Compare 20 Political Economy. programs in Virginia. Average earnings: $52,909.
With top graduates earning $67,976, Political Economy stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $15K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
University of Virginia-Main Campus's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $67,976, closely followed by Washington and Lee University at $67,855. Virginia Tech rounds out the top three at $64,526, demonstrating that Virginia's public institutions compete directly with elite privates in this field.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Virginia graduates borrow $17,500 and face just a 5.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, making this program both high-earning and easily affordable.
Highest program earnings: $67,976
Strong outcomes ($64,526) with 57% acceptance
5.3% payment burden | Excellent
15.3% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $67,976 | 112 | $17,500 | Excellent | $28,903 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $67,855 | 53 | $19,500 | Excellent | $38,000 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $64,526 | 194 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Challenging | |
| #4 | Radford UniversityPublic | $64,410 | 27 | $24,000 | Excellent | $22,158 | Manageable |
| #5 | George Mason UniversityPublic | $60,165 | 177 | $19,500 | Excellent | $25,142 | Manageable |
| #6 | William & MaryPublic | $60,113 | 182 | $18,500 | Excellent | $30,326 | Challenging |
| #7 | James Madison UniversityPublic | $59,141 | 96 | $20,093 | Excellent | $37,285 | Challenging |
| #8 | University Of RichmondPrivate | $58,382 | 52 | $21,000 | Good | $30,512 | Challenging |
| #9 | $58,043 | 77 | $25,000 | Good | $44,122 | High | |
| #10 | Randolph-Macon CollegePrivate | $55,758 | 18 | $27,000 | Good | $46,254 | High |
| #11 | Old Dominion UniversityPublic | $53,616 | 60 | $24,000 | Good | $18,866 | Challenging |
| #12 | $50,476 | 186 | $21,500 | Good | $23,585 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $49,124 | 47 | $20,500 | Good | $26,240 | High | |
| #14 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | $48,474 | 137 | $24,500 | Manageable | $16,398 | Challenging |
| #15 | Virginia Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | $43,477 | 13 | $27,000 | Manageable | $39,446 | High |
| #16 | Mary Baldwin UniversityPrivate | $43,421 | 7 | $26,586 | Manageable | $16,376 | High |
| #17 | Hampton UniversityPrivate | $41,539 | 27 | $25,442 | Challenging | $74,299 | High |
| #18 | Marymount UniversityPrivate | $41,186 | 17 | $25,000 | Challenging | $45,008 | High |
| #19 | Hampden-Sydney CollegePrivate | $37,123 | 20 | $26,000 | Challenging | $61,239 | High |
| #20 | Longwood UniversityPublic | $33,379 | 13 | $25,000 | High | $36,395 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
