Best colleges in Virginia
Stuck Between An Education and An Experience
Known as the Mother of States, this may just be the Mother of All Education
You may think Mid-Atlantic beaches when you imagine Virginia, and you wouldn’t be wrong. But Virginia also has more than 100 colleges and universities with any major you could ever want. Some universities are especially known for their technology and innovation. With this many higher education options, Virginia is very educated - 36.1% of the population hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.* With a 5.5% unemployment rate and growing markets in food processing, aerospace, data centers, IT, life sciences, and more, you’ll be in the right place for a job after graduation. And with an average weekly wage of $1,050, higher than the national average, you’ll be able to start that savings account or live bigger in Old Dominion.
And positioned as the gateway to the South,* Virginia is also in an ideal place geographically for fun. When you go to college in this state, you can put your books down to enjoy any outdoor activity in any of the four seasons. You can visit caverns, beaches, national & state parks, see the beginnings of America in museums, and enjoy a scenic view of the Allegheny and Blue Ridge mountains. There are no gaps between rocks and hard places here.
Click Here to See the Best Colleges in the US*yesvirginia.org *Bureau of Labor Statistics *schev.eduBest Four Year Universities in Virginia
Washington and Lee University offers 40 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2022, 563 students graduated with students earning 444 Bachelor's degrees, and 119 Doctoral degrees.
The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public university founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson in the college town of Charlottesville, Virginia. The university is known for its beautiful and iconic Jeffersonian architecture rooted in Roman and Greek techniques, and sprawling central lawn which is used to host graduations, school events, and local festivals. Charlottesville is located near Monticello, where Thomas Jefferson lived and worked during the school’s early years. Since its inception, the school has expanded to include a medical school, law school, and massive athletics department that competes in the ACC, represented by the school’s mascot, the Cavalier.
UVA is one of the wealthiest public universities in the world with an endowment exceeding $7 billion, and an annual budget of over $1.9 billion. The current enrollment at UVA is 25,000 students, and most class sizes are under 20 students, making it an intimate and competitive learning environment. Due to its proximity to Washington D.C., UVA has cultivated ties with some of the nation’s top governmental programs like the FBI and CIA, as depicted in the film The Silence of the Lambs.
UVA students have plenty to do while on-campus with over 100 academic and social clubs to choose from, along with a popular Greek system that is situated a few miles from the central lawn. Some well-known colleges at UVA include the Darden School of Business, Curry School of Education, and the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. It is one of the top public universities in the United States and is highly competitive for both undergraduate and graduate applicants. Notable alumni include poet Edgar Allen Poe, artist Georgia O'Keeffe, and actress Tina Fey.
William & Mary offers 93 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2022, 2,741 students graduated with students earning 1,583 Bachelor's degrees, 805 Master's degrees, 310 Doctoral degrees, and 43 Certificates.
University of Richmond offers 71 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 1,030 students graduated with students earning 755 Bachelor's degrees, 127 Master's degrees, 125 Doctoral degrees, and 23 Certificates.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University offers 296 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 9,242 students graduated with students earning 6,603 Bachelor's degrees, 1,451 Master's degrees, 657 Doctoral degrees, 496 Certificates, and 35 Associate's degrees.
Hampden-Sydney College offers 28 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a faraway rural area. In 2022, 227 students graduated with students earning 227 Bachelor's degrees.
Virginia Military Institute offers 14 degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2022, 384 students graduated with students earning 384 Bachelor's degrees.
Randolph-Macon College offers 42 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 327 students graduated with students earning 327 Bachelor's degrees.
University of Mary Washington offers 36 degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a midsize suburb. In 2022, 1,135 students graduated with students earning 964 Bachelor's degrees, 150 Master's degrees, and 21 Certificates.
James Madison University offers 102 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 5,345 students graduated with students earning 4,503 Bachelor's degrees, 748 Master's degrees, 57 Certificates, and 37 Doctoral degrees.
Best Community Colleges in Virginia
Eastern Virginia Career College offers 8 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a midsize suburb. In 2022, 81 students graduated with students earning 74 Associate's degrees, and 7 Certificates.
Saint Michael College of Allied Health offers 2 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 31 students graduated with students earning 18 Certificates, and 13 Associate's degrees.
Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing offers 2 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 260 students graduated with students earning 204 Certificates, and 56 Associate's degrees.
Advanced Technology Institute offers 9 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2022, 208 students graduated with students earning 145 Certificates, and 63 Associate's degrees.
Centura College-Norfolk offers 7 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a midsize city. In 2022, 170 students graduated with students earning 155 Certificates, and 15 Associate's degrees.
Chester Career College offers 8 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 38 students graduated with students earning 33 Associate's degrees, and 5 Certificates.
Columbia College offers 15 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 60 students graduated with students earning 48 Associate's degrees, and 12 Certificates.
Centura College-Newport News offers 6 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, less than two-year school in a midsize city. In 2022, 138 students graduated with students earning 138 Certificates.
Riverside College of Health Careers offers 8 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 151 students graduated with students earning 115 Associate's degrees, 21 Certificates, and 15 Bachelor's degrees.
Northern Virginia Community College offers 108 degree programs. It's a very large, public, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2022, 8,068 students graduated with students earning 5,566 Associate's degrees, and 2,502 Certificates.
Find local colleges in Virginia
Top schools offering specific degrees in Virginia
List of all colleges in Virginia
| School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA | 9 : 1 | 2,243 | |
|
University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA | 17 : 1 | 26,082 | |
|
William & Mary Williamsburg, VA | 14 : 1 | 9,654 | |
|
University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA | 9 : 1 | 3,876 | |
|
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA | 18 : 1 | 38,170 | |