Each ranking compares bachelor's programs in one field. A college's value score is the weighted average of four percentiles among the ranked colleges: graduate earnings, average net price, debt compared with earnings, and graduation rate. Percentiles here are 100 for the best figure in the field. How the rankings work
Education Ranked #105 of 521 for value Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas · 82 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $56,564
Ranked-college median: $48,822 Median debt $25,000
Ranked-college median: $21,500 Value score 66.9 of 100 · #2 of 5 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 87th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 77th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 52th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 18th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $17,201) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 44% of earnings
Best colleges for education
Civil engineering Ranked #125 of 181 for value Civil Engineering · 39 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $82,703
Ranked-college median: $85,627 Median debt $21,861
Ranked-college median: $20,500 Value score 40.5 of 100 · #4 of 5 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 32th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 79th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 38th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 2th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $17,058) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 26% of earnings
Best colleges for civil engineering
Nursing Ranked #137 of 686 for value Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 184 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $90,917
Ranked-college median: $85,171 Median debt $16,106
Ranked-college median: $20,938 Value score 65.5 of 100 · #3 of 14 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 69th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 76th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 81th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 19th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $18,014) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 18% of earnings
Best colleges for nursing
Electrical engineering Ranked #149 of 184 for value Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · 26 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $96,427
Ranked-college median: $99,787 Median debt $24,271
Ranked-college median: $20,732 Value score 33.7 of 100 · #5 of 5 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 28th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 74th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 17th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 3th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $16,125) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 25% of earnings
Ranked just above: University at Buffalo (#148) Ranked just below: University of North Texas (#150) Best colleges for electrical engineering
Mathematics Ranked #164 of 208 for value Mathematics · 15 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $66,847
Ranked-college median: $71,273 Median debt $26,750
Ranked-college median: $18,563 Value score 35.1 of 100 · #8 of 8 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 35th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 78th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 5th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 3th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $17,049) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 40% of earnings
Best colleges for mathematics
Mechanical engineering Ranked #187 of 276 for value Mechanical Engineering · 104 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $87,772
Ranked-college median: $91,366 Median debt $19,500
Ranked-college median: $20,713 Value score 40.5 of 100 · #4 of 7 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 23th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 80th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 55th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 4th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $17,379) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 22% of earnings
Ranked just above: Kansas State University (#186) Ranked just below: University of Utah (#188) Best colleges for mechanical engineering
Kinesiology and exercise science Ranked #211 of 459 for value Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 83 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $52,482
Ranked-college median: $53,707 Median debt $19,000
Ranked-college median: $21,500 Value score 52.7 of 100 · #6 of 13 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 44th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 80th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 64th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 15th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $18,314) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 36% of earnings
Best colleges for kinesiology and exercise science
Engineering Ranked #213 of 327 for value Mechanical Engineering · 104 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $87,772
Ranked-college median: $91,742 Median debt $19,500
Ranked-college median: $21,000 Value score 41.6 of 100 · #5 of 8 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 26th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 79th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 55th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 5th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $17,499) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 22% of earnings
Best colleges for engineering
Political science Ranked #257 of 388 for value Political Science and Government · 52 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $59,939
Ranked-college median: $63,181 Median debt $21,588
Ranked-college median: $19,500 Value score 40.2 of 100 · #14 of 16 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 36th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 80th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 25th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 3th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $18,238) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 36% of earnings
Best colleges for political science
Computer science Ranked #268 of 466 for value Computer and Information Sciences, General · 117 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $95,485
Ranked-college median: $97,375 Median debt $22,167
Ranked-college median: $19,500 Value score 45.2 of 100 · #10 of 14 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 46th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 75th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 32th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 11th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $16,804) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 23% of earnings
Best colleges for computer science
Accounting Ranked #271 of 408 for value Accounting and Related Services · 66 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $73,157
Ranked-college median: $76,108 Median debt $24,125
Ranked-college median: $20,500 Value score 42.1 of 100 · #8 of 9 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 43th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 78th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 19th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 12th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $17,285) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 33% of earnings
Best colleges for accounting
Marketing Ranked #276 of 354 for value Marketing · 88 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $61,550
Ranked-college median: $67,486 Median debt $21,875
Ranked-college median: $19,523 Value score 35.7 of 100 · #6 of 7 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 26th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 81th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 20th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 9th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $17,699) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 36% of earnings
Ranked just above: Rider University (#275) Ranked just below: Benedictine College-Kansas (#277) Best colleges for marketing
Finance Ranked #286 of 330 for value Finance and Financial Management Services · 110 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $67,320
Ranked-college median: $77,916 Median debt $21,587
Ranked-college median: $19,500 Value score 30.1 of 100 · #5 of 5 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 17th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 79th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 11th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 9th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $17,502) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 32% of earnings
Best colleges for finance
Psychology Ranked #359 of 814 for value Psychology, General · 354 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $51,907
Ranked-college median: $51,007 Median debt $22,500
Ranked-college median: $21,000 Value score 53.3 of 100 · #10 of 24 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 56th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 80th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 42th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 17th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $18,874) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 43% of earnings
Best colleges for psychology
Biology Ranked #436 of 680 for value Biology, General · 186 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $55,304
Ranked-college median: $58,001 Median debt $22,750
Ranked-college median: $20,717 Value score 42.6 of 100 · #14 of 20 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 38th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 79th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 28th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 13th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $18,049) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 41% of earnings
Best colleges for biology
Business Ranked #596 of 986 for value Business Administration, Management and Operations · 180 graduates
Earnings 4 yrs after $61,442
Ranked-college median: $64,860 Median debt $21,981
Ranked-college median: $21,375 Value score 44.3 of 100 · #18 of 28 in Virginia
Graduate earnings · 40% of score 35th percentile
Average net price (lower is better) · 25% of score 79th percentile
Debt compared with earnings (lower is better) · 20% of score 36th percentile
Graduation rate · 15% of score 23th percentile
Average net price $12,913 (median $19,132) · graduation rate 43.1% · debt is 36% of earnings
Best colleges for business 
