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Virginia Tech graduates with Business degrees earn $57,318 annually while Virginia State students pay just $14,553 net cost, creating a $40,000 range in both pricing and outcomes across the state's programs. Defense contractors like Northrop Grumman and Booz Allen Hamilton drive strong demand for business talent near Washington D.C., though Virginia's most affordable option comes from Old Dominion University at $14,170 net cost with 95% acceptance rates.
9
Programs
$14,170 – $32,145
Net Price Range
$54,569
Avg. Program Earnings
62.8%
Avg. Graduation Rate

9 Business/Managerial Economics Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $14,170 $12,262 44.4% 95.1%
2 $14,553 $9,755 40.7% 89.7%
3 $17,833 $33,157 55.7%
4 $19,452 $16,458 65.4% 91.0%
5 $21,816 $13,576 80.9% 78.3%
6 $23,790 $15,478 86.3% 57.0%
7 $24,668 $52,388 65.3% 39.8%
8 $30,055 $36,028 70.5% 80.4%
9 $32,145 $29,162 55.7% 74.5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the massive cost difference between Virginia's cheapest and most expensive business programs?

Public universities like Old Dominion ($14,170) and Virginia State ($14,553) cost roughly half of private options like Hampton University ($32,145). The VTAG grant helps Virginia residents afford private colleges, but public institutions still offer the lowest net prices for business degrees.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in Virginia business schools?

Virginia Tech achieves an 86% graduation rate at $23,790 net cost, while James Madison reaches 81% at just $21,816. However, Virginia State's low $14,553 cost comes with only a 41% graduation rate, showing that affordability doesn't always translate to completion success.

Does Virginia's proximity to Washington D.C. impact business graduate earnings?

James Madison graduates earn $64,493 annually, the highest among Virginia business programs, likely reflecting access to federal contracting and consulting roles. Even Virginia Commonwealth graduates in Richmond earn $46,217, benefiting from the state's strong government and defense sector presence.

Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.