Best Virginia Colleges
Virginia has 32 ranked four-year colleges, part of our national best colleges ranking. Rankings weigh admission scores, graduation rates, and selectivity using statistical data, not editorial picks.
Leading our 2027 rankings is Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, topping our list in Virginia. The top rated public university is University of Virginia Main Campus. Also highly ranked: University of Richmond, University of Virginia Main Campus and William & Mary.
Compare tuition, acceptance rates, and enrollment across the colleges below. See how rankings are calculated on our methodology page. Sort by tuition, acceptance rate, or enrollment to find the school that fits you.
Bridgewater College
- Private 4 Year
- Bridgewater, VA
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| 0 reviews
- May 1 application deadline
Bridgewater is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate programs in biology, business, and education. The Church of the Brethren-affiliated campus sits in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.
- SAT Range 1020-1360
- Avg GPA 3.61
- Acceptance Rate 92%
- Net Price $11,316
Averett University
- Private 4 Year
- Danville, VA
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1.6 | 5 reviews
Averett is a private university known for undergraduate aviation and business programs. The small campus sits in the city of Danville near the North Carolina border.
- SAT Range 926-1143
- Avg GPA 3.07
- Acceptance Rate 57%
- Net Price $23,471
Longwood University
- Public 4 Year
- Farmville, VA
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| 0 reviews
Longwood is a public university known for undergraduate education, business, and nursing. The residential campus sits in the small college town of Farmville.
- SAT Range 1030-1210
- Avg GPA 3.59
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $20,847
Emory & Henry University
- Private 4 Year
- Emory, VA
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| 0 reviews
Emory & Henry is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate teacher education and the social sciences. The rural campus sits in the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia.
- SAT Range 1051-1223
- Avg GPA 3.5
- Acceptance Rate 84%
- Net Price $21,446
Hampton University
- Private 4 Year
- Hampton, VA
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3.8 | 6 reviews
- 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.
- SAT Range 790-1090
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 62%
- Net Price $27,428
Virginia Wesleyan University
- Private 4 Year
- Virginia Beach, VA
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| 0 reviews
Virginia Wesleyan is a private liberal arts university known for undergraduate programs in the arts and sciences. The wooded campus sits in suburban Virginia Beach near the Atlantic coast.
- SAT Range 1140-1350
- Avg GPA 3.39
- Acceptance Rate 73%
- Net Price $21,267
University of Virginia's College at Wise
- Public 4 Year
- Wise, VA
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
UVA Wise is a public liberal arts college known for undergraduate nursing and teacher education. The rural campus sits in the Appalachian Mountains of southwestern Virginia.
- SAT Range 945-1120
- Avg GPA 3.57
- Acceptance Rate 29%
- Net Price $14,378
Liberty University
- Private 4 Year
- Lynchburg, VA
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4.8 | 4 reviews
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.
- SAT Range 1040-1250
- Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 99%
- Net Price $29,532
Regent University
- Private 4 Year
- Virginia Beach, VA
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| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Regent is a private Christian university known for undergraduate communication, government, and the arts. The suburban campus is in Virginia Beach near the Atlantic coast.
- SAT Range 990-1250
- Avg GPA 3.34
- Acceptance Rate 38%
- Net Price $20,512
Virginia State University
- Public 4 Year
- Petersburg, VA
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| 0 reviews
- 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.
- SAT Range 840-1070
- Avg GPA 2.85
- Acceptance Rate 89%
- Net Price $17,840
Norfolk State University
- Public 4 Year
- Norfolk, VA
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| 0 reviews
- 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.
- SAT Range 823-1030
- Avg GPA 2.9
- Acceptance Rate 88%
- Net Price $9,124
Virginia Union University
- Private 4 Year
- Richmond, VA
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| 0 reviews
Virginia Union is a private historically Black university known for undergraduate programs in business, education, and social work. The historic urban campus sits on Richmond's North Side.
- SAT Range 850-885
- Avg GPA 2.71
- Acceptance Rate 98%
- Net Price $11,483
Eastern Mennonite University
- Private 4 Year
- Harrisonburg, VA
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| 0 reviews
Eastern Mennonite is a private Mennonite university known for undergraduate peacebuilding and nursing. Students attend a residential campus in Harrisonburg in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.
- SAT Range 1040-1590
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $25,021
Mary Baldwin University
- Private 4 Year
- Staunton, VA
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| 0 reviews
Mary Baldwin is a private university known for undergraduate liberal arts programs and the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership. The residential campus is in the historic Shenandoah Valley city of Staunton.
- SAT Range 940-1120
- Avg GPA 3.57
- Acceptance Rate 100%
- Net Price $17,810