by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Virginia, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **57** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 57 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Your ideal college depends on your goals. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Or choose a degree level:
Ready to build your own comparison? Try our tool College Combat to build custom comparisons using the factors most important to you.
Explore the leading colleges below:
No school ranked higher than University Of Virginia Main Campus this year in Virginia. This public school is set in Charlottesville, VA. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $69,126. Graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
Out of the 57 colleges in Virginia in this year's ranking, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in Blacksburg, VA. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University students take on a median of $23,393 in debt.
A rank of #3 makes James Madison University one of the top colleges in Virginia. James Madison University is a public school based in Harrisonburg, VA. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,997 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $21,218.
You'll be in good company at College Of William And Mary, which ranked #4 this year. College Of William And Mary is a public school based in Williamsburg, VA. College Of William And Mary posts a six-year graduation rate of 89%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,338 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $18,935.
The strong outcomes at University Of Richmond earned it the #5 place in Virginia. Located in University of Richmond, VA, University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,230. Median early-career earnings reach $53,815. Students borrow a median of $21,634 to complete a degree here.
George Mason University placed #6 among the best colleges in Virginia. This public school is set in Fairfax, VA. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,131. The median student debt is $23,529.
Washington And Lee University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lexington, VA. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,045. Washington And Lee University graduates report median early-career earnings of $76,810. Typical student debt is $20,074.
Christopher Newport University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Newport News, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $16,828, with out-of-state students paying around $31,178. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,656 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,094.
University Of Mary Washington ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Fredericksburg, VA, University Of Mary Washington is a public institution. University Of Mary Washington graduates 66% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,905, while out-of-state students pay about $28,083. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,243. Graduates carry a median of $22,825 in student loans.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Virginia Commonwealth University posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,000 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,813.
Marymount University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Set in Arlington, VA, Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Marymount University graduates 54% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,120. Median early-career earnings reach $58,028. Typical student debt is $26,880.
Randolph Macon College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in Ashland, VA, Randolph Macon College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $49,466. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,317. Students borrow a median of $26,432 to complete a degree here.
Virginia Military Institute ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Lexington, VA, Virginia Military Institute is a public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,046, while out-of-state students pay about $52,638. Virginia Military Institute graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,915. Students borrow a median of $22,309 to complete a degree here.
Shenandoah University landed the #14 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Winchester, VA, Shenandoah University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $36,950. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,948 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,005 to complete a degree here.
Longwood University placed #15 among the best colleges in Virginia. Based in Farmville, VA, Longwood University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,740, while out-of-state students pay about $27,980. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,800. The median student debt is $25,649.
Lynchburg College placed #16 among the best colleges in Virginia. Based in Lynchburg, VA, Lynchburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. Lynchburg College posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,750. Early-career graduates earn a median of $107,159.
Roanoke College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Salem, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,068. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $33,725. The median student debt is $26,940.
Hampden Sydney College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Hampden Sydney College is a private not-for-profit school based in Hampden-Sydney, VA. About 62% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $54,550. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,238. Graduates carry a median of $26,494 in student loans.
Eastern Mennonite University landed the #19 spot in Virginia this year. Based in Harrisonburg, VA, Eastern Mennonite University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $43,920 in tuition and fees. Eastern Mennonite University graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,325. Typical student debt is $25,415.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia did well this year, earning the #20 position. Set in Vienna, VA, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia is a private for-profit institution. About 100% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,520. Early-career graduates earn a median of $83,188. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia students take on a median of $39,146 in debt.
Radford University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Radford University is a public school based in Radford, VA. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,548, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Radford University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,271. Graduates carry a median of $25,514 in student loans.
Old Dominion University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Norfolk, VA. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,131. Graduates carry a median of $26,001 in student loans.
Northern Virginia Community College landed the #23 spot in Virginia this year. This public school is set in Annandale, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $5,891, while out-of-state students pay about $12,410. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,126. The median student debt is $14,413.
Bridgewater College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Bridgewater College is a private not-for-profit school based in Bridgewater, VA. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,090. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,344 early in their careers. Bridgewater College students take on a median of $26,423 in debt.
Galen Health Institutes Richmond landed the #25 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Richmond, VA, Galen Health Institutes Richmond is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,364.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
