The Best Virginia Big Colleges
These are the top ranked large, public and private, four-year colleges in Virginia as ranked by CollegeSimply. These schools all have total enrollment of 20,000 or more. Leading the list for 2027 is University of Virginia Main Campus. Learn how the Best Large Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.
University of Virginia Main Campus
- Public 4 Year
- Charlottesville, VA
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| 0 reviews
- 26,409 total enrollment
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.
- SAT Range 1410-1540
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.85
- Acceptance Rate 17%
- Net Price $18,427
Virginia Tech
- Public 4 Year
- Blacksburg, VA
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5.0 | 3 reviews
- 38,857 total enrollment
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.
- SAT Range 1280-1450
- Avg GPA 3.97
- Acceptance Rate 55%
- Net Price $24,912
George Mason University
- Public 4 Year
- Fairfax, VA
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3.7 | 3 reviews
- 39,766 total enrollment
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.
- SAT Range 1160-1360
- Avg GPA 3.68
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $18,823
James Madison University
- Public 4 Year
- Harrisonburg, VA
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5.0 | 3 reviews
- 22,740 total enrollment
JMU is a large public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and education. Harrisonburg is a college town in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.
- SAT Range 1170-1340
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.57
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $18,856
Virginia Commonwealth University
- Public 4 Year
- Richmond, VA
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3.0 | 1 reviews
- 28,464 total enrollment
VCU is a large public university known for undergraduate fine arts, design, and health professions. The urban campus stretches across downtown Richmond.
- SAT Range 1010-1270
- Avg GPA 3.75
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $26,836
Old Dominion University
- Public 4 Year
- Norfolk, VA
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4.5 | 2 reviews
- 23,743 total enrollment
Old Dominion is a large public university known for undergraduate oceanography, engineering, and nursing. The urban campus sits in the coastal city of Norfolk.
- SAT Range 1100-1280
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $16,419
Liberty University
- Private 4 Year
- Lynchburg, VA
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4.8 | 4 reviews
- 104,327 total enrollment
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