Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Longwood University #1231 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,550 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 21.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Longwood University #1253 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting strong outcomes for its student population. --- Longwood University's composite ranking reflects balanced strength across return on investment and mobility pillars. The institution delivers meaningful financial outcomes for graduates while serving a broad-access student population.
Azimuth ranks Longwood University #1231 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Farmville, VA, Longwood University enrolls roughly 3,015 undergraduates. Retention is 79.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 61.2%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Longwood University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Longwood University #1138 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $54,005, and Longwood University sits in the 21.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio, anchored in Business, delivers outcomes that outperform comparable institutions, supporting strong early-career earnings trajectories for graduates. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Longwood University sits in the 33.8 percentile for access and the 43.7 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 27.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 27.9% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student population with meaningful financial need. For families weighing long-term value, the institution's strong return on investment — anchored in solid median earnings and earnings beyond expectations — offers a compelling case for the cost of attendance, particularly for students pursuing Business and related fields.
Longwood University's published cost of attendance is $34,588. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $11,896, middle-income families pay around $15,544, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,747. Azimuth ranks Longwood University #803 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Longwood participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure aims to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay through a combination of grants and scholarships. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $36,395; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $54,005, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Longwood University is a strong fit for students interested in business and education fields who want a public university experience in VA with a focus on undergraduate teaching and regional career pathways. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $54,005, placing Longwood University in the 13.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,550 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 21.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a mix of traditional and first-generation students — 27.9% of undergraduates are first-generation — with a 27.7% Pell Grant recipient share that reflects broader access than many VA public institutions. Published cost of attendance is $26,747, with need-based aid available to close gaps for qualifying students. Fit depends on alignment with Business and similar applied fields that anchor the curriculum. Students seeking strong regional employer connections will find Longwood's program mix and VA location well-matched to their goals.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Longwood University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The University Of Montana-Western Similar quality tier (#33878 ranked) | MT | 100% | $43,229 | #33878 | Compare |
Northern State University Similar quality tier (#33886 ranked) | SD | 93% | $47,618 | #33886 | Compare |
The Evergreen State College Similar quality tier (#34939 ranked) | WA | 96% | $45,320 | #34939 | Compare |
University Of Maine At Presque Isle Similar quality tier (#32771 ranked) | ME | 100% | $40,956 | #32771 | Compare |
West Liberty University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#32770 ranked) | WV | 97% | $43,296 | #32770 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Longwood University's published cost of attendance is $34,588. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $11,896, middle-income families pay around $15,544, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,747.
Azimuth ranks Longwood University #803 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Longwood participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure aims to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay through a combination of grants and scholarships.
Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $36,395; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $54,005, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Longwood University earn median 4-year earnings of $54,005, placing Longwood University in the 13.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,550 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Longwood University in the 21.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Longwood University #1138 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Longwood University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 144 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $72,565, at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. Teacher Education and Communication and Media Studies together enroll substantial cohorts, with Communication and Media Studies graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $53,631 at 1.0x benchmark.
Psychology, General and Nursing round out the top programs, with Psychology, General graduates earning $48,942 and Nursing graduates earning $82,678. This program-level consistency across applied and professional fields supports Longwood University's solid long-term financial outcomes for graduates entering stable, in-demand career pathways.
Computer Science
12 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
57 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
144 graduates
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
24 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
56 graduates
Longwood University's program mix is anchored in business, education, and liberal arts fields—a portfolio reflecting the institution's regional comprehensive university identity. Business Administration is the largest program with 144 graduates, followed by Teacher Education, Communication and Media Studies, Psychology, General, and Nursing.
Across 26 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering solid four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied business and professional fields.
Nursing graduates earn median earnings of $82,678 four years after enrollment with 57 graduates, while Business Administration graduates earn $72,565 and Criminal Justice graduates earn $56,685. Business Administration, the institution's largest program, delivers median earnings of $72,565, demonstrating that scale and earnings strength align in the dominant fields.
Communication and Media Studies and General Studies round out the higher-earning cluster, with graduates earning $53,631 and $52,959 respectively. Most of Longwood University's programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes—particularly in business, accounting, nursing, and applied professional fields.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national wage trends. As a comprehensive regional institution serving roughly 877 students annually, Longwood University positions graduates for stable employment in Virginia's mid-Atlantic labor markets and beyond.
