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 38 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2023, 560 students graduated with students earning 453 Bachelor's degrees, and 107 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.
University of Richmond offers 74 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2023, 1,059 students graduated with students earning 804 Bachelor's degrees, 151 Doctoral degrees, 96 Master's degrees, and 8 Certificates.
William & Mary offers 93 degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2023, 2,880 students graduated with students earning 1,597 Bachelor's degrees, 959 Master's degrees, 283 Doctoral degrees, and 41 Certificates.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University offers 303 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 10,407 students graduated with students earning 7,403 Bachelor's degrees, 1,793 Master's degrees, 674 Doctoral degrees, 503 Certificates, and 34 Associate's degrees.
Hampden-Sydney College offers 32 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a faraway rural area. In 2023, 150 students graduated with students earning 150 Bachelor's degrees.
Virginia Military Institute offers 14 degree programs. It's a small, public, four-year university in a faraway town. In 2023, 347 students graduated with students earning 347 Bachelor's degrees.
Hampton University offers 109 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2023, 571 students graduated with students earning 452 Bachelor's degrees, 77 Master's degrees, 33 Doctoral degrees, 6 Associate's degrees, and 3 Certificates.
James Madison University offers 109 degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small city. In 2023, 5,326 students graduated with students earning 4,433 Bachelor's degrees, 739 Master's degrees, 114 Certificates, and 40 Doctoral degrees.
Randolph-Macon College offers 45 degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2023, 329 students graduated with students earning 329 Bachelor's degrees.
Best Community Colleges in Virginia
Advanced Technology Institute offers 9 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large city. In 2023, 163 students graduated with students earning 123 Certificates, and 40 Associate's degrees.
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 2023, 34 students graduated with students earning 22 Certificates, and 12 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 2023, 294 students graduated with students earning 224 Certificates, and 70 Associate's degrees.
Eastern Virginia Career College offers 9 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a midsize suburb. In 2023, 87 students graduated with students earning 71 Associate's degrees, and 16 Certificates.
Columbia College offers 14 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a large suburb. In 2023, 39 students graduated with students earning 36 Associate's degrees, and 3 Certificates.
Riverside College of Health Careers offers 9 degree programs. It's a very small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2023, 155 students graduated with students earning 105 Associate's degrees, 25 Bachelor's degrees, and 25 Certificates.
Centura College-Norfolk offers 7 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, two-year college in a midsize city. In 2023, 148 students graduated with students earning 135 Certificates, and 13 Associate's degrees.
Centura College-Newport News offers 3 degree programs. It's a very small, private for-profit, less than two-year school in a midsize city. In 2023, 115 students graduated with students earning 115 Certificates.
Mountain Empire Community College offers 59 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a faraway town. In 2023, 390 students graduated with students earning 243 Associate's degrees, and 147 Certificates.
Richard Bland College offers 9 degree programs. It's a small, public, two-year college in a outlying rural area. In 2023, 162 students graduated with students earning 162 Associate's degrees.
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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 | 8 : 1 | 2,277 | |
|
University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA | 16 : 1 | 25,924 | |
|
University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA | 8 : 1 | 3,776 | |
|
William & Mary Williamsburg, VA | 14 : 1 | 9,762 | |
|
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA | 18 : 1 | 38,294 | |