by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Virginia, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **36** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 36 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.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Leading the list is University Of Virginia Main Campus, our #1 college in Virginia. Set in Charlottesville, VA, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Median early-career earnings reach $69,126. The median student debt is $18,627.
The strong outcomes at James Madison University earned it the #2 place in Virginia. James Madison University is a public school based in Harrisonburg, VA. James Madison University posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,997. Typical student debt is $21,218.
Out of the 36 colleges in Virginia in this year's ranking, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in Blacksburg, VA. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Median early-career earnings reach $60,004. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 36 colleges in Virginia in this year's ranking, College Of William And Mary landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Williamsburg, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Students from in state pay about $25,734 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $51,038. College Of William And Mary graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,338. Typical student debt is $18,935.
University Of Richmond came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Virginia. Based in University of Richmond, VA, University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $65,230 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $53,815. University Of Richmond students take on a median of $21,634 in debt.
Washington And Lee University landed the #6 spot in Virginia this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lexington, VA. About 94% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $68,045 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $76,810. The median student debt is $20,074.
George Mason University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. George Mason University is a public school based in Fairfax, VA. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $63,131. Graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
Christopher Newport University landed the #8 spot in Virginia this year. This public school is set in Newport News, VA. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $16,828, while out-of-state students pay about $31,178. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $41,656. Students borrow a median of $25,094 to complete a degree here.
University Of Mary Washington did well this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in Fredericksburg, VA. University Of Mary Washington posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,905, while out-of-state students pay about $28,083. Median early-career earnings reach $43,243. University Of Mary Washington students take on a median of $22,825 in debt.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Richmond, VA. About 63% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,000. Graduates carry a median of $23,813 in student loans.
Marymount University placed #11 among the best colleges in Virginia. Located in Arlington, VA, Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Marymount University graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $40,120. Median early-career earnings reach $58,028. Marymount University students take on a median of $26,880 in debt.
Randolph Macon College did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Ashland, VA, Randolph Macon College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees run about $49,466. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,317. Typical student debt is $26,432.
Virginia Military Institute placed #13 among the best colleges in Virginia. Located in Lexington, VA, Virginia Military Institute is a public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $21,046, compared with $52,638 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,915. The median student debt is $22,309.
Longwood University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Longwood University is a public school based in Farmville, VA. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,740, while out-of-state students pay about $27,980. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,800. Typical student debt is $25,649.
Roanoke College landed the #15 spot in Virginia this year. Set in Salem, VA, Roanoke College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roanoke College posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. In-state tuition and fees average $38,068. Median early-career earnings reach $33,725. Typical student debt is $26,940.
Hampden Sydney College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hampden-Sydney, VA. About 62% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $54,550 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $45,238. Hampden Sydney College students take on a median of $26,494 in debt.
Shenandoah University did well this year, earning the #17 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Winchester, VA. About 66% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,950. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,948 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,005 in student loans.
Radford University landed the #18 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Radford, VA, Radford University is a public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $12,548 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,271 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,514.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia did well this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Vienna, VA, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia is a private for-profit institution. About 100% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,520. Early-career graduates earn a median of $83,188. Students borrow a median of $39,146 to complete a degree here.
Eastern Mennonite University placed #20 among the best colleges in Virginia. Based in Harrisonburg, VA, Eastern Mennonite University is a private not-for-profit institution. Eastern Mennonite University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,920. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,325. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete a degree here.
Old Dominion University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Set in Norfolk, VA, Old Dominion University is a public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,750, while out-of-state students pay about $33,780. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,131. Old Dominion University students take on a median of $26,001 in debt.
Lynchburg College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set 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. Lynchburg College graduates report median early-career earnings of $107,159.
Bridgewater College placed #23 among the best colleges in Virginia. Set in Bridgewater, VA, Bridgewater College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $16,090 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $38,344. The median student debt is $26,423.
Ecpi University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Ecpi University is a private for-profit school based in Virginia Beach, VA. Ecpi University posts a six-year graduation rate of 28%. Students from in state pay about $18,484 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $48,429. Graduates carry a median of $27,988 in student loans.
Liberty University placed #25 among the best colleges in Virginia. Set in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,173. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,877. Typical student debt is $27,414.
These colleges also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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.
