State Rankings

Best Colleges in Virginia

Top colleges in Virginia ranked by national standing and graduate outcomes — updated 2026.

Colleges listed: 50

Avg grad earnings: $52,429

Public / Private: 32 / 18

Top Colleges in Virginia

Nationally ranked schools appear first. Remaining schools are ordered by median graduate earnings.

State #	School	Type	Grad Earnings	Admit Rate	SAT Avg	Grad Rate	Out-of-State
1	University of Virginia Charlottesville#25 national	Public	$86,863	16.9%	1,488	95.3%	$58,014
2	William & Mary Williamsburg#33 national	Public	$73,490	32.7%	1,458	91.0%	$49,412
3	Virginia Tech Blacksburg#59 national	Public	$81,698	57.0%	1,337	86.3%	$36,694
4	Washington and Lee University Lexington#64 national	Private	$94,810	17.4%	1,504	94.9%	$64,525
5	University of Richmond University of Richmond#88 national	Private	$76,178	23.3%	1,474	87.8%	$62,600
6	James Madison University Harrisonburg#154 national	Public	$69,954	76.3%	1,247	80.9%	$30,790
7	George Mason University Fairfax#190 national	Public	$76,343	88.8%	1,247	69.3%	$39,397
8	Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney#253 national	Private	$67,640	50.1%	1,168	65.3%	$52,388
9	Virginia Military Institute Lexington#317 national	Public	$77,369	81.7%	1,183	81.8%	$51,186
10	Christopher Newport University Newport News#349 national	Public	$60,509	88.0%	1,207	75.1%	$30,988
11	University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg#412 national	Public	$60,613	86.3%	1,241	67.4%	$31,479
12	Shenandoah University Winchester#456 national	Private	$58,433	77.8%	N/A	70.5%	$36,028
13	Randolph-Macon College Ashland#535 national	Private	$58,448	83.4%	1,148	74.6%	$48,002
14	Hampton University Hampton#541 national	Private	$59,159	48.3%	1,062	55.7%	$29,162
15	Marymount University Arlington#552 national	Private	$67,516	80.5%	N/A	57.9%	$39,050
16	Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond#590 national	Public	$58,128	93.1%	1,168	65.4%	$39,042
17	Roanoke College Salem#606 national	Private	$58,047	80.1%	1,193	65.9%	$36,774
18	Northern Virginia Community College Annandale#608 national	Public	$53,557	N/A	N/A	N/A	$11,786
19	University of Lynchburg Lynchburg#656 national	Private	$56,380	82.2%	1,100	61.6%	$35,540
20	Longwood University Farmville#766 national	Public	$52,347	84.8%	1,117	61.6%	$27,410
21	Old Dominion University Norfolk#1091 national	Public	$54,914	90.5%	1,190	44.4%	$32,662
22	Brightpoint Community College Chester#1118 national	Public	$41,223	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,941
23	Laurel Ridge Community College Middletown#1162 national	Public	$41,000	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,931
24	Radford University Radford#1172 national	Public	$53,739	90.6%	1,061	49.6%	$25,185
25	Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave#1187 national	Public	$42,644	N/A	N/A	N/A	$11,505
26	Richard Bland College South Prince George#1195 national	Public	$41,452	71.9%	N/A	N/A	$14,910
27	Piedmont Virginia Community College Charlottesville#1206 national	Public	$40,752	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,931
28	New River Community College Dublin#1212 national	Public	$40,025	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,837
29	J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond#1234 national	Public	$39,529	N/A	N/A	N/A	$11,139
30	Germanna Community College Locust Grove#1259 national	Public	$39,644	N/A	N/A	N/A	$11,069
31	Hollins University Roanoke#1279 national	Private	$40,075	70.9%	1,256	69.7%	$42,260
32	Bridgewater College Bridgewater#1300 national	Private	$53,453	90.8%	1,225	49.4%	$41,350
33	Regent University Virginia Beach#1302 national	Private	$44,498	41.2%	1,169	54.1%	$20,686
34	Virginia Western Community College Roanoke#1331 national	Public	$38,787	N/A	N/A	N/A	$11,259
35	Virginia Wesleyan University Virginia Beach#1394 national	Private	$50,074	71.3%	1,281	49.0%	$36,960
36	Virginia Peninsula Community College Hampton#1412 national	Public	$37,996	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,947
37	Randolph College Lynchburg#1430 national	Private	$53,409	94.9%	1,109	51.5%	$29,010
38	Liberty University Lynchburg#1533 national	Private	$44,813	99.3%	N/A	63.5%	$21,222
39	Tidewater Community College Norfolk#1534 national	Public	$38,349	N/A	N/A	N/A	$11,717
40	Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg#1536 national	Public	$36,627	N/A	N/A	N/A	$11,001
41	University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise#1557 national	Public	$45,325	93.9%	1,104	49.8%	$32,540
42	Rappahannock Community College Glenns#1581 national	Public	$36,121	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,961
43	Wytheville Community College Wytheville#1642 national	Public	$34,303	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,866
44	Patrick & Henry Community College Martinsville#1669 national	Public	$33,323	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,861
45	Averett University Danville#1686 national	Private	$51,516	47.8%	1,054	43.6%	$38,550
46	Mary Baldwin University Staunton#1690 national	Private	$44,427	N/A	N/A	55.7%	$33,157
47	Paul D Camp Community College Franklin#1702 national	Public	$36,031	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,871
48	Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg#1751 national	Private	$54,869	99.8%	N/A	47.1%	$41,860
49	Virginia Highlands Community College Abingdon#1837 national	Public	$32,681	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,866
50	Southside Virginia Community College Alberta#1946 national	Public	$32,371	N/A	N/A	N/A	$10,851

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Excludes for-profit institutions.

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