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Our analysis found Washington and Lee University to be the best college for Student Athletes (Division III) in Virginia. Based in Lexington, VA, Washington and Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution.
by our College Data Analytics TeamChoosing a college as a student athlete means weighing both the classroom and the competition. Our ranking highlights 15 schools for Student Athletes (Division III) by academic-athletic quality, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual weighs a blend of academic-athletic outcomes (NCAA Academic Progress Rate and Graduation Success Rate), athletic financial resources (team revenue, expenses, and aid per athlete from the EADA survey), and overall school quality, drawing on NCAA, U.S. Department of Education EADA, and IPEDS data. Learn more about our ranking methodology.
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Our analysis found Washington and Lee University to be the best college for Student Athletes (Division III) in Virginia. Based in Lexington, VA, Washington and Lee University is a private not-for-profit institution.
Christopher Newport University landed the #2 spot for Student Athletes (Division III). Based in Newport News, VA, Christopher Newport University is a public institution.
University of Mary Washington is one of the top schools for Student Athletes (Division III), at #3. University of Mary Washington is a public school based in Fredericksburg, VA.
Randolph-Macon College is one of the top schools for Student Athletes (Division III), at #4. Located in Ashland, VA, Randolph-Macon College is a private not-for-profit institution.
Shenandoah University earned the #5 place for student athletes. Located in Winchester, VA, Shenandoah University is a private not-for-profit institution.
University of Lynchburg came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lynchburg, VA.
Roanoke College ranked #7 on our 2026 list for Student Athletes (Division III). Roanoke College is a private not-for-profit school based in Salem, VA.
Regent University placed #8 among the best colleges for Student Athletes (Division III). Based in Virginia Beach, VA, Regent University is a private not-for-profit institution.
Mary Baldwin University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Mary Baldwin University is a private not-for-profit school based in Staunton, VA.
Eastern Mennonite University did well this year, earning the #10 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Harrisonburg, VA.
Randolph College did well this year, earning the #11 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lynchburg, VA.
Virginia Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #12 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Virginia Beach, VA.
Averett University did well this year, earning the #13 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Danville, VA.
Southern Virginia University did well this year, earning the #14 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Buena Vista, VA.
Ferrum College did well this year, earning the #15 position. Located in Ferrum, VA, Ferrum College is a private not-for-profit institution.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of academic-athletic outcomes (NCAA Academic Progress Rate and Graduation Success Rate), athletic financial resources (team revenue, expenses, and athletic aid from the federal EADA survey), and overall school quality. The current methodology measures academic-athletic quality and does not include team win/loss performance.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.