by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re seeking a diverse and multi-faceted college experience, you’ve come to the right place. The ranking below was designed to help you find 95 schools ranked on geographic diversity in Virginia, using our 2026 methodology.
This ranking is based on the geographic origins of the student body (how widely students are drawn from across the country and the world). To help you decide, College Factual evaluated 95 colleges, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Diversity means different things to different students. Refine the list by location, or explore the overall, racial-ethnic, gender, economic, and age diversity rankings, or other rankings below.
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out College Combat to weigh schools on the factors you care about most.
Learn more about these geographically diverse colleges below:
Our analysis found Washington and Lee University to be the most geographically diverse college in Virginia. Washington and Lee University scores 63.6 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 55.1, with a gender-diversity score of 100.0.
Liberty University came in at #2 on this year's Most Geographically Diverse Colleges ranking in Virginia. On geographic diversity, it scores 62.4 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 65.0, and gender diversity 98.5.
You'll find a welcoming community at University of Richmond, which ranked #3 this year. The school's geographic diversity score is 62.0 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 61.5, alongside a 98.8 gender-diversity score.
Hampton University came in at #4 on this year's Most Geographically Diverse Colleges ranking in Virginia. The school's geographic diversity score is 58.9 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 12.9, with a gender-diversity score of 91.7.
Out of the 95 colleges in Virginia in this year's ranking, American National University landed the #5 spot. American National University scores 58.8 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 65.5, and gender diversity 81.9.
Regent University placed #6 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Virginia. It scores 58.2 out of 100 for geographic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 68.4, and gender diversity 94.5.
Patrick Henry College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. On geographic diversity, it scores 56.9 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 46.2, with a gender-diversity score of 99.7.
Southern Virginia University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. On geographic diversity, it scores 51.9 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 45.3, and gender diversity 99.9.
Virginia University of Lynchburg landed the #9 spot in Virginia this year. The school's geographic diversity score is 51.2 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 27.9, alongside a 100.0 gender-diversity score.
Sweet Briar College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. The school's geographic diversity score is 46.0 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 53.6, with a gender-diversity score of 0.0.
William & Mary earned the #11 position in Virginia. William & Mary scores 40.4 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 60.9, alongside a 97.8 gender-diversity score.
Emory & Henry University placed #12 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Virginia. It scores 39.8 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 55.0, alongside a 97.8 gender-diversity score.
University of the Potomac-VA Campus landed the #13 spot in Virginia this year. The school's geographic diversity score is 38.4 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 68.6, with a gender-diversity score of 98.5.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. The school's geographic diversity score is 36.5 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 66.5, alongside a 98.6 gender-diversity score.
Virginia Military Institute placed #15 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Virginia. On geographic diversity, it scores 36.4 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 48.3, and gender diversity 56.2.
University of Virginia-Main Campus earned the #16 position in Virginia. The school's geographic diversity score is 35.4 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 71.1, and gender diversity 99.6.
Hollins University placed #17 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Virginia. On geographic diversity, it scores 34.9 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 55.9, and gender diversity 31.8.
University of Lynchburg earned the #18 position in Virginia. It scores 34.7 out of 100 for geographic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 63.2, alongside a 94.2 gender-diversity score.
Averett University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. The school's geographic diversity score is 32.4 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 61.9, with a gender-diversity score of 97.8.
Shenandoah University landed the #20 spot in Virginia this year. The school's geographic diversity score is 32.3 out of 100. Racial-ethnic diversity scores 64.9, with a gender-diversity score of 87.5.
Marymount University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. The school's geographic diversity score is 32.3 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 78.1, with a gender-diversity score of 97.0.
Hampden-Sydney College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. The school's geographic diversity score is 31.7 out of 100. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 40.3, and gender diversity 5.0.
Roanoke College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the most geographically diverse colleges. It scores 31.2 out of 100 for geographic diversity. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 44.2, with a gender-diversity score of 99.8.
Bluefield University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. It scores 30.8 out of 100 for geographic diversity. Its racial-ethnic diversity score is 55.7, and gender diversity 99.4.
Eastern Mennonite University placed #25 among the most geographically diverse colleges in Virginia. The school's geographic diversity score is 29.8 out of 100. On racial-ethnic diversity it scores 55.8, alongside a 90.3 gender-diversity score.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is based on the geographic origins of the student body (how widely students are drawn from across the country and the world). The racial-ethnic minorities percentage is calculated by taking the total number of students, subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity is unknown, and dividing by total enrollment.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
See our data sources and methodologies.
