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2024 Best Colleges in Virginia

63 Colleges
$56,343 Avg Salary*
57% Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*

There are lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Top Virginia Colleges ranking - to help you make that decision.

After analyzing 63 schools in Virginia, we came up with our list of those that offered the highest quality education. Instead of depending on subjective information, we focus on over 20 objective factors to determine this ranking. These factors include such things as student-to-faculty ratio, average graduate earnings, and graduation rate.

See what other factors we include in our ranking methodology.

Custom Rankings

Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.

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You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!

Top Colleges in Virginia

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

Our analysis found University of Virginia - Main Campus to be the best school for overall quality in Virginia in this year’s ranking. University of Virginia is a large public school situated in Charlottesville, Virginia. It awarded 8,698 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from University of Virginia is $77,048 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on University of Virginia - Main Campus

2
Virginia Tech crest
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Out of the 63 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Tech landed the #2 spot on the list. Virginia Tech is a public institution located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10,192 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech make an average of $73,159 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Virginia Tech Report

3

Out of the 63 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Washington and Lee University landed the #3 spot on the list. Washington and Lee is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lexington, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 703 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Washington and Lee is $86,020 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

4
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at William & Mary helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Virginia. William & Mary is located in Williamsburg, Virginia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,012 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from William & Mary go into careers with an average salary of $64,723 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

5
GMU crest
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia

Out of the 63 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, George Mason University landed the #5 spot on the list.Fairfax, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 10,774 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $66,148 during the early years of their career..

Read full report on George Mason University

6
JMU crest
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

James Madison University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking, coming in at #6. JMU is a large public school situated in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It awarded 5,803 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from JMU make an average of $61,268 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on James Madison University

7

Virginia Commonwealth University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking, coming in at #7. VCU is located in Richmond, Virginia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7,933 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

The low student loan default rate of 2.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $50,106 during the early years of their career..

Full Virginia Commonwealth University Report

8
URichmond crest
University of Richmond
University of Richmond, Virginia

With a ranking of #8, University of Richmond did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Virginia list. This small private not-for-profit school is located in University of Richmond, Virginia, and it awarded 1,275 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student-to-faculty rate of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from URichmond go into careers with an average salary of $69,310 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on University of Richmond

9
Shenandoah crest
Shenandoah University
Winchester, Virginia

Shenandoah University landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking. Shenandoah is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winchester, Virginia. It awarded 1,265 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Shenandoah is $50,385 during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Shenandoah University

10
ECPI University crest
ECPI University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

ECPI University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the fairly large private for-profit school handed out 4,403 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from ECPI University make an average of $36,822 a year.

Full ECPI University Report

11
VMI crest
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, Virginia

Virginia Military Institute came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Virginia ranking. Virginia Military Institute is a small public school located in Lexington, Virginia that handed out 413 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from VMI is $71,910 during the early years of their career.

Read More…

12
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia

Liberty University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Virginia ranking. Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 24,308 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Liberty University make an average of $42,394 per year during the early years of their career.

Read More…

13

Northern Virginia Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Virginia ranking.Annandale, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 8,894 students in 2020-2021.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Northern Virginia Community College make an average of $47,528 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Northern Virginia Community College

14
Old Dominion crest
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia

Old Dominion University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking, coming in at #14. Old Dominion is a public institution located in Norfolk, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,429 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

During the early years of their career, graduates from Old Dominion make an average of $49,678 a year.

Read full report on Old Dominion University

15
Eastern Mennonite crest
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, Virginia

Eastern Mennonite University landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking.Harrisonburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 364 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Mennonite make an average of $42,697 per year during the early years of their career.

Read full report on Eastern Mennonite University

16
Marymount crest
Marymount University
Arlington, Virginia

Marymount University ranked #16 on this year’s Best Colleges in Virginia list. Marymount is a private not-for-profit institution located in Arlington, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,072 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Marymount make an average of $60,360 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Marymount University Report

17
CNU crest
Christopher Newport University
Newport News, Virginia

Christopher Newport University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Virginia ranking. Located in Newport News, Virginia, the small public school handed out 1,285 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from CNU make an average of $55,027 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Christopher Newport University Report

18
RBC crest
Richard Bland College of William and Mary
South Prince George, Virginia

Richard Bland College of William and Mary ranked #18 on this year’s Best Colleges in Virginia list. Located in South Prince George, Virginia, the small public school handed out 194 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from RBC go into careers with an average salary of $38,074 during the early years of their career.

Full Richard Bland College of William and Mary Report

19
Hampden - Sydney crest
Hampden - Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, Virginia

Hampden - Sydney College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking. Located in Hampden-Sydney, Virginia, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 230 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Hampden - Sydney go into careers with an average salary of $65,446 during the early years of their career.

Full Hampden - Sydney College Report

20
Regent crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Regent University landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking.Virginia Beach, Virginia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,357 students in 2020-2021.

The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Regent is $41,712 during the early years of their career.

Full Regent University Report

21
UMW crest
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, Virginia

University of Mary Washington landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking.Fredericksburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,268 students in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UMW is $54,819 during the early years of their career.

Full University of Mary Washington Report

22
Randolph - Macon crest
Randolph - Macon College
Ashland, Virginia

Randolph - Macon College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Virginia ranking. Randolph - Macon is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Ashland, Virginia. It awarded 400 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Randolph - Macon make an average of $53,288 a year.

Full Randolph - Macon College Report

23
Radford crest
Radford University
Radford, Virginia

Radford University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges in Virginia list. Radford is located in Radford, Virginia and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,336 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Radford make an average of $50,383 per year during the early years of their career.

Full Radford University Report

24
Roanoke crest
Roanoke College
Salem, Virginia

Roanoke College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking, coming in at #24. Roanoke is a private not-for-profit institution located in Salem, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 458 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Roanoke is $50,770 during the early years of their career.

Full Roanoke College Report

25
Lynchburg crest
University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia

University of Lynchburg landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Lynchburg, Virginia, and it awarded 991 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Lynchburg is $49,490 during the early years of their career.

Full University of Lynchburg Report

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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