Virginia College Tuition Trends from 2015 to 2025

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Tuition trends by school type and level for Virginia colleges

There are 82 four-year colleges and universities in Virginia—16 public institutions and 66 private institutions. This page summarizes average tuition & fees and how costs have changed over time based on the latest available IPEDS data.

Undergraduate Tuition Trends

Public colleges: In 2025, average in-state tuition & fees are $15,702, while out-of-state tuition & fees are $35,461. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 2.88% and out-of-state costs changed by 0.70%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 42.79% (in-state) and 28.71% (out-of-state).

Private colleges: The average tuition & fees are $23,406 in 2025. That is a -0.57% change from last year and 2.83% cumulative growth since 2015.

Graduate Tuition Trends

Public graduate schools: In 2025, average in-state graduate tuition & fees are $15,271, while out-of-state graduate tuition & fees are $28,525. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by -1.69% and out-of-state costs changed by -2.25%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 28.75% (in-state) and 21.34% (out-of-state).

Private graduate schools: The average graduate tuition & fees are $16,079 in 2025. That is a 1.66% change from last year and 9.98% cumulative growth since 2015.

Public vs. private comparison (increase rates): In 2025, private undergraduate tuition changed by -0.57% year-over-year. Public undergraduate in-state changed by 2.88% (higher by 3.45 percentage points vs. private), and public out-of-state changed by 0.70% (higher by 1.28 percentage points vs. private). Over the full period since 2015, private undergraduate tuition grew by 2.83%, compared with public in-state 42.79% (higher by 39.97 percentage points vs. private) and public out-of-state 28.71% (higher by 25.89 percentage points vs. private).

Graduate comparison: In 2025, private graduate tuition changed by 1.66% year-over-year. Public graduate in-state changed by -1.69% (lower by 3.35 percentage points vs. private), and public graduate out-of-state changed by -2.25% (lower by 3.92 percentage points vs. private). Since 2015, private graduate tuition grew by 9.98%, compared with public graduate in-state 28.75% (higher by 18.77 percentage points vs. private) and public graduate out-of-state 21.34% (higher by 11.36 percentage points vs. private).

COA Trends

Undergraduate cost of attendance change by school type (tuition & fees + room & board): In 2025, estimated on-campus COA is $32,930 (public in-state), $52,689 (public out-of-state), and $40,635 (private). Year-over-year, on-campus COA changed by 4.10%, 2.14%, and 1.81%, respectively. Since 2015, cumulative on-campus COA growth is 39.87% (public in-state), 31.40% (public out-of-state), and 15.08% (private).

Off-campus COA: In 2025, estimated off-campus COA is $31,587 (public in-state), $51,346 (public out-of-state), and $39,291 (private). Year-over-year, off-campus COA changed by 5.38%, 2.84%, and 2.71%. Since 2015, cumulative off-campus COA growth is 36.79% (public in-state), 29.51% (public out-of-state), and 12.71% (private).

Tuition & Fees Trends of Virginia Colleges from 2015 to 2025

The tables and charts below show how average college tuition and fees have changed in Virginia from 2015 through 2025.

All figures are based on the latest available IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) data published by the U.S. Department of Education. To keep the comparisons consistent, these averages reflect 4-year colleges and universities in Virginia and exclude most community colleges and trade schools due to differences in reporting and availability.

Under. (Public) Under. (Private) Graduate (Public) Graduate (Private)
For Virginia public schools, the 2025 undergraduate in-state tuition & fees are $15,702 which has increased by 42.79% over the current decade and the out-of-state cost is $35,461 which has risen by 28.71%. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 2.87% while last year increase rate was 0.70%.
Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Virginia Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
In-State Costs$11,552$12,168$12,715$13,441$13,720$13,971$14,221$14,689$15,262$15,702
Year-to-Year Rates5.05%5.34%4.49%5.72%2.07%1.83%1.79%3.29%3.90%2.88%
Cumulative Rates5.05%10.66%15.63%22.24%24.78%27.06%29.33%33.59%38.80%42.79%
Out-of-State Costs$28,394$29,542$30,617$31,968$32,651$33,100$33,136$34,039$35,213$35,461
Year-to-Year Rates3.06%4.04%3.64%4.41%2.14%1.38%0.11%2.72%3.45%0.70%
Cumulative Rates3.06%7.23%11.13%16.04%18.51%20.14%20.28%23.55%27.81%28.71%
For private schools in Virginia state, the 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees are $23,406 which has increased by 2.83% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 0.28% while last year increase rate was -0.57%.
Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Virginia Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Tuition & Fees$23,131$23,670$24,304$22,155$25,359$22,622$22,941$23,285$23,541$23,406
Year-to-Year Rates1.62%2.33%2.68%-8.84%14.46%-10.79%1.41%1.50%1.10%-0.57%
Cumulative Rates1.62%3.98%6.77%-2.67%11.41%-0.62%0.78%2.29%3.42%2.83%
The average graduate school tuition & fees of Virginia public schools are $15,271 which has increased by 28.75% over the current decade and the out-of-state graduate cost is $28,525 which has risen by 21.34%. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 2.13% while last year increase rate was -2.25%.
Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Virginia Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
In-State Costs$12,299$12,917$13,231$13,695$14,191$14,311$14,613$15,005$15,534$15,271
Year-to-Year Rates3.69%5.02%2.43%3.51%3.63%0.84%2.11%2.68%3.53%-1.69%
Cumulative Rates3.69%8.89%11.54%15.46%19.64%20.65%23.20%26.50%30.96%28.75%
Out-of-State Costs$24,310$25,087$25,721$26,504$27,300$27,461$27,804$28,181$29,183$28,525
Year-to-Year Rates3.41%3.19%2.53%3.04%3.00%0.59%1.25%1.35%3.56%-2.25%
Cumulative Rates3.41%6.71%9.41%12.74%16.13%16.81%18.27%19.87%24.13%21.34%
For private graduate schools in Virginia state, the 2025 tuition & fees are $16,079 which has increased by 9.98% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 0.99795% while last year increase rate was 1.66%.
Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Virginia Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Tuition & Fees$14,682$14,395$13,131$13,638$13,480$13,938$14,281$14,896$15,816$16,079
Year-to-Year Rates0.43%-1.96%-8.78%3.86%-1.16%3.40%2.46%4.31%6.17%1.66%
Cumulative Rates0.43%-1.54%-10.18%-6.72%-7.80%-4.66%-2.32%1.89%8.18%9.98%
You can check the changes of other college costs including room & board costs, book & supplies, and other living expenses at Virginia college cost trends.