Cheapest Electrical Colleges in Virginia

Norfolk State University offers the most affordable electrical engineering education in Virginia at just $12,973 net price, nearly $17,000 less than Liberty University's $29,552. Virginia's proximity to defense contractors like Northrop Grumman creates strong demand for electrical engineers, with graduates earning between $66,126 and $74,576 annually. The state's nine programs show a clear public versus private cost divide, with eight public institutions clustering well below Liberty's private tuition rates.

Programs

$12,973 – $29,552

Net Price Range

$69,947

Avg. Program Earnings

68.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

9 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Norfolk State University Norfolk, Virginia	$12,973	$9,910	32.7%	89.5%
2	Old Dominion University Norfolk, Virginia	$14,170	$12,262	44.4%	95.1%
3	George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia	$18,287	$13,815	69.3%	90.0%
4	Virginia Military Institute Lexington, Virginia	$18,849	$20,484	81.8%	71.1%
5	Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia	$19,452	$16,458	65.4%	91.0%
6	Christopher Newport University Newport News, Virginia	$22,197	$16,351	75.1%	85.4%
7	University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, Virginia	$22,881	$20,986	95.3%	18.7%
8	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia	$23,790	$15,478	86.3%	57.0%
9	Liberty University Lynchburg, Virginia	$29,552	$21,222	63.5%	99.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the huge cost difference between Norfolk State and Liberty University?

Norfolk State's $12,973 net price reflects its public funding and lower operational costs compared to Liberty's private status at $29,552. Public institutions like Norfolk State receive state subsidies that significantly reduce student costs, while private Liberty operates without this support.

How do graduation rates vary among Virginia's cheapest electrical engineering programs?

The most affordable schools show widely different completion rates, from Norfolk State's 32.7% to Virginia Tech's 86.3%. Higher-cost programs like UVA achieve 95.3% graduation rates, suggesting a correlation between price and completion success in electrical engineering.

Where do electrical engineering graduates find the highest starting salaries in Virginia?

UVA graduates command the highest earnings at $74,576, followed by Liberty University at $72,022 and Virginia Tech at $70,863. These salary differences of $8,000+ can offset higher tuition costs within a few years of graduation.

More Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering Rankings

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