Fredericksburg, Virginia Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Fredericksburg, Virginia: median public in-state tuition $14,640 (+165.6% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $60,613 (+11.4% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 86.8% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $15,500 (+16.8% vs U.S.) 3,743 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Fredericksburg serve students across Virginia with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 3,743 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $14,640. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Fredericksburg, Virginia and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Fredericksburg 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericksburg, Virginia | $14,640 | $20,667 | $15,500 | 66.4% | 3,743 |
| 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: Fredericksburg, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericksburg, Virginia | $60,613 | 86.8% | 84.4% | 1.3% | — | 83.0% | 0.34 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericksburg, Virginia | $14,640 | $20,667 | $15,500 | 66.4% | 3,743 | $60,613 | 86.8% |
| 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 Fredericksburg, 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, 66.4%, University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington
Top college in Fredericksburg, 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, 86.8%, University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington
Most selective college in Fredericksburg, 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, 79.8%, University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington
Top college in Fredericksburg, 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, $76,301, University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington
Top college in Fredericksburg, 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, $95,461, University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington
Top college in Fredericksburg, 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, $49,411, University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington
Top college in Fredericksburg, 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, $54,986, University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington
Top college in Fredericksburg, 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, $60,613, University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington
Top college in Fredericksburg, 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, $171,673, University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington
Most affordable college in Fredericksburg, 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, $20,667, University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington
Top college in Fredericksburg, 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, 84.4%, University of Mary Washington
University of Mary Washington
In-state tuition: Fredericksburg, Virginia vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Fredericksburg, Virginia median in-state tuition is $14,640, +165.6% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Fredericksburg, Virginia vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Fredericksburg, Virginia is $15,500 (+16.8% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Fredericksburg, Virginia vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Fredericksburg, Virginia center around $60,613 (+11.4% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Fredericksburg, Virginia vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 86.8% at the median Fredericksburg, Virginia campus (-1.2 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
Fredericksburg, Virginia median public in-state tuition is $14,640, about +165.6% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +193.3%.
Median graduate debt is $15,500 (+16.8% 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 Fredericksburg, Virginia are $60,613, about +11.4% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 86.8% 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% (-1.2 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 84.4% 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 1.3% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 83.0% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include University of Mary Washington (86.8%)—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 Fredericksburg, Virginia is 66.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Fredericksburg?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Fredericksburg, Virginia with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Fredericksburg?
Median in-state tuition in Fredericksburg is $14,640 and median net price is $20,667. For Virginia overall, medians are $5,400 and $8,852; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Fredericksburg?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Fredericksburg is $60,613 vs $54,869 for Virginia and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Fredericksburg colleges?
Median completer debt in Fredericksburg is $15,500 vs $20,000 for Virginia and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Fredericksburg?
Top campuses on this page include University of Mary Washington (graduation) and University of Mary Washington (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Fredericksburg?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Fredericksburg, 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
- Virginia college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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