Chesapeake, Virginia Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)

Last updated: June 4, 2026 Source: College Scorecard

TL;DR

EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Chesapeake, Virginia shows: median public in-state tuition $20,645 (+274.6% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $77,821 (+43.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 85.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $14,750 (+9.8% vs U.S.) 582 students enrolled statewide.

Key Facts

  • Institutions in this profile: 3 campuses
  • Total college enrollment: 582 students
  • Median public in-state tuition: $20,645 (+274.6% vs U.S.)
  • Median earnings 10 years after entry: $77,821 (+43.3% vs U.S.)
  • Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 85.2% (-2.7 pp vs U.S.)
  • Median net price: $30,307 (+204.1% vs U.S.)
  • Median student debt at graduation: $14,750 (+9.8% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $14,173
  • Average completion rate (institutions in state): 77.8%

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Overview

EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Chesapeake, Virginia—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Virginia and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.

Chesapeake vs Virginia & national benchmarks

Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.

State versus regional and national education metrics
Geography In-state tuition Net price Median debt Completion rate Enrollment
Chesapeake, Virginia$20,645$30,307$14,75077.8%582
Virginia (state median)$5,400$8,852$20,00057.6%382,545
United States$5,512$9,967$13,43250.3%14,484,370

Earnings & employment outcomes: Chesapeake, 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.

Earnings and employment outcome benchmarks
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
Chesapeake, Virginia$77,82185.2%N/A2.7%—78.5%0.25
Virginia (state median)$54,86986.8%75.7%4.1%—74.4%0.45
United States$54,32387.9%76.3%5.0%—73.7%0.41

Other cities in Virginia (3+ campuses)

Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.

Peer comparison table
City In-state tuition Net price Median debt Completion Enrollment Earnings (10 yr) Working (8 yr)
Chesapeake, Virginia$20,645$30,307$14,75077.8%582$77,82185.2%
Lynchburg$17,724$21,253$24,25057.4%55,015$53,40982.4%
Norfolk$16,337$19,164$17,37542.4%36,344$49,79087.0%
Blacksburg$15,948$24,953$21,67886.2%30,923$81,69890.7%
Richmond$16,945$23,460$20,00048.7%29,458$58,12888.6%
Richmond$16,945$23,460$20,00048.7%29,458$58,12888.6%
Richmond$16,945$23,460$20,00048.7%29,458$58,12888.6%
Virginia Beach$18,484$19,676$20,00041.6%21,077$44,49880.2%
Hampton$18,189$19,018$15,52457.2%7,812$59,15987.0%
United States$5,512$9,967$13,43250.3%14,484,370$54,32387.9%

In-state tuition: Chesapeake, Virginia vs benchmarks

Sticker price

Chesapeake, Virginia median in-state tuition is $20,645, +274.6% vs the U.S. median.

Student debt: Chesapeake, Virginia vs benchmarks

Borrowing

Median debt at graduation in Chesapeake, Virginia is $14,750 (+9.8% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $14,173.

Median earnings (10 years out): Chesapeake, Virginia vs benchmarks

Payoff

Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Chesapeake, Virginia center around $77,821 (+43.3% vs U.S.).

Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.

Employment outcome proxy: Chesapeake, Virginia vs benchmarks

Working & not enrolled

The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 85.2% at the median Chesapeake, Virginia campus (-2.7 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

Chesapeake, Virginia median public in-state tuition is $20,645, about +274.6% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +313.6%.

Median graduate debt is $14,750 (+9.8% above the U.S. median of $13,432). 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 Chesapeake, Virginia are $77,821, about +43.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).

The median campus reports 85.2% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-2.7 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.

Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 2.7% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 78.5% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.

Completion & workforce context

Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Chesapeake, Virginia is 77.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).

FAQ

How many colleges are in Chesapeake?

EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 3 campuses in Chesapeake, Virginia with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.

How much does college cost in Chesapeake?

EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Chesapeake is $20,645 and median net price is $30,307. For Virginia overall, medians are $5,400 and $8,852; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.

What do graduates earn in Chesapeake?

EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Chesapeake is $77,821 vs $54,869 for Virginia and $54,323 nationally.

What is student debt like for Chesapeake colleges?

EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Chesapeake is $14,750 vs $20,000 for Virginia and $13,432 nationally.

Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Chesapeake?

EDsmart Data analysis: among 3 College Scorecard campuses in Chesapeake, Virginia, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.

Sources & related