Best Colleges in Virginia (2026)
130 colleges ranked by graduate earnings, acceptance rates, and outcomes — powered by federal data from the U.S. Department of Education.
130
Colleges
$45,997
Avg Earnings (10yr)
$17,997
Avg Net Price
71%
Avg Admit Rate
57%
Avg Grad Rate
State Overview
Virginia is home to 130 colleges and universities, ranging from research universities to community colleges. Washington and Lee University leads the state in graduate earnings, with state alumni earning $45,997 on average ten years after enrollment. Whether you're looking for a flagship research university, a liberal arts college, or a career-focused program, Virginia offers diverse options across all price points.
Quick Facts — Virginia Colleges
Top 10 Colleges in Virginia by Graduate Earnings
Ranked by median earnings 10 years after enrollment. Public and private nonprofit only.
1
Washington and Lee University
Lexington·Private Nonprofit
Admit
14%
Net Price
$23,781
Grad Rate
94%
Earnings
$94,810
2
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville·Public
Admit
17%
Net Price
$21,565
Grad Rate
96%
Earnings
$86,863
3
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg·Public
Admit
55%
Net Price
$24,953
Grad Rate
86%
Earnings
$81,698
4
Sentara College of Health Sciences
Chesapeake·Private Nonprofit
Admit
N/A
Net Price
N/A
Grad Rate
N/A
Earnings
$77,821
6
Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing
Richmond·Private Nonprofit
Admit
N/A
Net Price
N/A
Grad Rate
N/A
Earnings
$77,014
8
University of Richmond
University of Richmond·Private Nonprofit
Admit
22%
Net Price
$31,309
Grad Rate
85%
Earnings
$76,178
10
Southside College of Health Sciences
Colonial Heights·Private Nonprofit
Admit
N/A
Net Price
N/A
Grad Rate
N/A
Earnings
$71,380
Most Affordable Colleges in Virginia
Lowest average net price after grants and scholarships. Public and private nonprofit only.
#1 Most AffordablePublic
Virginia Beach City Public Schools School of Practical NursingVirginia Beach, VA
$1,317/ yr avg net
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Find my Virginia collegeAll Colleges in Virginia
All 130 accredited institutions. Click column headers to sort.
| School | City | Type | Admit Rate | Net Price | Grad Rate | Earnings (10yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Technology Institute | Virginia Beach | Private For-Profit | 54% | $16,358 | N/A | $46,342 |
| American National University | Salem | Private For-Profit | N/A | $18,036 | 33% | $26,370 |
| Another Level Barbering and Cosmetology School | Petersburg | Private For-Profit | N/A | $7,780 | N/A | N/A |
| Arizona College of Nursing - Chesapeake | Chesapeake | Private For-Profit | 100% | $33,626 | N/A | $34,657 |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church | Falls Church | Private For-Profit | 100% | $38,690 | N/A | $34,657 |
| Ascent College | Gainesville | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | 100% | N/A |
| Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Lafayette-Arlington | Arlington | Private For-Profit | N/A | $33,455 | N/A | $23,904 |
| Averett University | Danville | Private Nonprofit | 57% | $22,925 | 48% | $51,516 |
| Avi Career Training | vienna | Private For-Profit | N/A | $15,361 | N/A | $28,615 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas | Manassas | Private For-Profit | N/A | $27,320 | N/A | $46,441 |
| Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk | Norfolk | Private For-Profit | N/A | $23,046 | N/A | $44,173 |
| Blue Ridge Community College | Weyers Cave | Public | N/A | $13,997 | N/A | $42,644 |
| Bluefield University | Bluefield | Private Nonprofit | 59% | $25,573 | 18% | $48,896 |
| Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing | Richmond | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $77,014 |
