Best colleges in Virginia
Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions a person will make for their education, impacting everything from future earnings and employment to potential student loan debt and social circles.
While every student wants to get the best education they possibly can, there are myriad considerations to take into account: location, size, diversity, areas of focus, study abroad opportunities—the list goes on. While best college lists are often topped with the same handful of expensive Ivy League schools, the U.S. is home to more than 4,000 degree-granting schools spread out across all 50 states and several territories, with amazing education offerings for students to consider.
Stacker compiled a list of the best four-year colleges in Virginia using rankings from Niche. Tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, acceptance rate, and graduation rate are factors considered in deciding these rankings. Location is also often a key factor in a school's appeal, whether it be a beachside location, one full of New England foliage, or proximity to tech hubs and companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google. Online and unspecified location schools were excluded from the rankings. Keep reading to see the best schools in your state.
#25. ECPI University
- Acceptance rate: 80%
- Net price: $22,072
- Enrollment: 13,869 (22:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B-
--- Safety grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A-
--- Campus grade: A-
#24. Longwood University
- Acceptance rate: 87%
- Net price: $21,446
- Enrollment: 3,319 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B-
--- Value grade: A-
--- Athletics grade: B+
--- Dorms grade: B+
#23. Old Dominion University
- Acceptance rate: 95%
- Net price: $17,162
- Enrollment: 15,582 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B-
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Party grade: A
--- Athletics grade: A-
#22. Marymount University
- Acceptance rate: 85%
- Net price: $24,224
- Enrollment: 1,861 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B-
--- Diversity grade: A+
--- Value grade: A-
--- Location grade: A-
#21. University of Lynchburg
- Acceptance rate: 97%
- Net price: $24,386
- Enrollment: 1,764 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Value grade: B+
--- Campus grade: B+
--- Athletics grade: B+
#20. Radford University
- Acceptance rate: 79%
- Net price: $15,747
- Enrollment: 6,788 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Party grade: A
--- Dorms grade: A-
--- Value grade: B+
#19. University of Mary Washington
- Acceptance rate: 75%
- Net price: $22,569
- Enrollment: 3,439 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Location grade: A-
--- Diversity grade: B+
--- Academics grade: B
#18. Roanoke College
- Acceptance rate: 78%
- Net price: $27,975
- Enrollment: 1,883 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Professors grade: A-
--- Party grade: B+
--- Campus food grade: B+
#17. Hollins University
- Acceptance rate: 81%
- Net price: $19,315
- Enrollment: 678 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Safety grade: A+
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Professors grade: B+
#16. Shenandoah University
- Acceptance rate: 74%
- Net price: $31,089
- Enrollment: 2,097 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Diversity grade: A-
--- Student life grade: A-
--- Value grade: B+
#15. The University of Virginia's College at Wise
- Acceptance rate: 83%
- Net price: $9,418
- Enrollment: 1,116 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Value grade: A-
--- Professors grade: A-
--- Diversity grade: B+
#14. Eastern Mennonite University
- Acceptance rate: 72%
- Net price: $22,766
- Enrollment: 812 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Dorms grade: A-
--- Value grade: B+
#13. Christopher Newport University
- Acceptance rate: 76%
- Net price: $25,393
- Enrollment: 4,388 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Dorms grade: A+
--- Campus grade: A
--- Campus food grade: A
#12. George Mason University
- Acceptance rate: 89%
- Net price: $18,285
- Enrollment: 21,140 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Diversity grade: A+
--- Value grade: A-
--- Location grade: A-
#11. Regent University
- Acceptance rate: 50%
- Net price: $14,785
- Enrollment: 2,376 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Campus grade: A+
--- Dorms grade: A+
--- Diversity grade: A
#10. Virginia Commonwealth University
- Acceptance rate: 91%
- Net price: $20,566
- Enrollment: 18,734 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Party grade: A
--- Student life grade: A
#9. Hampden-Sydney College
- Acceptance rate: 47%
- Net price: $33,331
- Enrollment: 876 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Academics grade: A-
--- Party grade: A-
--- Professors grade: A-
#8. Liberty University
- Acceptance rate: 50%
- Net price: $28,762
- Enrollment: 30,168 (21:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Campus grade: A+
--- Dorms grade: A+
--- Campus food grade: A+
#7. Virginia Military Institute
- Acceptance rate: 60%
- Net price: $18,969
- Enrollment: 1,698 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Value grade: A
--- Academics grade: A-
--- Athletics grade: B+
#6. James Madison University
- Acceptance rate: 80%
- Net price: $18,592
- Enrollment: 18,673 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Campus grade: A+
--- Athletics grade: A+
--- Party grade: A+
#5. University of Richmond
- Acceptance rate: 31%
- Net price: $25,700
- Enrollment: 3,028 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Value grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A
#4. Virginia Tech
- Acceptance rate: 66%
- Net price: $20,247
- Enrollment: 29,112 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Value grade: A+
--- Campus grade: A+
--- Professors grade: A+
#3. William & Mary
- Acceptance rate: 42%
- Net price: $18,588
- Enrollment: 6,475 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Value grade: A+
--- Diversity grade: A
#2. Washington and Lee University
- Acceptance rate: 25%
- Net price: $27,148
- Enrollment: 1,853 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Value grade: A+
--- Professors grade: A+
#1. University of Virginia
- Acceptance rate: 23%
- Net price: $19,043
- Enrollment: 16,319 (7:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Value grade: A+
--- Athletics grade: A+
