# Best Colleges in Virginia

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 48 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-virginia

## Methodology

Composite score for institutions in Virginia

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Virginia is home to a range of colleges that attract students for their diverse offerings and potential career outcomes. With 48 institutions to choose from, families are weighing factors like graduation rates, earnings, and student debt as they consider the best fit for their academic and financial goals.

What distinguishes the leading schools from the rest? Graduating from a college with strong outcomes can significantly impact a student's future. The data below highlights key metrics such as average earnings, graduation rates, and student debt, providing insight into how each school stacks up in these critical areas.

Let's look at Washington and Lee University and George Mason University. Washington and Lee boasts an impressive $94,810 in average earnings and a 94% graduation rate, while George Mason has lower earnings at $76,343 and a graduation rate of just 69%. This contrast highlights how different schools can lead to varied financial outcomes and completion rates, making it essential for students to evaluate what matters most to them.

## Key Findings

- Washington and Lee University graduates earn an average of $94,810, the highest in Virginia.
- The graduation rate at the University of Virginia is 95%, making it a strong contender for degree completion.
- George Mason University has a graduation rate of only 69%, indicating tougher completion challenges.
- The average net price across these top colleges is $21,522, reflecting the financial investment required for higher education in Virginia.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Washington and Lee University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washington-and-lee-university) | Lexington, VA | 94% | $94,810 | $23,781 | $19,500 | 0.21x |
| 2 | [William & Mary](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/william-mary) | Williamsburg, VA | 90% | $73,490 | $19,096 | $18,500 | 0.25x |
| 3 | [University of Virginia's College at Wise](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-virginias-college-at-wise) | Wise, VA | 48% | $45,325 | $9,210 | $16,750 | 0.37x |
| 4 | [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university) | Blacksburg, VA | 86% | $81,698 | $24,953 | $21,500 | 0.26x |
| 5 | [James Madison University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/james-madison-university) | Harrisonburg, VA | 80% | $69,954 | $23,322 | $20,093 | 0.29x |
| 6 | [George Mason University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/george-mason-university) | Fairfax, VA | 69% | $76,343 | $17,915 | $19,500 | 0.26x |
| 7 | [University of Richmond](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-richmond) | University of Richmond, VA | 86% | $76,178 | $31,309 | $21,000 | 0.28x |
| 8 | [Virginia Military Institute](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-military-institute) | Lexington, VA | 79% | $77,369 | $17,113 | $22,996 | 0.3x |
| 9 | [University of Mary Washington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-mary-washington) | Fredericksburg, VA | 67% | $60,613 | $20,667 | $20,500 | 0.34x |
| 10 | [Old Dominion University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/old-dominion-university) | Norfolk, VA | 45% | $54,914 | $14,638 | $24,000 | 0.44x |
| 11 | [Virginia Commonwealth University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-commonwealth-university) | Richmond, VA | 64% | $58,128 | $23,433 | $21,500 | 0.37x |
| 12 | [Radford University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/radford-university) | Radford, VA | 49% | $53,739 | $14,578 | $24,000 | 0.45x |
| 13 | [University of Virginia-Main Campus](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-virginia-main-campus) | Charlottesville, VA | 95% | $86,863 | $21,565 | $17,500 | 0.2x |
| 14 | [Christopher Newport University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/christopher-newport-university) | Newport News, VA | 73% | $60,509 | $23,015 | $25,000 | 0.41x |
| 15 | [Longwood University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/longwood-university) | Farmville, VA | 61% | $52,347 | $19,066 | $25,000 | 0.48x |
| 16 | [Northern Virginia Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northern-virginia-community-college) | Annandale, VA | 35% | $53,557 | $9,919 | $11,000 | 0.21x |
| 17 | [Randolph College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/randolph-college) | Lynchburg, VA | 49% | $53,409 | $15,921 | $26,950 | 0.5x |
| 18 | [Piedmont Virginia Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/piedmont-virginia-community-college) | Charlottesville, VA | 37% | $40,752 | $5,963 | $8,750 | 0.21x |
| 19 | [Eastern Mennonite University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-mennonite-university) | Harrisonburg, VA | 57% | $54,869 | $24,588 | $24,813 | 0.45x |