| Bon Secours St Mary's Hospital School of Medical Imaging | Richmond | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $65,432 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private Nonprofit | 92% | $17,800 | 53% | $53,453 |
| Brightpoint Community College | Chester | Public | N/A | $5,490 | N/A | $41,223 |
| Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | Private Nonprofit | N/A | $12,038 | 24% | $32,568 |
| Cayce/Reilly School of Massage | Virginia Beach | Private Nonprofit | N/A | $17,312 | N/A | $19,338 |
| Centra College | Lynchburg | Private Nonprofit | 100% | N/A | 100% | $60,122 |
| Central School of Practical Nursing | Norfolk | Public | N/A | $8,029 | N/A | $59,399 |
| Central Virginia Community College | Lynchburg | Public | N/A | $6,928 | N/A | $36,627 |
| Centura College-Chesapeake | Chesapeake | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $25,930 |
| Centura College-Newport News | Newport News | Private For-Profit | N/A | $24,842 | N/A | $25,930 |
| Centura College-Norfolk | Norfolk | Private For-Profit | N/A | $31,032 | N/A | $25,930 |
| Chamberlain University-Virginia | Vienna | Private For-Profit | 90% | $33,199 | 100% | $92,405 |
| Chester Career College | CHESTER | Private For-Profit | N/A | $24,259 | N/A | $32,650 |
| Christopher Newport University | Newport News | Public | 86% | $23,015 | 72% | $60,509 |
| Columbia College | Vienna | Private For-Profit | N/A | $10,171 | N/A | $22,160 |
| Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center | Culpeper | Public | N/A | $14,999 | N/A | N/A |
| Danville Community College | Danville | Public | N/A | $6,669 | N/A | $31,664 |
| Dermal Science International Aesthetics and Nail Academy | Reston | Private For-Profit | N/A | $11,502 | N/A | N/A |
| DeVry University-Virginia | Arlington | Private For-Profit | N/A | $36,609 | 0% | $45,987 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private Nonprofit | 100% | $24,588 | 67% | $54,869 |
| Eastern Shore Community College | Melfa | Public | N/A | $2,495 | N/A | $32,418 |
| Eastern Virginia Career College | Fredericksburg | Private For-Profit | 96% | N/A | N/A | $37,304 |
| ECPI University | Virginia Beach | Private For-Profit | 75% | $22,965 | 42% | $42,837 |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory | Private Nonprofit | 84% | $19,061 | 56% | $47,385 |
| Empire Beauty School-Midlothian | Midlothian | Private For-Profit | N/A | $24,203 | N/A | $23,921 |
| Empire Beauty School-Newport News | Newport News | Private For-Profit | N/A | $23,036 | N/A | $23,921 |
| Empire Beauty School-Richmond | Richmond | Private For-Profit | N/A | $23,488 | N/A | $23,921 |
| Empire Beauty School-Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | Private For-Profit | N/A | $23,554 | N/A | $24,407 |
| Ferrum College | Ferrum | Private Nonprofit | 89% | $20,082 | 32% | $44,296 |
| Fortis College-Norfolk | Norfolk | Private For-Profit | N/A | $24,764 | N/A | $32,754 |
| Fortis College-Richmond | Richmond | Private For-Profit | N/A | $24,635 | N/A | $32,754 |
| Galen Health Institutes-Richmond | Richmond | Private For-Profit | N/A | $23,843 | N/A | $61,480 |
| Galen Health Institutes-Roanoke | Roanoke | Private For-Profit | N/A | $26,945 | N/A | $61,480 |
| George Mason University | Fairfax | Public | 87% | $17,915 | 68% | $76,343 |
| Germanna Community College | Locust Grove | Public | N/A | $5,541 | N/A | $39,644 |
| Hampden-Sydney College | Hampden-Sydney | Private Nonprofit | 41% | $22,400 | 62% | $67,640 |
| Hampton University | Hampton | Private Nonprofit | 62% | $25,319 | 57% | $59,159 |
| Henrico County-Saint Marys Hospital School of Practical Nursing | Richmond | Public | 70% | N/A | N/A | $56,618 |
| Hollins University | Roanoke | Private Nonprofit | 68% | $20,896 | 65% | $40,075 |
| Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics | Ashland | Private For-Profit | N/A | $10,219 | N/A | $31,213 |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Richmond | Public | N/A | $5,168 | N/A | $39,529 |
| James Madison University | Harrisonburg | Public | 72% | $23,322 | 80% | $69,954 |
| Jazz Barber and Hairstyling Academy | Petersburg | Private For-Profit | N/A | $14,175 | N/A | N/A |
| Laurel Ridge Community College | Middletown | Public | N/A | $6,013 | N/A | $41,000 |
| Liberty University | Lynchburg | Private Nonprofit | 99% | $29,357 | 65% | $44,813 |
| Longwood University | Farmville | Public | 90% | $19,066 | 61% | $52,347 |
| Lotus Professional College | Richmond | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Luckes Beauty Academy LLC | Newport News | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mary Baldwin University | Staunton | Private Nonprofit | N/A | $12,756 | 39% | $44,427 |
| Marymount University | Arlington | Private Nonprofit | 93% | $29,137 | 54% | $67,516 |
| Medical Solutions Academy | Danville | Private For-Profit | N/A | $18,093 | N/A | N/A |
| Mountain Empire Community College | Big Stone Gap | Public | N/A | $8,852 | N/A | $32,622 |
| Mountain Gateway Community College | Clifton Forge | Public | N/A | $4,861 | N/A | $34,293 |
| New River Community College | Dublin | Public | N/A | $6,279 | N/A | $40,025 |
| Norfolk State University | Norfolk | Public | 88% | $15,282 | 39% | $44,666 |
| Northern Virginia Community College | Annandale | Public | N/A | $9,919 | N/A | $53,557 |
| Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage | Falls Church | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $44,892 |
| Old Dominion University | Norfolk | Public | 90% | $14,638 | 46% | $54,914 |
| Patrick & Henry Community College | Martinsville | Public | N/A | $4,102 | N/A | $33,323 |
| Patrick Henry College | Purcellville | Private Nonprofit | 77% | N/A | 74% | N/A |
| Paul D Camp Community College | Franklin | Public | N/A | $4,126 | N/A | $36,031 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Roanoke | Roanoke | Private For-Profit | N/A | $20,318 | N/A | $19,217 |
| Piedmont Virginia Community College | Charlottesville | Public | N/A | $5,963 | N/A | $40,752 |
| Radford University | Radford | Public | 90% | $14,578 | 49% | $53,739 |
| Randolph College | Lynchburg | Private Nonprofit | 94% | $15,921 | 46% | $53,409 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private Nonprofit | 87% | $27,866 | 70% | $58,448 |
| Rappahannock Community College | Glenns | Public | N/A | $4,343 | N/A | $36,121 |
| Regent University | Virginia Beach | Private Nonprofit | 38% | $19,923 | 57% | $44,498 |
| Richard Bland College | South Prince George | Public | 89% | $13,045 | N/A | $41,452 |
| Riverside College of Health Sciences | Newport News | Private Nonprofit | 13% | $20,744 | 100% | $66,072 |
| Roanoke College | Salem | Private Nonprofit | 83% | $24,503 | 67% | $58,047 |
| Rudy & Kelly Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner School | Virginia Beach | Private For-Profit | N/A | $18,024 | N/A | $24,176 |
| Sentara College of Health Sciences | Chesapeake | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $77,821 |
| Shenandoah University | Winchester | Private Nonprofit | 77% | $30,298 | 67% | $58,433 |
| South University-Richmond | Glen Allen | Private For-Profit | N/A | $30,442 | 42% | $34,421 |
| South University-Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | Private For-Profit | N/A | $27,843 | 8% | $34,421 |
| Southern Virginia University | Buena Vista | Private Nonprofit | 96% | $22,213 | 33% | $50,002 |
| Southside College of Health Sciences | Colonial Heights | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $71,380 |
| Southside Virginia Community College | Alberta | Public | N/A | $5,338 | N/A | $32,371 |
