2023 Best Colleges in Virginia
65
Colleges
$55,895
Avg Salary*
57%
Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*
There are lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Virginia Colleges ranking - to help you make that decision.
After analyzing 65 schools in Virginia, we came up with our list of those that offered the highest quality education. Instead of depending on subjective information, we focus on over 20 objective factors to determine this ranking. These factors include such things as student-to-faculty ratio, average graduate earnings, and graduation rate.
See what other factors we include in our ranking methodology.
Custom Rankings
Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!
Top Colleges in Virginia
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University of Virginia - Main Campus tops this year’s ranking as the best school in Virginia for overall quality. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, the large public school handed out 8,698 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Bachelor’s degree students at the school tend to finish their degree on-time. The 4-year graduation rate is 89%, which is impressive compared to the national rate of 33%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from University of Virginia is $77,048 during the early years of their career.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Virginia Tech. The school came in at #2 in Virginia on this year’s overall quality ranking. Virginia Tech is a large public school located in Blacksburg, Virginia that handed out 10,192 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech make an average of $73,159 per year during the early years of their career.
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Out of the 65 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington and Lee University landed the #3 spot on the list. Washington and Lee is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lexington, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 703 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a student-to-faculty rate of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. During the early years of their career, graduates from Washington and Lee make an average of $86,020 a year.
Read full report on Washington and Lee University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William & Mary. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia list. William & Mary is a public institution located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3,012 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school boasts an average 4-year graduation rate of 85%, which is excellent when compared to the national rate of 33%. During the early years of their career, graduates from William & Mary make an average of $64,723 a year.
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend George Mason University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia list.Fairfax, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 10,774 students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. During the early years of their career, graduates from GMU make an average of $66,148 a year.
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James Madison University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking, coming in at #6. JMU is a public institution located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,803 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from JMU make an average of $61,268 per year during the early years of their career.
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University of Richmond came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Virginia ranking. University of Richmond is a small private not-for-profit school located in University of Richmond, Virginia that handed out 1,275 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from URichmond go into careers with an average salary of $69,310 during the early years of their career.
Full University of Richmond Report
With a ranking of #8, Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia list. VCU is a large public school situated in Richmond, Virginia. It awarded 7,933 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from VCU go into careers with an average salary of $50,106 during the early years of their career.
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With a ranking of #9, Shenandoah University did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia list. Shenandoah is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winchester, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,265 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from Shenandoah make an average of $50,385 a year.
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Virginia Military Institute did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking, coming in at #10. VMI is a small public school situated in Lexington, Virginia. It awarded 413 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $71,910 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on Virginia Military Institute
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Virginia ranking.Annandale, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 8,894 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Northern Virginia Community College make an average of $47,528 per year during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Northern Virginia Community College
ECPI University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Virginia ranking. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the fairly large private for-profit school handed out 4,403 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, graduates from ECPI University make an average of $36,822 a year.
Full ECPI University Report
With a ranking of #13, Liberty University did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia list. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 24,308 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Liberty University make an average of $42,394 per year during the early years of their career.
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Old Dominion University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges in Virginia list.Norfolk, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 5,429 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion make an average of $49,678 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Old Dominion University Report
Christopher Newport University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Newport News, Virginia, the small public school handed out 1,285 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from CNU is $55,027 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Christopher Newport University
Randolph - Macon College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Virginia ranking.Ashland, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 400 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Randolph - Macon go into careers with an average salary of $53,288 during the early years of their career.
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Roanoke College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Virginia ranking. Roanoke is a private not-for-profit institution located in Salem, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 458 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Roanoke go into careers with an average salary of $50,770 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Roanoke College
University of Mary Washington landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking. UMW is located in Fredericksburg, Virginia and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,268 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from UMW make an average of $54,819 a year.
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University of Lynchburg did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 991 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $49,490 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on University of Lynchburg
Marymount University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking, coming in at #20. Marymount is located in Arlington, Virginia and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,072 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $60,360 during the early years of their career..
Full Marymount University Report
Radford University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Virginia ranking. Radford is located in Radford, Virginia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,336 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Radford is $50,383 during the early years of their career.
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With a ranking of #22, Richard Bland College of William and Mary did quite well on the 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia list. RBC is a public institution located in South Prince George, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 194 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from RBC make an average of $38,074 per year during the early years of their career.
Full Richard Bland College of William and Mary Report
Eastern Mennonite University landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking. Eastern Mennonite University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Harrisonburg, Virginia that handed out 364 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Mennonite make an average of $42,697 per year during the early years of their career.
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Hampton University did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking, coming in at #24. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Hampton, Virginia, and it awarded 868 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $52,372 during the early years of their career..
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Strayer University - Virginia did quite well in the 2023 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking, coming in at #25. Strayer University - Virginia is a private for-profit institution located in Arlington, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,291 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Strayer University - Virginia go into careers with an average salary of $43,590 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Strayer University - Virginia
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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