| 20 | [Sweet Briar College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/sweet-briar-college) | Sweet Briar, VA | 50% | $51,943 | $17,758 | $27,000 | 0.52x |
| 21 | [Bridgewater College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bridgewater-college) | Bridgewater, VA | 51% | $53,453 | $17,800 | $26,000 | 0.49x |
| 22 | [Emory & Henry University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/emory-henry-university) | Emory, VA | 55% | $47,385 | $19,061 | $26,332 | 0.56x |
| 23 | [Virginia State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-state-university) | Petersburg, VA | 40% | $45,543 | $15,840 | $26,500 | 0.58x |
| 24 | [Roanoke College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/roanoke-college) | Salem, VA | 67% | $58,047 | $24,503 | $27,000 | 0.47x |
| 25 | [Virginia Wesleyan University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-wesleyan-university) | Virginia Beach, VA | 46% | $50,074 | $19,676 | $27,000 | 0.54x |
| 26 | [Averett University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/averett-university) | Danville, VA | 46% | $51,516 | $22,925 | $25,000 | 0.49x |
| 27 | [Hollins University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hollins-university) | Roanoke, VA | 67% | $40,075 | $20,896 | $27,000 | 0.67x |
| 28 | [Hampton University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hampton-university) | Hampton, VA | 56% | $59,159 | $25,319 | $25,442 | 0.43x |
| 29 | [J Sargeant Reynolds Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/j-sargeant-reynolds-community-college) | Richmond, VA | 31% | $39,529 | $5,168 | $10,500 | 0.27x |
| 30 | [Marymount University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/marymount-university) | Arlington, VA | 56% | $67,516 | $29,137 | $25,000 | 0.37x |
| 31 | [Southern Virginia University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-virginia-university) | Buena Vista, VA | 36% | $50,002 | $22,213 | $24,224 | 0.48x |
| 32 | [Tidewater Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/tidewater-community-college) | Norfolk, VA | 31% | $38,349 | $11,762 | $10,000 | 0.26x |
| 33 | [Shenandoah University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/shenandoah-university) | Winchester, VA | 69% | $58,433 | $30,298 | $25,000 | 0.43x |
| 34 | [Ferrum College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ferrum-college) | Ferrum, VA | 30% | $44,296 | $20,082 | $27,000 | 0.61x |
| 35 | [Norfolk State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/norfolk-state-university) | Norfolk, VA | 36% | $44,666 | $15,282 | $29,000 | 0.65x |
| 36 | [Brightpoint Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brightpoint-community-college) | Chester, VA | 39% | $41,223 | $5,490 | $9,500 | 0.23x |
| 37 | [Mary Baldwin University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/mary-baldwin-university) | Staunton, VA | 43% | $44,427 | $12,756 | $26,586 | 0.6x |
| 38 | [Paul D Camp Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/paul-d-camp-community-college) | Franklin, VA | 30% | $36,031 | $4,126 | $6,880 | 0.19x |
| 39 | [Bluefield University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bluefield-university) | Bluefield, VA | 22% | $48,896 | $25,573 | $21,855 | 0.45x |
| 40 | [Hampden-Sydney College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/hampden-sydney-college) | Hampden-Sydney, VA | 64% | $67,640 | $22,400 | $26,000 | 0.38x |
| 41 | [Virginia Peninsula Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-peninsula-community-college) | Hampton, VA | 34% | $37,996 | $7,012 | $9,500 | 0.25x |
| 42 | [Randolph-Macon College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/randolph-macon-college) | Ashland, VA | 72% | $58,448 | $27,866 | $27,000 | 0.46x |
| 43 | [University of Lynchburg](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-lynchburg) | Lynchburg, VA | 60% | $56,380 | $22,235 | $27,000 | 0.48x |
| 44 | [Virginia Union University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/virginia-union-university) | Richmond, VA | 39% | $38,275 | $13,235 | $29,000 | 0.76x |
| 45 | [Regent University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/regent-university) | Virginia Beach, VA | 56% | $44,498 | $19,923 | $24,534 | 0.55x |
| 46 | [Patrick & Henry Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/patrick-henry-community-college) | Martinsville, VA | 43% | $33,323 | $4,102 | N/A | N/A |
| 47 | [Liberty University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/liberty-university) | Lynchburg, VA | 64% | $44,813 | $29,357 | $24,500 | 0.55x |
| 48 | [Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bryant-stratton-college-virginia-beach) | Virginia Beach, VA | 26% | $32,568 | $12,038 | $21,549 | 0.66x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Colleges in Virginia." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-colleges-virginia

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.