This page compares the best colleges in Virginia with tuition, admission, and more academic facts (Ranking data from College Evaluator). For the academic year 2021-2022, Washington and Lee University rank first in the best Virginia college ranking and University of Virginia-Main Campus is placed in second.
Admission Comparison Between Best Colleges in Virginia
8 public and 2 private schools rank in the best Virginia colleges. The schools' average acceptance rate is 57.50% where University of Virginia-Main Campus has the tightest (lowest) acceptance rate of 23% and George Mason University has the highest rate of 89%. Total 146,436 students are attending one of the best Virginia schools where George Mason University has the largest population with 38,541 students and Virginia Military Institute has the smallest number of students (1,698 students). The average graduation rate is 82.30% and the average students to faculty ratio is 12.40:1 at those colleges.
| Rank | Name | Acceptance Rate | SAT Score | Graduation Rate | Population | Student-Faculty Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA | 25% | 1,425 | 93% | 2,183 | 8:1 (12.50 %) |
| 2 | University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA | 23% | 1,415 | 94% | 25,628 | 15:1 (6.67 %) |
| 3 | University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA | 31% | 1,370 | 88% | 4,056 | 8:1 (12.50 %) |
| 4 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VA | 42% | 1,395 | 91% | 8,939 | 11:1 (9.09 %) |
| 5 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA | 66% | 1,270 | 86% | 37,024 | 14:1 (7.14 %) |
| 6 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA | 60% | 1,165 | 85% | 1,698 | 10:1 (10.00 %) |
| 7 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA | 80% | 1,200 | 82% | 21,594 | 16:1 (6.25 %) |
| 8 | Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA | 76% | 1,195 | 80% | 4,868 | 14:1 (7.14 %) |
| 9 | The University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise, VA | 83% | 1,075 | 52% | 1,905 | 11:1 (9.09 %) |
| 10 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA | 89% | 1,200 | 72% | 38,541 | 17:1 (5.88 %) |
| Average | 57.50% | 1,271 | 82.30% | 146,436 (Total) | 12.40:1 (8.06 %) |
Best Virginia Colleges 2022 Tuition Comparison and 2023 Estimated Costs
The following table lists 2021-2022 tuition & fees and compares them between the best Virginia colleges. The 2021-2022 costs are officially published by IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education. The estimated costs for the academic year 2022-2023 are calculated and estimated based on each school's rate of tuition change from 2021 to 2022.
For the undergraduate programs, the average tuition & fees of the best Virginia colleges is $42,540 where Washington and Lee University has the most expensive costs at $59,380 and Christopher Newport University has the lowest amount of tuition at $27,790. The average graduate tuition & fees of the best Virginia colleges is $32,765 where Washington and Lee University has the highest tuition with $47,437 and Christopher Newport University has the lowest amount of graduate school tuition with $21,420.
| Rank | School Name | 2022 Tuition & Fees | 2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 1 | Washington and Lee University | $59,380 | $61,552 | ||
| 2 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | $19,244 | $53,626 | $19,532 | $54,421 |
| 3 | University of Richmond | $58,570 | $60,331 | ||
| 4 | William & Mary | $23,812 | $47,038 | $23,997 | $47,223 |
| 5 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | $14,174 | $33,857 | $14,612 | $34,849 |
| 6 | Virginia Military Institute | $19,670 | $48,324 | $20,141 | $49,454 |
| 7 | James Madison University | $12,638 | $29,564 | $12,954 | $29,902 |
| 8 | Christopher Newport University | $14,924 | $27,790 | $14,924 | $27,790 |
| 9 | The University of Virginia's College at Wise | $11,162 | $30,672 | $11,498 | $31,572 |
| 10 | George Mason University | $13,119 | $36,579 | $13,225 | $35,766 |
| Average | $16,093 | $42,540 | $16,360 | $43,286 | |
| Rank | School Name | 2022 Tuition & Fees | 2023 Estimated Tuition & Fees | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 1 | Washington and Lee University | $47,437 | - | ||
| 2 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | $20,906 | $33,520 | $20,906 | $21,654 |
| 3 | University of Richmond | $25,620 | $25,985 | ||
| 4 | William & Mary | $16,618 | $34,978 | $16,618 | $16,798 |
| 5 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | $16,522 | $31,443 | $16,522 | $17,029 |
| 6 | Virginia Military Institute | - | - | - | - |
| 7 | James Madison University | $12,514 | $29,746 | $12,514 | $13,076 |
| 8 | Christopher Newport University | $12,006 | $21,420 | $12,006 | $12,006 |
| 9 | The University of Virginia's College at Wise | - | - | - | - |
| 10 | George Mason University | $16,644 | $37,956 | $16,644 | $17,209 |
| Average | $15,868 | $32,765 | $16,295 | $31,559 | |