by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Virginia, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked 121 graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 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.
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Explore the leading graduate schools below:
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Virginia. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public school based in Charlottesville, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $61,591. 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 Graduate Schools ranking in Virginia. Set in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates 86% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates report median early-career earnings of $60,004. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete a degree here.
James Madison University came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Virginia. James Madison University is a public school based in Harrisonburg, VA. About 80% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,966 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,997. Graduates carry a median of $21,218 in student loans.
A rank of #4 makes College Of William And Mary one of the top graduate schools in Virginia. Based in Williamsburg, VA, College Of William And Mary is a public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,734, with out-of-state students paying around $51,038. Median early-career earnings reach $53,338. The median student debt is $18,935.
University Of Richmond came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Virginia. Set 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. 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. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Median early-career earnings reach $63,131. George Mason University students take on a median of $23,529 in debt.
Washington And Lee University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lexington, VA. About 94% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $68,045. Early-career graduates earn a median of $76,810. The median student debt is $20,074.
Christopher Newport University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Christopher Newport University is a public school based in Newport News, VA. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. The median student debt is $25,094.
University Of Mary Washington came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based 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, with out-of-state students paying around $28,083. University Of Mary Washington graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,243. Typical student debt is $22,825.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Richmond, VA, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $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 did well this year, earning the #11 position. Set in Arlington, VA, Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,120. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,028 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,880 in student loans.
Randolph Macon College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Ashland, VA, Randolph Macon College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,466. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,317. Students borrow a median of $26,432 to complete a degree here.
Virginia Military Institute placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Virginia. Set in Lexington, VA, Virginia Military Institute is a public institution. Virginia Military Institute posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. In-state tuition and fees average $21,046, with out-of-state students paying around $52,638. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,915 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $22,309 in student loans.
Shenandoah University landed the #14 spot in Virginia this year. Shenandoah University is a private not-for-profit school based in Winchester, VA. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,950. Early-career graduates earn a median of $62,948. Graduates carry a median of $26,005 in student loans.
Longwood University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Farmville, VA, Longwood University is a public institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $15,740, while out-of-state students pay about $27,980. Median early-career earnings reach $43,800. Graduates carry a median of $25,649 in student loans.
Lynchburg College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lynchburg, VA. Lynchburg College graduates 57% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $36,750. Graduates go on to earn a median of $107,159 early in their careers.
Roanoke College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Set 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 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.
Hampden Sydney College landed the #18 spot in Virginia this year. Set in Hampden-Sydney, VA, Hampden Sydney College is a private not-for-profit institution. Hampden Sydney College graduates 62% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,550. Hampden Sydney College graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,238. Students borrow a median of $26,494 to complete a degree here.
Eastern Mennonite University landed the #19 spot in Virginia this year. Set in Harrisonburg, VA, Eastern Mennonite University is a private not-for-profit institution. 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. The median student debt is $25,415.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia landed the #20 spot in Virginia this year. Based in Vienna, VA, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia is a private for-profit institution. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Virginia graduates 100% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $21,520 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $83,188. Typical student debt is $39,146.
Radford University landed the #21 spot in Virginia this year. Set in Radford, VA, Radford University is a public institution. Radford University posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,548, 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.
Old Dominion University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Based 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 average $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. The median student debt is $26,001.
Northern Virginia Community College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Located in Annandale, VA, Northern Virginia Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,891, compared with $12,410 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,126. Typical student debt is $14,413.
Bridgewater College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $38,344. Graduates carry a median of $26,423 in student loans.
Galen Health Institutes Richmond did well this year, earning the #25 position. Set in Richmond, VA, Galen Health Institutes Richmond is a private for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,364.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
