Best Test-Optional Virginia Colleges
Virginia has 32 ranked test-optional colleges, part of our national test-optional list. These schools do not require SAT or ACT scores with your application, ranked by academic quality and outcomes.
Washington and Lee University tops our 2027 test-optional rankings in Virginia. The top rated public option is University of Virginia Main Campus. Also highly ranked: University of Richmond, University of Virginia Main Campus and William & Mary.
Without test scores, your GPA, activities, recommendation letters, and essays carry more weight. Compare acceptance rates, tuition, and enrollment across the colleges below. Sort by tuition or acceptance rate to find schools that fit your profile. See our ranking methodology for how schools are scored.
Washington and Lee University
- Private 4 Year
- Lexington, VA
-
4.3 | 3 reviews
- 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.
- SAT Range 1430-1540
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.87
- Acceptance Rate 14%
- Net Price $23,055
University of Richmond
- Private 4 Year
- University of Richmond, VA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- 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.
- SAT Range 1410-1530
- Avg GPA 3.71
- Acceptance Rate 22%
- Net Price $30,037
University of Virginia Main Campus
- Public 4 Year
- Charlottesville, VA
-
| 0 reviews
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
William & Mary
- Public 4 Year
- Williamsburg, VA
-
5.0 | 4 reviews
- 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.
- SAT Range 1400-1530
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.85
- Acceptance Rate 34%
- Net Price $19,686
Virginia Military Institute
- Public 4 Year
- Lexington, VA
-
5.0 | 2 reviews
- 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.
- SAT Range 1050-1270
- Avg GPA 3.65
- Acceptance Rate 71%
- Net Price $18,825
Virginia Tech
- Public 4 Year
- Blacksburg, VA
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
- 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.
- SAT Range 1280-1450
- Avg GPA 3.97
- Acceptance Rate 55%
- Net Price $24,912
George Mason University
- Public 4 Year
- Fairfax, VA
-
3.7 | 3 reviews
- 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.
- SAT Range 1160-1360
- Avg GPA 3.68
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $18,823
James Madison University
- Public 4 Year
- Harrisonburg, VA
-
5.0 | 3 reviews
- 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.
- SAT Range 1170-1340
- Predicted Avg GPA 3.57
- Acceptance Rate 72%
- Net Price $18,856
University of Mary Washington
- Public 4 Year
- Fredericksburg, VA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
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.
- SAT Range 1170-1370
- Avg GPA 3.71
- Acceptance Rate 80%
- Net Price $21,800
Roanoke College
- Private 4 Year
- Salem, VA
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
Roanoke is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, biology, and psychology. The residential campus sits in Salem at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- SAT Range 1090-1300
- Avg GPA 3.56
- Acceptance Rate 83%
- Net Price $26,044
Christopher Newport University
- Public 4 Year
- Newport News, VA
-
3.2 | 4 reviews
- 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.
- SAT Range 1060-1290
- Avg GPA 3.79
- Acceptance Rate 86%
- Net Price $23,148
Virginia Commonwealth University
- Public 4 Year
- Richmond, VA
-
3.0 | 1 reviews
- 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.
- SAT Range 1010-1270
- Avg GPA 3.75
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $26,836
Old Dominion University
- Public 4 Year
- Norfolk, VA
-
4.5 | 2 reviews
- 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.
- SAT Range 1100-1280
- Avg GPA 3.3
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $16,419
Radford University
- Public 4 Year
- Radford, VA
-
3.5 | 2 reviews
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.
- SAT Range 940-1160
- Avg GPA 3.31
- Acceptance Rate 90%
- Net Price $16,749
Randolph Macon College
- Private 4 Year
- Ashland, VA
-
| 0 reviews
- Mar 1 application deadline
Randolph-Macon is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, psychology, and business. Most undergrads live on a historic campus in the small college town of Ashland.
- SAT Range 980-1220
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 87%
- Net Price $28,912
Shenandoah University
- Private 4 Year
- Winchester, VA
-
| 0 reviews
- Aug 1 application deadline
Shenandoah is a private university known for undergraduate music, theater, and dance through the Shenandoah Conservatory. The campus is in Winchester in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.
- SAT Range 1010-1230
- Avg GPA 3.7
- Acceptance Rate 77%
- Net Price $27,181
University of Lynchburg
- Private 4 Year
- Lynchburg, VA
-
5.0 | 1 reviews
- Sep 1 application deadline
University of Lynchburg is a private university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. Students live on a residential campus in Lynchburg near the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- SAT Range 980-1230
- Avg GPA 3.53
- Acceptance Rate 43%
- Net Price $23,845
Marymount University
- Private 4 Year
- Arlington, VA
-
| 0 reviews
Marymount is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and interior design. The Arlington campus sits just outside Washington, D.C.
- SAT Range 970-1170
- Avg GPA 3.38
- Acceptance Rate 93%
- Net Price $31,989