College Costs in Virginia

Virginia Colleges, Cost and Affordability for 2027

How much does it cost to attend college in Virginia?   The average annual in-state college tuition in Virginia was $18,392 for the 2024-2025 academic year. This is $582 higher than the U.S. average and ranks Virginia in the middle of the pack as the 23rd most expensive state or district to attend college. This is a change of $2,095 from the 2022-2023 average of $16,297 and represents a 12.86% annual increase in tuition costs. The list of Virginia colleges below provides school specific cost and value rating.

This analysis surveyed tuition data from the 82 colleges and universities in Virginia, the most popular being Liberty University with 58,282 full time students and an in-state tuition list price of $22,465. Washington and Lee University is the most expensive in Virginia with an in-state tuition of $68,045.

All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS 2025 survey and reflect reported costs for academic year 2024/2025.

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Virginia Public Private For-Profit 4 Year 2 Year

  • Public 4 Year
  • Blacksburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • $15,948 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Virginia Tech is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering and architecture. The campus sits in the college town of Blacksburg in Virginia's Blue Ridge region.

#4 Best Public Universities in Virginia 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1280-1450
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $24,912

  • Public 4 Year
  • Charlottesville, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $21,803 tuition

UVA is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate commerce, government, and architecture. The historic campus in Charlottesville centers on Thomas Jefferson's Academical Village.

#2 Best Public Universities in America 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1410-1540
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.85
  • Acceptance Rate 17%
  • Net Price $18,427

  • Public 4 Year
  • Fairfax, VA
  • 3.7 | 3 reviews
  • $14,220 tuition
  • Feb 1 application deadline

George Mason is a large public university known for undergraduate economics, public policy, and computer science. The suburban Fairfax campus sits near Washington, D.C.

#5 Best Public Universities in Virginia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $18,823

  • Public 4 Year
  • Harrisonburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • $14,250 tuition
  • Jan 15 application deadline

JMU is a large public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and education. Harrisonburg is a college town in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

#6 Best Public Universities in Virginia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1340
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $18,856

  • Public 4 Year
  • Williamsburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 4 reviews
  • $25,914 tuition
  • Jan 2 application deadline

William & Mary is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate history, government, and international relations. The historic campus adjoins Colonial Williamsburg in a small college town.

#4 Best Public Universities in America 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1400-1530
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.85
  • Acceptance Rate 34%
  • Net Price $19,686

  • Public 4 Year
  • Norfolk, VA
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • $12,750 tuition
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Old Dominion is a large public university known for undergraduate oceanography, engineering, and nursing. The urban campus sits in the coastal city of Norfolk.

#10 Best Public Universities in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $16,419

  • Public 4 Year
  • Richmond, VA
  • 3.0 | 1 reviews
  • $16,945 tuition
  • Jan 18 application deadline

VCU is a large public university known for undergraduate fine arts, design, and health professions. The urban campus stretches across downtown Richmond.

#9 Best Public Universities in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $26,836

  • Public 4 Year
  • Petersburg, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $10,043 tuition
  • May 1 application deadline

Virginia State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate agriculture, education, and business. The historic campus is in Petersburg near Richmond.

#14 Best Public Universities in Virginia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 840-1070
  • Avg GPA 2.85
  • Acceptance Rate 89%
  • Net Price $17,840

  • Private 4 Year
  • Lynchburg, VA
  • 4.8 | 4 reviews
  • $22,465 tuition

Liberty is a private Christian university known for undergraduate aviation, nursing, and business. The Lynchburg campus sits in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

#13 Best Private Colleges in Virginia
  • SAT Range 1040-1250
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 99%
  • Net Price $29,532

  • Private 4 Year
  • Hampton, VA
  • 3.8 | 6 reviews
  • $30,592 tuition
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Hampton is a private HBCU known for undergraduate journalism, business, and nursing. The waterfront campus sits along the Hampton River near the Chesapeake Bay.

#11 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 790-1090
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 62%
  • Net Price $27,428

  • Public 4 Year
  • Radford, VA
  • 3.5 | 2 reviews
  • $12,548 tuition

Radford is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in a small college town in southwestern Virginia's New River Valley.

#11 Best Public Universities in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $16,749

  • Private 4 Year
  • University of Richmond, VA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $65,230 tuition
  • Jan 1 application deadline

University of Richmond is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate business and leadership studies. The suburban Collegiate Gothic campus sits in Richmond's West End.

#2 Best Colleges in Virginia 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1410-1530
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 22%
  • Net Price $30,037

  • Public 4 Year
  • Newport News, VA
  • 3.2 | 4 reviews
  • $16,828 tuition
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Christopher Newport is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate leadership studies and political science. The residential campus in Newport News features classical Georgian architecture.

#8 Best Public Universities in Virginia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1060-1290
  • Avg GPA 3.79
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $23,148

  • Public 2 Year
  • Annandale, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $5,891 tuition

NOVA is a large public community college known for undergraduate nursing, information technology, and university transfer programs. The Annandale campus serves the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.

  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 100%
  • Net Price $9,627

  • Public 4 Year
  • Norfolk, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • $10,180 tuition
  • May 31 application deadline

Norfolk State is a public historically Black university known for undergraduate nursing, social work, and communications. The urban campus sits in Norfolk near downtown and the Elizabeth River.

#15 Best Public Universities in Virginia 3/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 823-1030
  • Avg GPA 2.9
  • Acceptance Rate 88%
  • Net Price $9,124

  • Private 4 Year
  • Lexington, VA
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • $68,045 tuition
  • Jan 1 application deadline

Washington and Lee is a highly selective private liberal arts university known for undergraduate business, journalism, and politics. Most undergrads live under a strict student-run honor system on the historic campus in Lexington.

#23 Best Value Colleges in America 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1430-1540
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.87
  • Acceptance Rate 14%
  • Net Price $23,055

  • Public 4 Year
  • Lexington, VA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • $21,046 tuition
  • Feb 1 application deadline

VMI is a public military college known for undergraduate engineering and the sciences. All students join the Corps of Cadets and live in barracks under a military regimen on the historic Lexington campus.

#22 Best Public Universities in America 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $18,825

  • Public 4 Year
  • Fredericksburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • $14,640 tuition

Mary Washington is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate historic preservation and education. The historic campus sits in Fredericksburg near the Rappahannock River.

#7 Best Public Universities in Virginia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $21,800