2026 Best Associate’s Degree Colleges in Virginia
With all of the college options in Virginia, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **26** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed 26 colleges using more than 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.
Top 25 Colleges in Virginia
Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Leading the list is Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, our #1 college in Virginia. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school based in Blacksburg, VA. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete a degree here.
The strong outcomes at Radford University earned it the #2 place in Virginia. Radford University is a public school based in Radford, VA. Radford University graduates 49% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,548 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,633 for out-of-state students. Radford University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,271. Radford University students take on a median of $25,514 in debt.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Virginia. This public school is set in Annandale, VA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,891, with out-of-state students paying around $12,410. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,126. Graduates carry a median of $14,413 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at Galen Health Institutes Richmond, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Richmond, VA, Galen Health Institutes Richmond is a private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,364.
The strong outcomes at Ecpi University earned it the #5 place in Virginia. Ecpi University is a private for-profit school based in Virginia Beach, VA. Roughly 28% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $18,484 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,429. Students borrow a median of $27,988 to complete a degree here.
Germanna Community College did well this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Locust Grove, VA, Germanna Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,257, with out-of-state students paying around $11,648. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,880 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,999 to complete a degree here.
Lord Fairfax Community College did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Middletown, VA, Lord Fairfax Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,072, compared with $11,510 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $37,531. Lord Fairfax Community College students take on a median of $10,698 in debt.
Liberty University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lynchburg, VA. Liberty University graduates 67% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $45,877. Graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans.
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave placed #9 among the best colleges in Virginia. Based in Weyers Cave, VA, Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,646, compared with $12,084 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,020. Typical student debt is $11,768.
Bluefield College placed #10 among the best colleges in Virginia. Bluefield College is a private not-for-profit school based in Bluefield, VA. Bluefield College posts a six-year graduation rate of 18%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,770. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,380 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $24,780.
Virginia Western Community College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Virginia Western Community College is a public school based in Roanoke, VA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $11,838. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,245 early in their careers. The median student debt is $13,715.
Tidewater Community College did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Norfolk, VA, Tidewater Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,858, while out-of-state students pay about $12,296. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,627. The median student debt is $14,001.
John Tyler Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Chester, VA, John Tyler Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,082, while out-of-state students pay about $11,520. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,623 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $11,262 to complete a degree here.
Piedmont Virginia Community College placed #14 among the best colleges in Virginia. This public school is set in Charlottesville, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $5,072, compared with $11,510 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,129. Graduates carry a median of $12,495 in student loans.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Richmond, VA, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,280, with out-of-state students paying around $11,718. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,965 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $16,131 in student loans.
New River Community College landed the #16 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Dublin, VA, New River Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,979, while out-of-state students pay about $11,417. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $46,892. Students borrow a median of $13,132 to complete a degree here.
Strayer University Virginia placed #17 among the best colleges in Virginia. Strayer University Virginia is a private for-profit school based in Arlington, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 19%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,920. Median early-career earnings reach $59,916. Strayer University Virginia students take on a median of $45,932 in debt.
Richard Bland College Of The College Of William And Mary placed #18 among the best colleges in Virginia. Located in South Prince George, VA, Richard Bland College Of The College Of William And Mary is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,090, compared with $14,970 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $20,219. The median student debt is $12,294.
Southside Virginia Community College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Alberta, VA, Southside Virginia Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,007, compared with $11,445 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $29,666. The median student debt is $7,467.
Patrick Henry Community College ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Martinsville, VA, Patrick Henry Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,002, compared with $11,440 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $33,358 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $11,235 in student loans.
Dabney S Lancaster Community College landed the #21 spot in Virginia this year. Based in Clifton Forge, VA, Dabney S Lancaster Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,022, while out-of-state students pay about $11,460.
Rappahannock Community College landed the #22 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Glenns, VA, Rappahannock Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,102 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,540. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,398. The median student debt is $8,997.
Central Virginia Community College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Located in Lynchburg, VA, Central Virginia Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,157, with out-of-state students paying around $11,595. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $32,309. Typical student debt is $10,384.
Wytheville Community College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Wytheville, VA, Wytheville Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,007, compared with $11,445 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $40,973. Students borrow a median of $9,542 to complete a degree here.
Paul D Camp Community College landed the #25 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Franklin, VA, Paul D Camp Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,012, compared with $11,450 for out-of-state students. Paul D Camp Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $40,070. Paul D Camp Community College students take on a median of $11,074 in debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Colleges in Virginia
Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
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Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on 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.
