by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Virginia, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **12** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 12 graduate schools 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
University Of Virginia Main Campus tops our 2026 ranking of the best graduate schools in Virginia. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public school based in Charlottesville, VA. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $69,126. The median student debt is $18,627.
The strong outcomes at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned it the #2 place in Virginia. This public school is set in Blacksburg, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 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.
College Of William And Mary came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Virginia. Based in Williamsburg, VA, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,734, with out-of-state students paying around $51,038. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $53,338. Students borrow a median of $18,935 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #4 makes George Mason University one of the top graduate schools in Virginia. Located in Fairfax, VA, George Mason University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,131. Typical student debt is $23,529.
Out of the 12 graduate schools in Virginia in this year's ranking, James Madison University landed the #5 spot. Located in Harrisonburg, VA, James Madison University is a public institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. Median early-career earnings reach $52,997. Graduates carry a median of $21,218 in student loans.
Marymount University placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. Marymount University is a private not-for-profit school based in Arlington, VA. About 54% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,120. Marymount University graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,028. Typical student debt is $26,880.
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. Virginia Commonwealth University is a public school based in Richmond, VA. Virginia Commonwealth University posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,000. The median student debt is $23,813.
Radford University landed the #8 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Radford, VA, Radford University is a public institution. Radford University posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,548, compared with $25,633 for out-of-state students. Radford University graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,271. Students borrow a median of $25,514 to complete a degree here.
Old Dominion University landed the #9 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Norfolk, VA, Old Dominion University is a public institution. Old Dominion University graduates 46% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,131 early in their careers. Old Dominion University students take on a median of $26,001 in debt.
Shenandoah University placed #10 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. Shenandoah University is a private not-for-profit school based in Winchester, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Students from in state pay about $36,950 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $62,948. The median student debt is $26,005.
Liberty University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Liberty University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,877. Liberty University students take on a median of $27,414 in debt.
Hampton University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Hampton University is a private not-for-profit school based in Hampton, VA. Hampton University graduates 57% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $30,592. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,870 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,169.
Regent University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Virginia Beach, VA, Regent University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Students from in state pay about $21,650 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $50,406. Typical student debt is $29,451.
Virginia State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Virginia State University is a public school based in Petersburg, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,043, compared with $22,650 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $40,620. Students borrow a median of $29,010 to complete a degree here.
Virginia Union University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Richmond, VA, Virginia Union University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 34%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,830. Early-career graduates earn a median of $25,910. Typical student debt is $30,593.
University Of Management And Technology placed #16 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. Set in Arlington, VA, University Of Management And Technology is a private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,450.
Eastern Virginia Medical School placed #17 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. Based in Norfolk, VA, Eastern Virginia Medical School is a public institution. Eastern Virginia Medical School graduates report median early-career earnings of $73,747.
Virginia University Of Lynchburg landed the #18 spot in Virginia this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lynchburg, VA. Roughly 7% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $9,248 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt is $22,500.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Graduate schools 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
See our data sources and methodologies.