $58,448, about +7.5% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 92.8% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (+4.9 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 83.7% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 83.5% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Randolph-Macon College (92.8%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Ashland, Virginia is 70.5% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Ashland?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Ashland, Virginia with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Ashland?
Median in-state tuition in Ashland is $49,466 and median net price is $19,042. For Virginia overall, medians are $5,400 and $8,852; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Ashland?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Ashland is $58,448 vs $54,869 for Virginia and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Ashland colleges?
Median completer debt in Ashland is $27,000 vs $20,000 for Virginia and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Ashland?
Top campuses on this page include Randolph-Macon College (graduation) and Randolph-Macon College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Ashland?
Among 2 campuses in Ashland, Virginia, 1 campus with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics; 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: United Methodist (1).
Sources & related
- Virginia college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON