Best Psychology Colleges in Virginia (2026)
Updated
The 31 Psychology programs in Virginia on this list are ordered by median earnings of Psychology graduates four years after completing, highest first. Virginia Military Institute ranks 1st with median earnings of $75,059 four years after completing.
Median earnings four years after completing range from $75,059 to $36,808 across the list. The list median is $50,826 four years after completing.
The gap between the first- and second-ranked schools is $10,475 in median earnings four years after completing.
The list includes 13 public and 18 private nonprofit schools. The public share is 42%.
Mary Baldwin University posts the lowest average net price at $12,756. George Mason University ranks 33rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median Psychology Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Military Institute · Lexington, VA | $75,059 | $17,113 | $12,697 | 71.3% |
| Virginia Military Institute reports $75,059 in median earnings of Psychology graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 71%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (39 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($75,059) | |||||
| 2 | University of Richmond · University Of Richmond, VA | $64,584 | $31,309 | $12,808 | 22.2% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 85%, University of Richmond ranks 2nd on this list and shows median earnings of $64,584 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (52 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($64,584) | |||||
| 3 | University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA | $62,794 | $21,565 | $8,174 | 16.8% |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus admits 17% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 96%, alongside median earnings of $62,794 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (251 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($62,794) | |||||
| 4 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $62,563 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 87.5% |
| George Mason University ranks 33rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and reports an average net price of $17,915. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (405 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($62,563) | |||||
| 5 | William & Mary · Williamsburg, VA | $59,226 | $19,096 | $3,106 | 34.1% |
| William & Mary shows an average net price of $3,106 for families earning under $30,000 and median earnings of $59,226 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (158 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($59,226) | |||||
| 6 | Shenandoah University · Winchester, VA | $58,144 | $30,298 | $24,356 | 77.0% |
| Shenandoah University, a private nonprofit university in Winchester, reports median earnings of $58,144 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 77%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (35 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($58,144) | |||||
| 7 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA | $56,365 | $24,953 | $11,689 | 54.8% |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University graduates 86% of its students within six years and reports median earnings of $56,365 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (236 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($56,365) | |||||
| 8 | James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA | $56,212 | $23,322 | $11,444 | 71.5% |
| With an average net price of $23,322, James Madison University reports median earnings of $56,212 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (272 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($56,212) | |||||
| 9 | Marymount University · Arlington, VA | $55,869 | $29,137 | $27,413 | 93.2% |
| Marymount University admits 93% of applicants and shows median earnings of $55,869 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (31 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($55,869) | |||||
| 10 | Randolph-Macon College · Ashland, VA | $53,687 | $27,866 | $16,601 | 86.6% |
| Randolph-Macon College reports an average net price of $16,601 for families earning under $30,000 and a six-year completion rate of 70%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (27 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($53,687) | |||||
| 11 | Christopher Newport University · Newport News, VA | $53,600 | $23,015 | $12,461 | 86.0% |
| Christopher Newport University ranks 11th on this list, with median earnings of $53,600 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing and an admission rate of 86%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (146 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($53,600) | |||||
| 12 | University of Mary Washington · Fredericksburg, VA | $53,388 | $20,667 | $10,304 | 79.8% |
| University of Mary Washington reports median earnings of $53,388 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $20,667. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (96 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($53,388) | |||||
| 13 | Randolph College · Lynchburg, VA | $52,293 | $15,921 | $13,048 | 93.7% |
| Randolph College reports median earnings of $52,293 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $13,048 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (9 graduates) | |||||
| 14 | Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA | $51,907 | $14,638 | $9,739 | 90.4% |
| A public university in Norfolk, Old Dominion University ranks 14th on this list and shows a six-year completion rate of 46%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (316 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($51,907) | |||||
| 15 | Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA | $51,440 | $23,433 | $17,512 | 92.6% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University admits 93% of applicants and posts median earnings of $51,440 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (540 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($51,440) | |||||
| 16 | Virginia Union University · Richmond, VA | $50,826 | $13,235 | $11,424 | 98.0% |
| With an average net price of $13,235, Virginia Union University ranks 1008th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (12 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($50,826) | |||||
| 17 | Roanoke College · Salem, VA | $49,018 | $24,503 | $15,204 | 83.1% |
| Roanoke College graduates 67% of its students within six years and reports median earnings of $49,018 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (49 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($49,018) | |||||
| 18 | Longwood University · Farmville, VA | $48,942 | $19,066 | $11,896 | 90.2% |
| Longwood University ranks 18th on this list, with an average net price of $11,896 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (58 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($48,942) | |||||
| 19 | Radford University · Radford, VA | $48,935 | $14,578 | $8,965 | 89.5% |
| Radford University reports median earnings of $48,935 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing, and ranks 396th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (124 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($48,935) | |||||
| 20 | University of Lynchburg · Lynchburg, VA | $48,610 | $22,235 | $20,692 | 43.0% |
| A private nonprofit institution in Lynchburg, University of Lynchburg admits 43% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 57%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (29 graduates) | |||||
| 21 | Hampton University · Hampton, VA | $45,749 | $25,319 | $32,101 | 62.3% |
| Hampton University ranks 21st on this list, with median earnings of $45,749 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (65 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($45,749) | |||||
| 22 | Mary Baldwin University · Staunton, VA | $45,703 | $12,756 | $12,717 | Not reported |
| Mary Baldwin University carries an average net price of $12,756 and reports median earnings of $45,703 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (31 graduates) | |||||
| 23 | Hollins University · Roanoke, VA | $45,633 | $20,896 | $17,511 | 68.0% |
| Hollins University admits 68% of applicants and ranks 1297th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (17 graduates) | |||||
| 24 | Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA | $45,340 | $29,357 | $30,667 | 99.0% |
| Liberty University graduates 65% of its students within six years and reports median earnings of $45,340 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (1,211 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($45,340) | |||||
| 25 | Virginia Wesleyan University · Virginia Beach, VA | $43,511 | $19,676 | $14,080 | 72.9% |
| Virginia Wesleyan University reports median earnings of $43,511 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $19,676. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (33 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($43,511) | |||||
| 26 | Emory & Henry University · Emory, VA | $42,940 | $19,061 | $14,246 | 83.7% |
| A private nonprofit university in Emory, Emory & Henry University admits 84% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 56%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (11 graduates) | |||||
| 27 | Bridgewater College · Bridgewater, VA | $42,141 | $17,800 | $13,283 | 91.7% |
| Bridgewater College ranks 27th on this list and carries an average net price of $13,283 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($42,141) | |||||
| 28 | Regent University · Virginia Beach, VA | $41,007 | $19,923 | $20,064 | 38.1% |
| With an admission rate of 38%, Regent University shows median earnings of $41,007 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (113 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($41,007) | |||||
| 29 | Virginia State University · Petersburg, VA | $37,861 | $15,840 | $13,220 | 88.6% |
| Virginia State University, a public university in Petersburg, graduates 39% of its students within six years and reports an average net price of $15,840. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (67 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($37,861) | |||||
| 30 | Ferrum College · Ferrum, VA | $37,841 | $20,082 | $16,940 | 89.0% |
| Ferrum College ranks 30th on this list, with median earnings of $37,841 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (6 graduates) | |||||
| 31 | Southern Virginia University · Buena Vista, VA | $36,808 | $22,213 | $18,957 | 96.4% |
| Southern Virginia University admits 96% of applicants and posts a six-year completion rate of 33%, alongside an average net price of $22,213. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (27 graduates) | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Psychology graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported Psychology earnings cohort in Virginia appear. The figure is the median for federally aided Psychology graduates who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range and median below cover the 31 schools with a published figure. Virginia Military Institute leads at $75,059, and the gap to second-ranked University of Richmond is $10,475.