by our College Data Analytics TeamVirginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranks #1 of 51 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in Virginia ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 46% six-year graduation rate and $53,483 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Virginia, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks **51** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 51 colleges across over 20 objective factors 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.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University leads the 51 ranked colleges in Virginia, followed by Northern Virginia Community College (#2) and Ecpi University (#3). Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Virginia. Located in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,004. Typical student debt is $23,393.
You'll be in good company at Northern Virginia Community College, which ranked #2 this year. Located in Annandale, VA, Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,126. The median student debt is $14,413.
The strong outcomes at Ecpi University earned it the #3 place in Virginia. Based in Virginia Beach, VA, Ecpi University is a private for-profit institution. Ecpi University posts a six-year graduation rate of 28%. In-state tuition and fees average $18,484. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,429 early in their careers. The median student debt is $27,988.
The strong outcomes at Galen Health Institutes Richmond earned it the #4 place in Virginia. Based in Richmond, VA, Galen Health Institutes Richmond is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,364. Median early-career earnings reach $68,114. The median student debt is $34,859.
The strong outcomes at Germanna Community College earned it the #5 place in Virginia. Germanna Community College is a public school based in Locust Grove, VA. Students from in state pay about $5,257 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,648. Median early-career earnings reach $41,880. Typical student debt is $10,999.
Lord Fairfax Community College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Middletown, VA, Lord Fairfax Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,072 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,510. Early-career graduates earn a median of $37,531. Typical student debt is $10,698.
Liberty University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,173. Median early-career earnings reach $45,877. Typical student debt is $27,414.
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave did well this year, earning the #8 position. Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a public school based in Weyers Cave, VA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,646, while out-of-state students pay about $12,084. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,020. Students borrow a median of $11,768 to complete a degree here.
John Tyler Community College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in Chester, VA, John Tyler Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,082, with out-of-state students paying around $11,520. Early-career graduates earn a median of $36,623. Graduates carry a median of $11,262 in student loans.
Tidewater Community College landed the #10 spot in Virginia this year. Based in Norfolk, VA, Tidewater Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,858 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,296. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,627 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $14,001.
Virginia Western Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Virginia Western Community College is a public school based in Roanoke, VA. Students from in state pay about $5,400 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,838. Early-career graduates earn a median of $36,245. Virginia Western Community College students take on a median of $13,715 in debt.
Bluefield College placed #12 among the best colleges in Virginia. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bluefield, VA. Bluefield College graduates 18% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $26,770 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $49,380. Typical student debt is $24,780.
Strayer University Virginia landed the #13 spot in Virginia this year. Set in Arlington, VA, Strayer University Virginia is a private for-profit institution. Strayer University Virginia posts a six-year graduation rate of 19%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,920. Median early-career earnings reach $59,916. The median student debt is $45,932.
Galen Health Institutes Roanoke did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Roanoke, VA, Galen Health Institutes Roanoke is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,364. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $68,114. Galen Health Institutes Roanoke students take on a median of $34,859 in debt.
Piedmont Virginia Community College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Charlottesville, VA, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,072, with out-of-state students paying around $11,510. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,129. Piedmont Virginia Community College students take on a median of $12,495 in debt.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College landed the #16 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Richmond, VA, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,280 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,965 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $16,131.
Rappahannock Community College placed #17 among the best colleges in Virginia. This public school is set in Glenns, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $5,102, with out-of-state students paying around $11,540. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,398. Rappahannock Community College students take on a median of $8,997 in debt.
New River Community College landed the #18 spot in Virginia this year. Based in Dublin, VA, New River Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,979, with out-of-state students paying around $11,417. New River Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,892. The median student debt is $13,132.
Richard Bland College Of The College Of William And Mary ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in South Prince George, VA, Richard Bland College Of The College Of William And Mary is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,090, with out-of-state students paying around $14,970. Median early-career earnings reach $20,219. Graduates carry a median of $12,294 in student loans.
Southside Virginia Community College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Alberta, VA, Southside Virginia Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,007, with out-of-state students paying around $11,445. Graduates go on to earn a median of $29,666 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,467 to complete a degree here.
Central Virginia Community College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Lynchburg, VA. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,157, compared with $11,595 for out-of-state students. Central Virginia Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $32,309. Typical student debt is $10,384.
Regent University ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Based in Virginia Beach, VA, Regent University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. Regent University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,406. Regent University students take on a median of $29,451 in debt.
Patrick Henry Community College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Set in Martinsville, VA, Patrick Henry Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,002, compared with $11,440 for out-of-state students. Patrick Henry Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $33,358. The median student debt is $11,235.
Paul D Camp Community College placed #24 among the best colleges in Virginia. Based in Franklin, VA, Paul D Camp Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,012 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,450. Paul D Camp Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,070. Typical student debt is $11,074.
Danville Community College ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Danville, VA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,992, with out-of-state students paying around $11,430. Median early-career earnings reach $44,922. Graduates carry a median of $9,494 in student loans.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 51 in Virginia. These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.