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Cheapest Psychology Colleges in Virginia

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Virginia Military Institute psychology graduates earn $38,649 annually, nearly double what graduates from some other state programs make. This earnings gap highlights how program choice affects career outcomes in a state where federal agencies and defense contractors like Northrop Grumman actively recruit psychology majors for roles in human resources, training, and behavioral analysis. Public options range from $11,180 at UVA-Wise to $19,452 at Virginia Commonwealth University, while private colleges like Mary Baldwin offer competitive aid packages that bring costs down to $17,833. The 20 programs show graduation rates from 32.7% at Norfolk State to 81.8% at VMI. Psychology students benefit from Virginia's proximity to Washington D.C., where government positions often require security clearances that favor in-state graduates.
41
Programs
$11,180 – $33,417
Net Price Range
$29,841
Avg. Program Earnings
58.1%
Avg. Graduation Rate

41 Psychology, General Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $11,180 $11,656 49.8% 75.6%
2 $12,973 $9,910 32.7% 89.5%
3 $14,170 $12,262 44.4% 95.1%
4 $14,553 $9,755 40.7% 89.7%
5 $16,640 $12,286 49.6% 93.3%
6 $17,833 $33,157 55.7%
7 $18,287 $13,815 69.3% 90.0%
8 $18,436 $29,010 51.5% 95.0%
9 $18,749 $20,686 54.1% 32.3%
10 $18,849 $20,484 81.8% 71.1%
11 $19,452 $16,458 65.4% 91.0%
12 $19,580 $14,880 41.3% 80.6%
13 $20,173 $41,350 49.4% 90.4%
14 $20,187 $35,540 61.6% 95.9%
15 $20,583 $36,960 49.1% 81.4%
16 $20,591 $35,280 53.8% 96.9%
17 $20,814 $15,200 61.6% 87.8%
18 $21,108 $14,559 67.4% 85.8%
19 $21,816 $13,576 80.9% 78.3%
20 $22,085 $38,320 28.9% 84.3%
21 $22,197 $16,351 75.1% 85.4%
22 $22,198 $29,696 27.1% 63.0%
23 $22,263 $42,260 69.7% 72.4%
24 $22,529 $25,040 91.0% 33.5%
25 $22,881 $20,986 95.3% 18.7%
26 $23,262 $38,550 43.6% 76.0%
27 $23,383 $25,110 48.1% 75.8%
28 $23,615 $41,860 47.1% 99.5%
29 $23,790 $15,478 86.3% 57.0%
30 $23,911 $64,525 94.9% 17.0%
31 $24,014 $20,040 38.3% 99.5%
32 $24,372 $18,238 13.6%
33 $24,668 $52,388 65.3% 39.8%
34 $25,153 $39,050 57.9% 81.4%
35 $26,205 $18,238 20.7%
36 $27,759 $48,002 74.6% 85.5%
37 $27,786 $36,774 65.9% 79.8%
38 $29,552 $21,222 63.5% 99.3%
39 $30,055 $36,028 70.5% 80.4%
40 $32,145 $29,162 55.7% 74.5%
41 $33,417 $62,600 87.8% 24.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Virginia Military Institute psychology graduates earn so much more than other programs?

VMI psychology graduates earn $38,649 annually compared to $22,087 at UVA-Wise, the lowest in the state. The military structure and leadership training create graduates well-suited for management roles in defense psychology and federal positions. VMI also has an 81.8% graduation rate, indicating strong program completion that correlates with better career outcomes.

How much can private college aid reduce psychology program costs in Virginia?

Mary Baldwin University demonstrates significant aid impact, reducing costs from a $33,157 sticker price to $17,833 net cost. This puts the private college within $1,000 of Radford University's $16,640 public option. The VTAG grant specifically helps Virginia students at private institutions, making programs like Regent University more accessible at $18,749 net cost.

Is there a significant difference in graduation rates between cheap and expensive psychology programs?

The data shows no clear correlation between cost and graduation success. Norfolk State at $12,973 has a 32.7% graduation rate, while George Mason at $18,287 achieves 69.3%. However, some affordable options like UVA-Wise maintain respectable 49.8% rates despite being the cheapest option at $11,180.

Does Virginia's government proximity create better job prospects for psychology majors?

Virginia's location near federal agencies creates unique opportunities for psychology graduates in behavioral analysis and human resources roles. Companies like Booz Allen Hamilton and government contractors actively recruit psychology majors for security clearance positions. The state's defense industry concentration means graduates often find specialized roles that command higher salaries than typical psychology positions.

Where do Virginia psychology programs offer the best value for career earnings?

George Mason University provides strong value with $32,546 graduate earnings against $18,287 net costs and a 69.3% graduation rate. Virginia Commonwealth University also performs well with $30,926 earnings for $19,452 in costs. Both schools benefit from urban locations with internship opportunities at major employers like Inova Health.

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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.