HighSchoolOS Best Colleges in Virginia
The strongest colleges and universities in Virginia, ranked by graduation rate and selectivity, with verified acceptance rates, net price, and test scores for this admissions cycle.
Explore this ranking interactively| # | School | Location | Acceptance | SAT avg | Net price | Grad rate | Undergrads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | Charlottesville, VA | 16.8% | 1,480 | $21,565 | 96% | 17,597 |
| 2 | Washington and Lee University | Lexington, VA | 14.0% | 1,498 | $23,781 | 94% | 1,881 |
| 3 | William & Mary | Williamsburg, VA | 34% | 1,473 | $19,096 | 89% | 7,055 |
| 4 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksburg, VA | 55% | 1,364 | $24,953 | 86% | 30,923 |
| 5 | University of Richmond | University of Richmond, VA | 22% | 1,497 | $31,309 | 85% | 2,980 |
| 6 | James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA | 72% | 1,256 | $23,322 | 80% | 20,888 |
| 7 | Virginia Military Institute | Lexington, VA | 71% | 1,244 | $17,113 | 76% | 1,527 |
| 8 | Christopher Newport University | Newport News, VA | 86% | 1,180 | $23,015 | 72% | 4,365 |
| 9 | Randolph-Macon College | Ashland, VA | 87% | 1,095 | $27,866 | 70% | 1,639 |
| 10 | George Mason University | Fairfax, VA | 87% | 1,274 | $17,915 | 68% | 27,752 |
| 11 | Roanoke College | Salem, VA | 83% | 1,211 | $24,503 | 67% | 1,767 |
| 12 | Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg, VA | 100% | n/a | $24,588 | 67% | 754 |
| 13 | Shenandoah University | Winchester, VA | 77% | n/a | $30,298 | 67% | 2,116 |
| 14 | University of Mary Washington | Fredericksburg, VA | 80% | 1,272 | $20,667 | 66% | 3,566 |
| 15 | Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA | 99% | n/a | $29,357 | 65% | 50,012 |
| 16 | Hollins University | Roanoke, VA | 68% | 1,230 | $20,896 | 65% | 665 |
| 17 | Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, VA | 93% | 1,137 | $23,433 | 63% | 20,753 |
| 18 | Hampden-Sydney College | Hampden-Sydney, VA | 41% | 1,207 | $22,400 | 62% | 946 |
| 19 | Longwood University | Farmville, VA | 90% | 1,120 | $19,066 | 61% | 3,015 |
| 20 | University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg, VA | 43% | 1,125 | $22,235 | 57% | 1,577 |
| 21 | Hampton University | Hampton, VA | 62% | 969 | $25,319 | 57% | 3,727 |
| 22 | Regent University | Virginia Beach, VA | 38% | 1,153 | $19,923 | 57% | 4,729 |
| 23 | Emory & Henry University | Emory, VA | 84% | 1,135 | $19,061 | 56% | 1,078 |
| 24 | Marymount University | Arlington, VA | 93% | n/a | $29,137 | 54% | 1,810 |
| 25 | Bridgewater College | Bridgewater, VA | 92% | 1,180 | $17,800 | 53% | 1,400 |
| 26 | Sweet Briar College | Sweet Briar, VA | 76% | 1,230 | $17,758 | 52% | 443 |
| 27 | Radford University | Radford, VA | 90% | 1,060 | $14,578 | 49% | 6,038 |
| 28 | University of Virginia's College at Wise | Wise, VA | 29% | 1,050 | $9,210 | 47% | 1,101 |
| 29 | Randolph College | Lynchburg, VA | 94% | 1,134 | $15,921 | 46% | 658 |
| 30 | Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA | 90% | 1,197 | $14,638 | 46% | 17,514 |
| 31 | Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach, VA | 73% | n/a | $19,676 | 42% | 1,256 |
| 32 | Virginia State University | Petersburg, VA | 89% | 948 | $15,840 | 39% | 5,074 |
| 33 | Mary Baldwin University | Staunton, VA | n/a | n/a | $12,756 | 39% | 1,090 |
| 34 | Norfolk State University | Norfolk, VA | 88% | 927 | $15,282 | 39% | 5,392 |
| 35 | Ferrum College | Ferrum, VA | 89% | n/a | $20,082 | 32% | 699 |
| 36 | Richard Bland College | South Prince George, VA | 89% | n/a | $13,045 | n/a | 894 |
Acceptance rate, net price (average cost after aid), and graduation rate are from the most recent federal data; test ranges and deadlines are verified against each school for the 2025-2026 cycle. Click any school for its full profile, deadlines, and supplemental essay prompts.