Virginia Beach, Virginia Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Virginia Beach, Virginia: median public in-state tuition $18,484 (+235.3% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $44,498 (-18.2% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 80.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $20,000 (+50.7% vs U.S.) 21,077 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 14 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 21,077 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $18,484 (+235.3% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $44,498 (-18.2% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 80.2% (-7.8 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $19,676 (+97.4% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $20,000 (+50.7% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $14,456
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 41.6%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 74.6%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Virginia Beach serve students across Virginia with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 14 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 21,077 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $18,484. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Virginia Beach, Virginia and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Virginia Beach 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, Virginia | $18,484 | $19,676 | $20,000 | 41.6% | 21,077 |
| 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: Virginia Beach, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, Virginia | $44,498 | 80.2% | 74.6% | 7.7% | — | 58.4% | 0.55 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, Virginia | $18,484 | $19,676 | $20,000 | 41.6% | 21,077 | $44,498 | 80.2% |
| 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 2 colleges in Virginia Beach, 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, 56.9%, Regent University
Regent University
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 41.6%, Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Wesleyan University
Top 2 colleges in Virginia Beach, 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, 83.6%, Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Wesleyan University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 80.2%, Regent University
Regent University
Top 2 most selective colleges in Virginia Beach, 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, 38.1%, Regent University
Regent University
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 72.9%, Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Wesleyan University
Top 2 colleges in Virginia Beach, 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, $57,169, Regent University
Regent University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $48,841, Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Wesleyan University
Top 2 colleges in Virginia Beach, 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, $63,159, Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Wesleyan University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $61,752, Regent University
Regent University
Top 2 colleges in Virginia Beach, 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, $42,066, Regent University
Regent University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $39,200, Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Wesleyan University
Top 2 colleges in Virginia Beach, 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, $47,428, Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Wesleyan University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $43,460, Regent University
Regent University
Top 2 colleges in Virginia Beach, 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, $50,074, Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Wesleyan University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $44,498, Regent University
Regent University
Top 3 colleges in Virginia Beach, 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, $130,387, Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Wesleyan University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $117,151, Regent University
Regent University
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Rank 3, 10-Yr ROI, $29,383, South University-Virginia Beach
South University-Virginia Beach
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Virginia Beach, 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, $19,676, Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Wesleyan University
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Rank 2, Net Price, $19,923, Regent University
Regent University
Top 2 colleges in Virginia Beach, 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, 74.6%, Regent University
Regent University
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 74.2%, Virginia Wesleyan University
Virginia Wesleyan University
In-state tuition: Virginia Beach, Virginia vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Virginia Beach, Virginia median in-state tuition is $18,484, +235.3% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Virginia Beach, Virginia vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Virginia Beach, Virginia is $20,000 (+50.7% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $14,456.
Median earnings (10 years out): Virginia Beach, Virginia vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Virginia Beach, Virginia center around $44,498 (-18.2% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Virginia Beach, Virginia vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 80.2% at the median Virginia Beach, Virginia campus (-7.8 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
Virginia Beach, Virginia median public in-state tuition is $18,484, about +235.3% vs the national median. Versus the Southeast region, tuition is +270.3%.
Median graduate debt is $20,000 (+50.7% 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 Virginia Beach, Virginia are $44,498, about -18.2% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 80.2% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-7.8 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 74.6% 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 7.7% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 58.4% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Virginia Wesleyan University (83.6%), Regent University (80.2%)—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 Virginia Beach, Virginia is 41.6% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Virginia Beach?
This city profile covers 14 campuses in Virginia Beach, Virginia with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Virginia Beach?
Median in-state tuition in Virginia Beach is $18,484 and median net price is $19,676. For Virginia overall, medians are $5,400 and $8,852; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Virginia Beach?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Virginia Beach is $44,498 vs $54,869 for Virginia and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Virginia Beach colleges?
Median completer debt in Virginia Beach is $20,000 vs $20,000 for Virginia and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Virginia Beach?
Top campuses on this page include Regent University (graduation) and Virginia Wesleyan University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Virginia Beach?
Among 14 campuses in Virginia Beach, Virginia, 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: United Methodist (1), Baptist (1).
Sources & related
- Virginia college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON