by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Virginia, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **42** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 42 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.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
No school ranked higher than University Of Virginia Main Campus this year in Virginia. Set in Charlottesville, VA, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $69,126. The median student debt is $18,627.
You'll be in good company at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #2 this year. Set in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,004. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University students take on a median of $23,393 in debt.
You'll be in good company at College Of William And Mary, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Williamsburg, VA, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. College Of William And Mary graduates 89% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $25,734 in tuition and fees, 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.
Out of the 42 graduate schools in Virginia in this year's ranking, George Mason University landed the #4 spot. George Mason University is a public school based in Fairfax, VA. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,220, 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.
Out of the 42 graduate schools in Virginia in this year's ranking, James Madison University landed the #5 spot. James Madison University is a public school based in Harrisonburg, VA. James Madison University graduates 80% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,997. James Madison University students take on a median of $21,218 in debt.
University Of Richmond landed the #6 spot in Virginia this year. Based in University of Richmond, VA, University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $65,230 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,815 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,634 to complete a degree here.
Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #7 spot in Virginia this year. Set in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Virginia Commonwealth University students take on a median of $23,813 in debt.
Marymount University landed the #8 spot in Virginia this year. Marymount University is a private not-for-profit school based in Arlington, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. 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.
Christopher Newport University placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. Based in Newport News, VA, Christopher Newport University is a public institution. Christopher Newport University posts a six-year graduation rate of 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $16,828, while out-of-state students pay about $31,178. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,656 early in their careers. Christopher Newport University students take on a median of $25,094 in debt.
University Of Mary Washington came in at #10 in this year's ranking. University Of Mary Washington is a public school based in Fredericksburg, VA. University Of Mary Washington graduates 66% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,905, while out-of-state students pay about $28,083. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,243 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,825 to complete a degree here.
Randolph Macon College landed the #11 spot in Virginia this year. 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 average $49,466. Median early-career earnings reach $40,317. Students borrow a median of $26,432 to complete a degree here.
Bridgewater College landed the #12 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Bridgewater, VA, Bridgewater College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,090. Bridgewater College graduates report median early-career earnings of $38,344. Bridgewater College students take on a median of $26,423 in debt.
Shenandoah University placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. Based in Winchester, VA, Shenandoah University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
Longwood University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Farmville, VA, Longwood University is a public institution. Longwood University posts a six-year graduation rate of 61%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,740, while out-of-state students pay about $27,980. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,800 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,649 in student loans.
Old Dominion University placed #15 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. Set in Norfolk, VA, Old Dominion University is a public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $57,131. The median student debt is $26,001.
Radford University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Radford, VA, Radford University is a public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,548, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,271. Students borrow a median of $25,514 to complete a degree here.
Lynchburg College placed #17 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. Lynchburg College is a private not-for-profit school based in Lynchburg, VA. Lynchburg College posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. In-state tuition and fees average $36,750. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $107,159.
Eastern Mennonite University placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. Eastern Mennonite University is a private not-for-profit school based in Harrisonburg, VA. About 67% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,920. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $55,325. Graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans.
Roanoke College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Salem, VA, Roanoke College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,068. Early-career graduates earn a median of $33,725. Roanoke College students take on a median of $26,940 in debt.
Emory And Henry College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Emory, VA, Emory And Henry College is a private not-for-profit institution. Emory And Henry College graduates 56% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $39,000. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,255. Emory And Henry College students take on a median of $26,938 in debt.
Randolph College came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Based in Lynchburg, VA, Randolph College is a private not-for-profit institution. Randolph College graduates 46% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $30,310 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,197 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,041.
Liberty University landed the #22 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $45,877. The median student debt is $27,414.
Hampton University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hampton, VA. Hampton University posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. In-state tuition and fees average $30,592. Hampton University graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,870. Hampton University students take on a median of $26,169 in debt.
Virginia Wesleyan College came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Virginia Beach, VA. Virginia Wesleyan College posts a six-year graduation rate of 42%. In-state tuition and fees average $37,500. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,517. Virginia Wesleyan College students take on a median of $27,925 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. The six-year graduation rate is 28%. In-state tuition and fees average $18,484. Ecpi University graduates report median early-career earnings of $48,429. Typical student debt is $27,988.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
