Best Colleges in Virginia 2026

Virginia's higher education landscape offers students 46 qualifying institutions, with a compelling mix of public and private options leading the rankings. The top 5 schools demonstrate the state's educational diversity, featuring two flagship public universities alongside specialized private institutions. University of Virginia and William & Mary anchor the public sector with their strong academic reputations and research opportunities, while private colleges like Chamberlain University and University of Management Technology provide focused professional training. When evaluating Virginia schools, students should examine graduation rates, employment outcomes, faculty-to-student ratios, and program strength in their intended field. The state's geographic diversity also means considering location preferences, from urban Richmond to college towns like Charlottesville.

Schools Ranked

$61,769

Avg. Earnings

73.9%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Graduation Rate	Median Earnings	Acceptance Rate	In-State Tuition
1	University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, Virginia	95.3%	$86,863	18.7%	$20,986
2	Chamberlain University-Virginia Vienna, Virginia	100.0%	$92,405	50.0%	$20,462
3	University of Management and Technology Arlington, Virginia	100.0%	$68,530		$9,450
4	Centra College Lynchburg, Virginia	100.0%	$60,122	40.0%	$12,263
5	William & Mary Williamsburg, Virginia	91.0%	$73,490	33.5%	$25,040
6	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia	86.3%	$81,698	57.0%	$15,478
7	Washington and Lee University Lexington, Virginia	94.9%	$94,810	17.0%	$64,525
8	DeVry University-Virginia Arlington, Virginia	100.0%	$45,987	33.3%	$17,488
9	Virginia Military Institute Lexington, Virginia	81.8%	$77,369	71.1%	$20,484
10	James Madison University Harrisonburg, Virginia	80.9%	$69,954	78.3%	$13,576
11	University of Richmond University of Richmond, Virginia	87.8%	$76,178	24.4%	$62,600
12	University of the Potomac-VA Campus FALLS CHURCH, Virginia	77.8%	$34,961		$6,660
13	George Mason University Fairfax, Virginia	69.3%	$76,343	90.0%	$13,815
14	Christopher Newport University Newport News, Virginia	75.1%	$60,509	85.4%	$16,351
15	Advanced Technology Institute Virginia Beach, Virginia	73.0%	$46,342	70.2%	$14,568
16	University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, Virginia	67.4%	$60,613	85.8%	$14,559
17	Regent University Virginia Beach, Virginia	54.1%	$44,498	32.3%	$20,686
18	Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, Virginia	37.3%	$53,557		$5,703
19	Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, Virginia	65.3%	$67,640	39.8%	$52,388
20	Mountain Empire Community College Big Stone Gap, Virginia	53.0%	$32,622		$4,863
21	Riverside College of Health Careers Newport News, Virginia	62.5%	$66,072	100.0%	$14,875
22	New River Community College Dublin, Virginia	43.8%	$40,025		$4,835
23	Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia	65.4%	$58,128	91.0%	$16,458
24	Mountain Gateway Community College Clifton Forge, Virginia	45.7%	$34,293		$4,878
25	Brightpoint Community College Chester, Virginia	38.7%	$41,223		$4,938