With all of the graduate school options in Virginia, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **23** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 23 graduate schools across over 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.
Starting Salaries
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Virginia. Located in Charlottesville, VA, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. Graduates go on to earn a median of $69,126 early in their careers. University Of Virginia Main Campus students take on a median of $18,627 in debt.
A rank of #2 makes Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University one of the top graduate schools in Virginia. Based in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,004. Graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans.
College Of William And Mary came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Virginia. Located in Williamsburg, VA, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. College Of William And Mary posts a six-year graduation rate of 89%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $53,338. Graduates carry a median of $18,935 in student loans.
Out of the 23 graduate schools in Virginia in this year's ranking, George Mason University landed the #4 spot. Set in Fairfax, VA, George Mason University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,131. Graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans.
A rank of #5 makes James Madison University one of the top graduate schools in Virginia. Set in Harrisonburg, VA, James Madison University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,997 early in their careers. James Madison University students take on a median of $21,218 in debt.
University Of Richmond ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in University of Richmond, VA. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,230. Median early-career earnings reach $53,815. University Of Richmond students take on a median of $21,634 in debt.
Marymount University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Marymount University is a private not-for-profit school based in Arlington, VA. Marymount University graduates 54% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $40,120. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,028. The median student debt is $26,880.
Washington And Lee University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Lexington, VA, Washington And Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,045. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $76,810. Students borrow a median of $20,074 to complete a degree here.
Virginia Commonwealth University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates 63% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,000. The median student debt is $23,813.
Lynchburg College came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Lynchburg, VA, Lynchburg College is a private not-for-profit institution. Lynchburg College graduates 57% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,750. Lynchburg College graduates report median early-career earnings of $107,159.
Shenandoah University placed #11 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. This private not-for-profit school is set in Winchester, VA. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $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.
Old Dominion University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Set in Norfolk, VA, Old Dominion University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,131. Typical student debt is $26,001.
Radford University placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. Based in Radford, VA, Radford University is a public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $12,548, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,271. Typical student debt is $25,514.
Emory And Henry College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Emory, VA. Emory And Henry College posts a six-year graduation rate of 56%. In-state tuition and fees average $39,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,255. Emory And Henry College students take on a median of $26,938 in debt.
Liberty University did well this year, earning the #15 position. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lynchburg, VA. Liberty University posts a six-year graduation rate of 67%. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Liberty University graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,877. Liberty University students take on a median of $27,414 in debt.
Hampton University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Located in Hampton, VA, Hampton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Hampton University posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. In-state tuition and fees run about $30,592. Median early-career earnings reach $46,870. The median student debt is $26,169.
Regent University placed #17 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. Regent University is a private not-for-profit school based in Virginia Beach, VA. About 58% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,650. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,406 early in their careers. Regent University students take on a median of $29,451 in debt.
Mary Baldwin College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in Staunton, VA, Mary Baldwin College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. In-state tuition and fees average $21,187. Median early-career earnings reach $60,386. Mary Baldwin College students take on a median of $29,562 in debt.
Virginia State University did well this year, earning the #19 position. Set in Petersburg, VA, Virginia State University is a public institution. Virginia State University graduates 39% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,043, with out-of-state students paying around $22,650. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,620. Graduates carry a median of $29,010 in student loans.
Virginia Union University did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Richmond, VA, Virginia Union University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $17,830. Graduates go on to earn a median of $25,910 early in their careers. Virginia Union University students take on a median of $30,593 in debt.
Edward Via College Of Osteopathic Medicine came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Set in Blacksburg, VA, Edward Via College Of Osteopathic Medicine is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career graduates earn a median of $61,935.
University Of Management And Technology placed #22 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. This private for-profit school is set in Arlington, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $9,450.
Virginia University Of Lynchburg did well this year, earning the #23 position. Set in Lynchburg, VA, Virginia University Of Lynchburg is a private not-for-profit institution. About 7% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,248. Graduates carry a median of $22,500 in student loans.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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).
With all of the graduate school options in Virginia, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **23** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
