2026 Best Best Schools in Virginia
Best programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 14 schools to find the best for best students.
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Best Schools for Best in Virginia
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the best degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Best
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University tops our 2026 ranking of the best best schools. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 44 best students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $74,121. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans.
Read more about the best program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
Students looking for a strong best program will find one at George Mason University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 100 best degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Graduates of the best program make about $67,375 in their early career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $20,106 in student loans.
See the full best program report for George Mason University
A rank of #3 makes James Madison University one of the top schools for best. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 54 best degrees were awarded at James Madison University in the most recent year. Best graduates of James Madison University earn a median of $48,396 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best best schools. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. About 35 best degrees were awarded at Virginia Commonwealth University in the most recent year. Students who receive their best degree from Virginia Commonwealth University earn around $53,777 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete this degree.
See the full best program report for Virginia Commonwealth University
Old Dominion University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in best, landing the #5 spot this year. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. Old Dominion University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 42 best students who graduated with this degree at Old Dominion University in the most recent data year. Best graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $65,888 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete this degree.
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Liberty University placed #6 among the best best schools. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 230 best students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $57,882. Students borrow a median of $27,414 to complete this degree.
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Regent University placed #7 among the best best schools. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 17 best degrees were awarded at Regent University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, best degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $55,462. Typical student debt for the program is $29,451.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
