It’s the Top 10 Again for UVA in New Money Magazine Ranking

For the second time in as many years, the University of Virginia, known as a “public Ivy League school,” is in the top 10 schools ranked by Money Magazine as the “Best Colleges for Your Money.”

Money ranked UVA the 10^th-best-value school overall, and, for the third year in a row, named the University No. 7 in its ranking of public universities. This year, Money ranked 744 schools whose educational value is worth the cost.

Money found that UVA is the only public university in the top 10 to meet 100% of students’ demonstrated financial need.

For the second year in a row, UVA posted the highest graduation rate of any public university in the country, with 95% of students earning degrees within 4.1 years. Graduates’ average salaries within three years of earning a UVA degree is $62,300, as reported by alumni to Payscale.com – a nearly $3,000 increase over last year’s figure.

A UVA degree has a material impact on graduates’ lives, the magazine found. Fifty-two percent of low-income students moved to the upper-middle class with a UVA degree, according to “mobility rate” data published by Opportunity Insights.

 Money said that not only does money go a long way at UVA, but that the Grounds are stunning.

“The University of Virginia offers in-state students a top-notch education at a reasonable price. What's more, students live and study inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site (the only U.S. college to have that designation), featuring a spectacularly beautiful campus designed by university founder Thomas Jefferson,” reads the magazine entry on UVA.

It noted that the University fields 25 Division I varsity sports teams, and that the men’s basketball team won the NCAA championship in 2019.

The Money ranking is more good news for UVA students. Last month, Kiplinger, a Washington, D.C-based publisher of business forecasts and personal financial advice, ranked UVA as having the fourth-best value among American public universities.

Kiplinger said the average need-based financial aid package is $22,129, bringing the in-state sticker price to $8,165 – the third-lowest in its top 10.

What’s more, this year U.S. News and World Report ranked UVA the No. 2 best-value public university in the country.