| Southwest Virginia Community College | Cedar Bluff | Public | N/A | $6,005 | N/A | $34,221 |
| Sovah School of Health Professions | Danville | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $69,924 |
| Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing | Falls Church | Private For-Profit | 28% | $35,726 | N/A | N/A |
| Staunton School of Cosmetology | Staunton | Private For-Profit | N/A | $9,504 | N/A | $22,660 |
| Strayer University-Virginia | Arlington | Private For-Profit | N/A | $19,578 | 36% | $40,092 |
| Sweet Briar College | Sweet Briar | Private Nonprofit | 76% | $17,758 | 52% | $51,943 |
| Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy | Lynchburg | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $17,106 |
| The Chrysm Institute of Esthetics | Virginia Beach | Private For-Profit | N/A | $21,552 | N/A | N/A |
| The Esthetic Institute | Vienna | Private For-Profit | N/A | $22,147 | N/A | N/A |
| Tidewater Community College | Norfolk | Public | N/A | $11,762 | N/A | $38,349 |
| Tidewater Tech-East Little Creek | Norfolk | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | $31,657 |
| Tidewater Tech-Trades | Norfolk | Private For-Profit | N/A | $26,366 | N/A | $31,657 |
| Tomorrow's Image Barber And Beauty Academy of Virginia | Newport News | Private For-Profit | N/A | $12,093 | N/A | N/A |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private Nonprofit | 43% | $22,235 | 57% | $56,380 |
| University of Management and Technology | Arlington | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | 33% | $68,530 |
| University of Mary Washington | Fredericksburg | Public | 80% | $20,667 | 66% | $60,613 |
| University of Richmond | University of Richmond | Private Nonprofit | 22% | $31,309 | 85% | $76,178 |
| University of the Potomac-VA Campus | FALLS CHURCH | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | 50% | $34,961 |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus | Charlottesville | Public | 17% | $21,565 | 96% | $86,863 |
| University of Virginia's College at Wise | Wise | Public | 29% | $9,210 | 47% | $45,325 |
| Virginia Barber School | Richmond | Private For-Profit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Virginia Beach City Public Schools School of Practical Nursing | Virginia Beach | Public | N/A | $1,317 | N/A | N/A |
| Virginia Beach Theological Seminary | Virginia Beach | Private Nonprofit | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | Public | 93% | $23,433 | 63% | $58,128 |
| Virginia Highlands Community College | Abingdon | Public | N/A | $5,375 | N/A | $32,681 |
| Virginia Military Institute | Lexington | Public | 71% | $17,113 | 76% | $77,369 |
| Virginia Peninsula Community College | Hampton | Public | N/A | $7,012 | N/A | $37,996 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Blacksburg | Public | 55% | $24,953 | 86% | $81,698 |
| Virginia State University | Petersburg | Public | 89% | $15,840 | 39% | $45,543 |
| Virginia Union University | Richmond | Private Nonprofit | 98% | $13,235 | 34% | $38,275 |
| Virginia University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private Nonprofit | N/A | $21,253 | 38% | $28,396 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private Nonprofit | 73% | $19,676 | 42% | $50,074 |
| Virginia Western Community College | Roanoke | Public | N/A | $4,966 | N/A | $38,787 |
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington | Private Nonprofit | 14% | $23,781 | 94% | $94,810 |
| Washington University of Science and Technology | Alexandria | Private For-Profit | 7% | N/A | 67% | N/A |
| William & Mary | Williamsburg | Public | 34% | $19,096 | 89% | $73,490 |
| Wytheville Community College | Wytheville | Public | N/A | $4,622 | N/A | $34,303 |
Showing 130 of 130 schools