With all of the graduate school options in Virginia, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **27** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 27 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.
Early-Career Salaries
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Starting Salary ( 38623 to 68053 )
Top 25 Graduate Schools in Virginia
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Leading the list is University Of Virginia Main Campus, our #1 graduate school in Virginia. Located 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, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $69,126. 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. Set in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. 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.
The strong outcomes at College Of William And Mary earned it the #3 place in Virginia. Located in Williamsburg, VA, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $25,734 in tuition and fees, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,338 early in their careers. 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. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Early-career graduates earn a median of $63,131. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #5 makes James Madison University one of the top graduate schools in Virginia. Located in Harrisonburg, VA, James Madison University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,966, with out-of-state students paying around $31,312. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,997. Students borrow a median of $21,218 to complete a degree here.
University Of Richmond placed #6 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. University Of Richmond is a private not-for-profit school based in University of Richmond, VA. University Of Richmond posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. In-state tuition and fees run about $65,230. University Of Richmond graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,815. Typical student debt is $21,634.
Christopher Newport University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Newport News, VA, Christopher Newport University is a public institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,828, while out-of-state students pay about $31,178. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,656. Christopher Newport University students take on a median of $25,094 in debt.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Located in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Virginia Commonwealth University posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Students from in state pay about $16,720 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,884. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,000. The median student debt is $23,813.
Marymount University landed the #9 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Arlington, VA, Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,120. Median early-career earnings reach $58,028. Students borrow a median of $26,880 to complete a degree here.
Longwood University placed #10 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. Set in Farmville, VA, Longwood University is a public institution. Longwood University graduates 61% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,740, with out-of-state students paying around $27,980. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,800. The median student debt is $25,649.
University Of Mary Washington ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Fredericksburg, VA, University Of Mary Washington is a public institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $14,905, compared with $28,083 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $43,243. University Of Mary Washington students take on a median of $22,825 in debt.
Shenandoah University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. 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 run about $36,950. Shenandoah University graduates report median early-career earnings of $62,948. Graduates carry a median of $26,005 in student loans.
Bridgewater College landed the #13 spot in Virginia this year. Located in Bridgewater, VA, Bridgewater College is a private not-for-profit institution. Bridgewater College posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. 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. Students borrow a median of $26,423 to complete a degree here.
Lynchburg College landed the #14 spot in Virginia this year. Lynchburg College is a private not-for-profit school based in Lynchburg, VA. About 57% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,750. Median early-career earnings reach $107,159.
Old Dominion University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Norfolk, VA. About 46% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $57,131. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete a degree here.
Radford University did well this year, earning the #16 position. Radford University is a public school based in Radford, VA. Radford University posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. Students from in state pay about $12,548 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,633. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,271. The median student debt is $25,514.
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. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. In-state tuition and fees average $43,920. Eastern Mennonite University graduates report median early-career earnings of $55,325. Students borrow a median of $25,415 to complete a degree here.
Roanoke College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Based in Salem, VA, Roanoke College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $38,068. Graduates go on to earn a median of $33,725 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,940 in student loans.
Emory And Henry College landed the #19 spot in Virginia this year. Set in Emory, VA, Emory And Henry College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,000. Emory And Henry College graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,255. Emory And Henry College students take on a median of $26,938 in debt.
Randolph College landed the #20 spot in Virginia this year. Randolph College is a private not-for-profit school based in Lynchburg, VA. Randolph College graduates 46% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $30,310. Randolph College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,197. Graduates carry a median of $25,041 in student loans.
Liberty University did well this year, earning the #21 position. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lynchburg, VA. About 67% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Liberty University graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,877. Typical student debt is $27,414.
Virginia Wesleyan College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Virginia Beach, VA, Virginia Wesleyan College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 42% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $37,500 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,517. Virginia Wesleyan College students take on a median of $27,925 in debt.
Mary Baldwin College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Staunton, VA, Mary Baldwin College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,187. Median early-career earnings reach $60,386. Typical student debt is $29,562.
Averett University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Based in Danville, VA, Averett University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,550. Averett University graduates report median early-career earnings of $53,876. Averett University students take on a median of $28,595 in debt.
Hollins University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in Roanoke, VA, Hollins University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 65% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,560. Median early-career earnings reach $26,798. The median student debt is $27,000.
Rest of the Top 20% Best Graduate Schools in Virginia
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced 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).
With all of the graduate school options in Virginia, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **27** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
