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Small Colleges in Virginia

50 schools in Virginia. See our methodology.

Three Virginia institutions achieve perfect 100% graduation rates among small colleges under 5,000 students, with Chamberlain University-Virginia leading at $92,405 median earnings. The state's 84 small colleges span from $4,037 to $33,417 net costs, serving students who later earn between $25,930 and $94,810. Washington and Lee University demonstrates that selectivity pays off with just 16.96% acceptance but $94,810 earnings, while Virginia Military Institute combines military tradition with strong outcomes at $77,369 median salary. These schools benefit from Virginia's defense contracting ecosystem, where Northrop Grumman and Booz Allen Hamilton create high-paying opportunities for graduates. Healthcare pathways through Centra College and Riverside College of Health Careers connect students to Inova Health's network. The Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant program supports students at private institutions, making schools like University of Richmond and Hampden-Sydney College more accessible despite higher sticker prices. Community colleges like Mountain Empire serve rural regions at just $7,226 net cost while maintaining 53% graduation rates.
50
Schools
$17,123
Avg. Net Price
$47,243
Avg. Earnings
57.9%
Avg. Graduation Rate

Small Colleges in Virginia

College listings
# School Enrollment Net Price Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 567 100.0% 50.0%
2 322 100.0%
3 212 $24,868 100.0% 40.0%
4 1,884 $23,911 94.9% 17.0%
5 25 $22,341 100.0% 33.3%
6 1,560 $18,849 81.8% 71.1%
7 3,002 $33,417 87.8% 24.4%
8 177 77.8%
9 4,402 $22,197 75.1% 85.4%
10 377 $18,497 73.0% 70.2%
11 3,504 $21,108 67.4% 85.8%
12 4,282 $18,749 54.1% 32.3%
13 876 $24,668 65.3% 39.8%
14 1,240 $7,226 53.0%
15 325 $25,596 62.5% 100.0%
16 1,917 $6,031 43.8%
17 457 $6,307 45.7%
18 3,167 $5,586 38.8%
19 1,229 $4,037 45.3%
20 225 $26,254 66.7%
21 3,777 $5,618 40.6%
22 1,411 $3,430 45.3%
23 1,600 $8,838 43.8%
24 2,144 $5,525 41.3%
25 2,957 $20,814 61.6% 87.8%
26 3,032 $6,347 35.1%
27 193 $26,719 62.9%
28 2,677 $8,755 33.7%
29 1,318 $5,310 39.5%
30 1,335 $5,112 41.7%
31 2,127 $30,055 70.5% 80.4%
32 3,901 $6,468 34.1%
33 3,254 $32,145 55.7% 74.5%
34 1,214 $11,180 49.8% 75.6%
35 1,371 $7,158 38.1%
36 1,188 $17,833 55.7%
37 1,801 $27,786 65.9% 79.8%
38 433 $4,975 36.2%
39 1,835 $6,194 34.7%
40 1,795 $25,153 57.9% 81.4%
41 217 $39,005 80.5% 56.3%
42 8 $27,538 50.0%
43 1,489 $27,759 74.6% 85.5%
44 463 $23,383 48.1% 75.8%
45 399 $19,803 37.3%
46 605 $5,666 22.5%
47 431 $29,556 32.6%
48 4,787 $14,553 40.7% 89.7%
49 673 $22,263 69.7% 72.4%
50 1,599 $20,187 61.6% 95.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Washington and Lee University stand out among Virginia's small colleges?

Washington and Lee combines extreme selectivity at 16.96% acceptance with the highest earnings at $94,810 median salary. The 1,884-student liberal arts college maintains a 94.9% graduation rate while charging $23,911 net cost, proving that competitive admissions can lead to strong career outcomes.

How do Virginia's military and defense connections benefit small college graduates?

Virginia Military Institute graduates earn $77,369 median salary, reflecting strong connections to defense contractors like Northrop Grumman and Booz Allen Hamilton. The state's federal contracting sector provides high-paying opportunities for graduates from technical programs and military academies throughout Virginia.

Is attending a private small college in Virginia affordable with financial aid?

Virginia's Tuition Assistance Grant helps private college students, with net costs ranging from $18,497 at Advanced Technology Institute to $33,417 at University of Richmond. Many students pay significantly less than sticker prices through this state program and institutional aid.

Does college size affect graduation rates at Virginia's small institutions?

Graduation rates vary widely from 38.8% to 100% regardless of size. Tiny programs like DeVry's 25 students achieve 100% graduation, while mid-sized Christopher Newport with 4,402 students maintains 75.1% completion rates, showing size alone doesn't determine success.

Where can students find the best value among Virginia's small colleges?

Mountain Empire Community College offers strong value at $7,226 net cost with 53% graduation rate and $32,622 earnings. Virginia Military Institute provides strong returns at $18,849 cost leading to $77,369 salaries, demonstrating that affordable options exist.

What career outcomes can graduates expect from Virginia's healthcare-focused small colleges?

Healthcare programs show strong earning potential, with Centra College graduates earning $60,122 and Riverside College of Health Careers reaching $66,072 median salaries. Both maintain high graduation rates while connecting students to Virginia's growing healthcare sector through Inova Health.

Related

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See our methodology for details on rankings and data sources.