[College research](/) / [Rankings](/rankings/)

# Best Accounting Colleges in Virginia (2026)

Updated October 1, 2026

Part of [Best Business Colleges in Virginia](/rankings/best-business-colleges-in-virginia/)

This page ranks the 16 colleges in Virginia that report an Accounting earnings cohort, ordered by the median earnings of Accounting graduates four years after completing, highest first. [Washington and Lee University](/school/washington-and-lee-university/majors/) leads the list, though its earnings figure is not among the two that are publicly citable.

Across the 15 schools with a reported completion median, median earnings after completing range from $118,946 to $32,925, with a median of $73,157. For 3 of the 16 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

The list splits between 7 public and 9 private nonprofit institutions, a 44% public share. Washington and Lee University posts the highest six-year completion rate on the page at 94%, while George Mason University ranks 33rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally. Virginia Union University carries the lowest average net price at $13,235.

## The ranked list

16 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median Accounting Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Washington and Lee University · Lexington, VA | $118,946 | $23,781 | \-$1,777\* | 14.0% |
|  | [Washington and Lee University](/school/washington-and-lee-university/majors/) [admits 14% of applicants](/school/washington-and-lee-university/admissions/) and posts a six-year completion rate of 94%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (94 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (37 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($121,699), Accounting and Related Services ($118,946) |
| 2 | University of Richmond · University Of Richmond, VA | $112,202 | $31,309 | $12,808 | 22.2% |
|  | University of Richmond, a private nonprofit university in University Of Richmond, reports an average net price of $31,309. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (223 graduates), Human Resources Management and Services (80 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (34 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($112,202), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($103,856), Human Resources Management and Services ($92,389) |
| 3 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA | $99,528 | $24,953 | $11,689 | 54.8% |
|  | [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](/school/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university/majors/) [ranks 112th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and graduates 86% of its students within six years. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (444 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (294 graduates), Marketing (211 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($108,726), Finance and Financial Management Services ($102,902), Accounting and Related Services ($99,528) |
| 4 | James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA | $98,767 | $23,322 | $11,444 | 71.5% |
|  | [James Madison University](/school/james-madison-university/majors/) has an [admission rate of 72%](/school/james-madison-university/admissions/) and an average net price of $23,322. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Marketing (189 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (140 graduates), Business Administration, Management and Operations (129 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Finance and Financial Management Services ($104,926), Accounting and Related Services ($98,767), Marketing ($89,944) |
| 5 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $91,132 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 87.5% |
|  | [George Mason University](/school/george-mason-university/majors/) [ranks 33rd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/george-mason-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $17,915. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (371 graduates), Business/Commerce, General (245 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (182 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods ($97,049), Accounting and Related Services ($91,132), Finance and Financial Management Services ($88,080) |
| 6 | Radford University · Radford, VA | $78,780 | $14,578 | $8,965 | 89.5% |
|  | [Radford University](/school/radford-university/majors/) posts a [six-year completion rate of 49%](/school/radford-university/outcomes/) and an average net price of $8,965 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (109 graduates), Marketing (69 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (29 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($78,780), Finance and Financial Management Services ($72,364), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($67,246) |
| 7 | Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA | $78,631 | $23,433 | $17,512 | 92.6% |
|  | [Virginia Commonwealth University](/school/virginia-commonwealth-university/majors/) [admits 93% of applicants](/school/virginia-commonwealth-university/admissions/) and ranks 171st on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (239 graduates), Marketing (122 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (79 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Accounting and Related Services ($78,631), Marketing ($68,622), Business/Commerce, General ($68,387) |
| 8 | Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA | $73,157 | $14,638 | $9,739 | 90.4% |
|  | [Old Dominion University](/school/old-dominion-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $9,739](/school/old-dominion-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and a six-year completion rate of 46%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (147 graduates), Management Information Systems and Services (107 graduates), Marketing (83 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Management Information Systems and Services ($74,465), Accounting and Related Services ($73,157), Finance and Financial Management Services ($67,320) |
| 9 | Virginia State University · Petersburg, VA | $72,375 | $15,840 | $13,220 | 88.6% |
|  | [Virginia State University](/school/virginia-state-university/majors/) has an [admission rate of 89%](/school/virginia-state-university/admissions/) and an average net price of $15,840. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (52 graduates), Marketing (23 graduates), Management Information Systems and Services (16 graduates) |
| 10 | Averett University · Danville, VA | $64,192 | $22,925 | $23,064 | 56.6% |
|  | Averett University ranks 965th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and graduates 48% of its students within six years. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (41 graduates), Marketing (15 graduates), Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (12 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Business Administration, Management and Operations ($72,810) |
| 11 | Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA | $63,307 | $29,357 | $30,667 | 99.0% |
|  | [Liberty University](/school/liberty-university/majors/) [admits 99% of applicants](/school/liberty-university/admissions/) and reports an average net price of $29,357. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (1,603 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (200 graduates), Management Information Systems and Services (82 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Management Information Systems and Services ($84,228), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($67,269), Accounting and Related Services ($63,307) |
| 12 | Ferrum College · Ferrum, VA | $60,070 | $20,082 | $16,940 | 89.0% |
|  | Ferrum College reports median earnings of $60,070 for its Accounting graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Accounting and Related Services (8 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (6 graduates) |
| 13 | Regent University · Virginia Beach, VA | $54,517 | $19,923 | $20,064 | 38.1% |
|  | Regent University, a private nonprofit university in Virginia Beach, ranks 13th on this list and admits 38% of applicants. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (57 graduates), Human Resources Management and Services (19 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (10 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Human Resources Management and Services ($61,752), Business Administration, Management and Operations ($59,087) |
| 14 | Randolph-Macon College · Ashland, VA | $47,260 | $27,866 | $16,601 | 86.6% |
|  | Randolph-Macon College reports median earnings of $47,260 for its Accounting graduates two years after completing, alongside a six-year completion rate of 70%. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business/Commerce, General (63 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (10 graduates) |
| 15 | Hampton University · Hampton, VA | $40,485 | $25,319 | $32,101 | 62.3% |
|  | Hampton University carries an average net price of $32,101 for families earning under $30,000 and ranks 1119th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (73 graduates), Marketing (28 graduates), Finance and Financial Management Services (11 graduates) |
| 16 | Virginia Union University · Richmond, VA | $32,925 | $13,235 | $11,424 | 98.0% |
|  | Virginia Union University posts the lowest average net price on the page at $13,235 and graduates 34% of its students within six years. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Business Administration, Management and Operations (12 graduates), Accounting and Related Services (6 graduates), General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations (6 graduates) |

\* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.

## How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Accounting graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figures reflect federally aided Accounting completers who were working and not enrolled, measured after completing. For 3 of the 16 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 15 schools with a reported completion median. The spread from Washington and Lee University to the bottom of the list is $86,021.

## Related rankings

-   [Best Colleges in Virginia](/rankings/best-colleges-in-virginia/)
-   [Best Business Colleges in Florida by Earnings](/rankings/best-business-colleges-in-florida/)
-   [Best Business Colleges in Massachusetts](/rankings/best-business-colleges-in-massachusetts/)
-   [Best Business Colleges in Indiana](/rankings/best-business-colleges-in-indiana/)
-   [Best Business Colleges in Illinois](/rankings/best-business-colleges-in-illinois/)
-   Accounting Colleges in Virginia for Social Mobility