Top Ranked Colleges: Universities | Public Universities | Liberal Arts Colleges | Engineering | Business | Women's | Most Selective
Virginia is a strong state for higher education. From large research universities to small liberal arts colleges, from military colleges to single-sex campuses, Virginia offers a little of everything. The 17 top Virginia colleges listed below vary so much in size and mission that I have simply listed them alphabetically rather than force them into any sort of artificial ranking. That said, Washington and Lee, the University of Virginia and the College of William and Mary are probably the most selective and prestigious schools on the list.
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Christopher Newport University
jeredb / Flickr
- Location: Newport News, Virginia
- Enrollment: 4,952 (4,786 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: public university
- Distinctions: $500 million in campus improvements in recent years; rated as an "up and coming" school by U.S. News & World Report; excellent center for the arts; active student life scene
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Christopher Newport University profile
College of William and Mary
Lyndi&Jason / flickr
- Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
- Enrollment: 7,874 (5,836 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: public university
- Distinctions: one of the country's best public universities; home to the original chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; founded in 1693 (the second oldest college in the country); numerous academic strengths; highly selective admissions; excellent value for in-state students
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the College of William and Mary profile
George Mason University (GMU)
funkblast / Flickr
- Location: Fairfax, Virginia
- Enrollment: 32,067 (19,702 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: public university
- Distinctions: ranked #1 by U.S. News & World Report among "up-and-coming schools"; member of the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association; rapidly expanding school with several branch campuses
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the George Mason University profile
Hampden-Sydney College
deeleywoman / Flickr
- Location: Hampden-Sydney, Virginia
- Enrollment: 1,068 (all undergraduate)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college for men affiliated with the Presbyterian Church
- Distinctions: 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio; rich history dating back to 1775; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strengths in the liberal arts and sciences; good financial aid
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Hampden-Sydney College profile
Hollins University
drewsaunders / Flickr
- Location: Roanoke, Virginia
- Enrollment: 1,057 (796 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college for women
- Distinctions: 10 to 1 student / faculty ratio; 475-acre campus near the Blue Ridge Parkway; strong international learning and internship programs; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; good financial aid
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Hollins College profile
James Madison University (JMU)
taberandrew / Flickr
- Location: Harrisonburg, Virginia
- Enrollment: 18,971 (17,281 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: public university
- Distinctions: high rankings for value and academic quality; attractive campus features a lake and arboretum; member of the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association and Eastern College Athletic Conference
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the James Madison University profile
Longwood University
basbarnowl / Flickr
- Location: Farmville, Virginia
- Enrollment: 4,832 (4,086 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: public university
- Distinctions: emphasis on hands-on learning (all students are required to take part in an internship or research project); average class size of 21; athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division I level
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Longwood University profile
Randolph College
taberandrew / Flickr
- Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
- Enrollment: 500 (488 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college
- Distinctions: 8 to 1 student / faculty ratio and an average class size of 12; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; high marks for student engagement; located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains; good financial aid
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Randolph College profile
Randolph-Macon College
Photo Credit: Randolph-Macon College
- Location: Ashland, Virginia
- Enrollment: 1,246 (all undergraduate)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college affiliated with the Methodist Church
- Distinctions: 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio; average class size of 15; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; all first-year students take an interdisciplinary team-taught seminar; good financial aid
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Randolph-Macon College profile
Roanoke College
mlctuckerphotography / Flickr
- Location: Salem, Virginia
- Enrollment: 2,044 (all undergraduate)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college
- Distinctions: chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong programs in the liberal arts and sciences; 14 to 1 student / faculty ratio; average class size of 18; good financial aid
- For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, visit the Roanoke College profile
