Ranking

Best Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies Colleges in Virginia 2026

19 Virginia colleges offering Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies, ranked by EduGradify value grade.

Schools ranked: 19
Cheapest net price: $9,919
Top earnings 10y: $86,863
Public / Private: 8 / 11

Northern Virginia Community College

Annandale, VA · Public

ROI score: 13.50
Net price: $9,919
Earnings 10y: $53,557
Acceptance: Open / not reported

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA · Public

ROI score: 10.65
Net price: $17,915
Earnings 10y: $76,343
Acceptance: 87.5%

University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public

ROI score: 10.07
Net price: $21,565
Earnings 10y: $86,863
Acceptance: 16.8%

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA · Public

ROI score: 9.38
Net price: $14,638
Earnings 10y: $54,914
Acceptance: 90.4%

Radford University

Radford, VA · Public

ROI score: 9.22
Net price: $14,578
Earnings 10y: $53,739
Acceptance: 89.5%

Randolph College

Lynchburg, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 8.39
Net price: $15,921
Earnings 10y: $53,409
Acceptance: 93.7%

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

ROI score: 8.19
Net price: $24,953
Earnings 10y: $81,698
Acceptance: 54.8%

Bridgewater College

Bridgewater, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.51
Net price: $17,800
Earnings 10y: $53,453
Acceptance: 91.7%

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public

ROI score: 7.50
Net price: $23,322
Earnings 10y: $69,954
Acceptance: 71.5%

#10

Sweet Briar College

Sweet Briar, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.31
Net price: $17,758
Earnings 10y: $51,943
Acceptance: 75.5%

#11

Emory & Henry University

Emory, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.21
Net price: $19,061
Earnings 10y: $47,385
Acceptance: 83.7%

#12

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public

ROI score: 6.20
Net price: $23,433
Earnings 10y: $58,128
Acceptance: 92.6%

#13

University of Richmond

University of Richmond, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.08
Net price: $31,309
Earnings 10y: $76,178
Acceptance: 22.2%

#14

Roanoke College

Salem, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.92
Net price: $24,503
Earnings 10y: $58,047
Acceptance: 83.1%

#15

Eastern Mennonite University

Harrisonburg, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.58
Net price: $24,588
Earnings 10y: $54,869
Acceptance: 100%

#16

Ferrum College

Ferrum, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.51
Net price: $20,082
Earnings 10y: $44,296
Acceptance: 89%

#17

Randolph-Macon College

Ashland, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.24
Net price: $27,866
Earnings 10y: $58,448
Acceptance: 86.6%

#18

Hollins University

Roanoke, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.79
Net price: $20,896
Earnings 10y: $40,075
Acceptance: 68%

#19

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 3.82
Net price: $29,357
Earnings 10y: $44,813
Acceptance: 99%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Virginia schools with positive Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies program-share evidence, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 7.43 (8 public, 11 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, VA tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Virginia colleges are in this list?

19 Virginia colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.