Best colleges for Business/Commerce in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Norfolk State University award the most Business/Commerce degrees in Virginia: 1,128, 348 and 107 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 16 Virginia colleges offer Business/Commerce and award 2,338 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Business/Commerce program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of business management, marketing, and related services. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in…
Top 5 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public · Bachelor's degree | $51,669 | 348 | 63% | — | $23,750 |
| 2 | Randolph-Macon College Ashland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,366 | 60 | 70% | $26,498 | $27,000 |
| 3 | DeVry University - Virginia Arlington Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $57,020 | 1 | 0% | $22,341 | $47,236 |
| 4 | Strayer University - Virginia Arlington Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $55,431 | 340 | 36% | — | $56,517 |
| 5 | Randolph College Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $35,971 | 6 | 46% | $18,525 | $25,000 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $43,425 | 204 | 65% | $28,911 | $28,416 |
| 2 | Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach Virginia Beach Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $30,059 | 35 | 24% | $12,786 | $24,509 |
Colleges awarding the most Business/Commerce degrees in Virginia
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 1,128 | Not reported |
| 2 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 348 | $51,669 |
| 3 | Norfolk State University Norfolk Public | 107 | Not reported |
| 4 | Randolph-Macon College Ashland Private not-for-profit | 60 | $51,366 |
| 5 | Southern Virginia University Buena Vista Private not-for-profit | 38 | Not reported |
| 6 | University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise Public | 38 | Not reported |
| 7 | Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar Private not-for-profit | 19 | Not reported |
| 8 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 9 | Not reported |
| 9 | Randolph College Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 6 | $35,971 |
| 10 | Regent University Virginia Beach Private not-for-profit | 3 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 6 Virginia colleges offering Business/Commerce
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strayer University - Virginia (Online) | Arlington | Private for-profit | 340 |
| Liberty University | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 204 |
| Bryant & Stratton College - Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 35 |
| Hollins University | Roanoke | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Marymount University | Arlington | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| DeVry University - Virginia | Arlington | Private for-profit | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: General and Operations Managers (SOC 11-1021).
Top skills
What General and Operations Managers earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Business/Commerce programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Business/Commerce degrees?+
George Mason University (1,128 graduates a year), Virginia Commonwealth University (348 graduates a year) and Norfolk State University (107 graduates a year) award the most Business/Commerce degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 16 Virginia colleges offer Business/Commerce.
Which Business/Commerce program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Virginia Commonwealth University tops the list at $51,669. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do General and Operations Managers earn in Virginia?+
The average annual wage for General and Operations Managers in Virginia is $141,370 (median $122,080), across about 103,590 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Business/Commerce program?+
The Business/Commerce program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of business management, marketing, and related services. This program is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, monitoring, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for General and Operations Managers?+
The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 308,700 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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