by our College Data Analytics TeamUniversity Of Virginia Main Campus ranks #1 of 121 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Colleges in Virginia ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 25 colleges average a 69% six-year graduation rate and $70,797 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, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **121** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual analyzed 121 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.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus leads the 121 ranked colleges in Virginia, followed by Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University (#2) and James Madison University (#3). Explore the leading colleges below:
Our analysis found University Of Virginia Main Campus to be the best college in Virginia. This public school is set in Charlottesville, VA. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $69,126. Graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Virginia. This public school is set in Blacksburg, VA. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Graduates go on to earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University students take on a median of $23,393 in debt.
You'll be in good company at James Madison University, which ranked #3 this year. James Madison University is a public school based in Harrisonburg, VA. Roughly 80% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,997 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $21,218.
College Of William And Mary came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Virginia. College Of William And Mary is a public school based in Williamsburg, VA. College Of William And Mary posts a six-year graduation rate of 89%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,734, while out-of-state students pay about $51,038. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,338 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $18,935.
Out of the 121 colleges in Virginia in this year's ranking, University Of Richmond landed the #5 spot. Located in University of Richmond, VA, University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,230. Median early-career earnings reach $53,815. Students borrow a median of $21,634 to complete a degree here.
George Mason University came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Fairfax, VA. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,131. The median student debt is $23,529.
Washington And Lee University did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lexington, VA. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,045. Washington And Lee University graduates report median early-career earnings of $76,810. Typical student debt is $20,074.
Christopher Newport University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Newport News, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $16,828, with out-of-state students paying around $31,178. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,656 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,094.
University Of Mary Washington placed #9 among the best colleges in Virginia. Located in Fredericksburg, VA, University Of Mary Washington is a public institution. University Of Mary Washington graduates 66% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,905, while out-of-state students pay about $28,083. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,243. Graduates carry a median of $22,825 in student loans.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Virginia Commonwealth University posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,000 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $23,813.
Marymount University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Set in Arlington, VA, Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Marymount University graduates 54% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,120. Median early-career earnings reach $58,028. Typical student debt is $26,880.
Virginia Military Institute did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Lexington, VA, Virginia Military Institute is a public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,046, while out-of-state students pay about $52,638. Virginia Military Institute graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,915. Students borrow a median of $22,309 to complete a degree here.
Shenandoah University landed the #13 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Winchester, VA, Shenandoah University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $36,950. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,948 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,005 to complete a degree here.
Randolph Macon College landed the #14 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Ashland, VA, Randolph Macon College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $49,466. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,317. Students borrow a median of $26,432 to complete a degree here.
Lynchburg College placed #15 among the best colleges in Virginia. Based 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $107,159.
Roanoke College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Salem, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,068. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $33,725. The median student debt is $26,940.
Eastern Mennonite University did well this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Harrisonburg, VA, Eastern Mennonite University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $43,920 in tuition and fees. Eastern Mennonite University graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,325. Typical student debt is $25,415.
Hampden Sydney College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Hampden Sydney College is a private not-for-profit school based in Hampden-Sydney, VA. About 62% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $54,550. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,238. Graduates carry a median of $26,494 in student loans.
Longwood University placed #19 among the best colleges in Virginia. Based in Farmville, VA, Longwood University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,740, while out-of-state students pay about $27,980. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,800. The median student debt is $25,649.
Radford University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Radford University is a public school based in Radford, VA. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,548, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Radford University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,271. Graduates carry a median of $25,514 in student loans.
Old Dominion University placed #21 among the best colleges in Virginia. This public school is set in Norfolk, VA. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $12,750 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,131. Graduates carry a median of $26,001 in student loans.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Set in Vienna, VA, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia is a private for-profit institution. About 100% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,520. Early-career graduates earn a median of $83,188. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia students take on a median of $39,146 in debt.
Northern Virginia Community College landed the #23 spot in Virginia this year. This public school is set in Annandale, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $5,891, while out-of-state students pay about $12,410. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,126. The median student debt is $14,413.
Bridgewater College landed the #24 spot in Virginia this year. Bridgewater College is a private not-for-profit school based in Bridgewater, VA. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,090. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,344 early in their careers. Bridgewater College students take on a median of $26,423 in debt.
Ecpi University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Set in Virginia Beach, VA, Ecpi University is a private for-profit institution. About 28% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,484. Ecpi University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,429. Ecpi University students take on a median of $27,988 in debt.
These 25 colleges rank #26 through #50 of 121 in Virginia. These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.
