Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

56 Best Universities in Virginia

Discover the top 56 universities in Virginia with our comprehensive academic index. By assessing 687K research papers and their 20.43M citations, we reveal the most impactful research centers. The ranking also highlights the real-world influence of these universities, represented by 277.2K notable alumni globally.

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1

Charlottesville

University of Virginia

#40 in United States #43 in North America

17% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1819 Founded

2

Blacksburg

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

#58 in United States #62 in North America

55% Acceptance

31,035 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1872 Founded

3

Fairfax

George Mason University

#98 in United States #112 in North America

87% Acceptance

6,353 Enrollment

1260 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

4

Richmond, VA

Virginia Commonwealth University

#103 in United States #118 in North America

93% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1140 Avg SAT

1838 Founded

5

Williamsburg, VA

College of William and Mary

#138 in United States #159 in North America

34% Acceptance

7,063 Enrollment

1465 Avg SAT

1693 Founded

6

Norfolk, VA

Old Dominion University

#169 in United States #193 in North America

90% Acceptance

4,202 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1930 Founded

7

Richmond, VA

University of Richmond

#229 in United States #258 in North America

22% Acceptance

6,885 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1830 Founded

8

Harrisonburg

James Madison University

#236 in United States #266 in North America

72% Acceptance

7,500 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

9

Arlington, VA

Marymount University

#279 in United States #310 in North America

93% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1425 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

10

Lexington, VA

Washington and Lee University

#341 in United States #378 in North America

14% Acceptance

670 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT

1749 Founded

11

Hampton

Hampton University

#346 in United States #385 in North America

62% Acceptance

3,728 Enrollment

940 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

12

Norfolk, VA

Eastern Virginia Medical School

#411 in United States #457 in North America

9% Acceptance

2,220 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

1973 Founded

13

Lynchburg

Liberty University

#419 in United States #465 in North America

99% Acceptance

52,961 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

14

Radford

Radford University

#474 in United States #523 in North America

90% Acceptance

6,161 Enrollment

1050 Avg SAT

1910 Founded

15

Virginia Beach

Regent University

#551 in United States #606 in North America

38% Acceptance

5,049 Enrollment

1120 Avg SAT

1978 Founded

16

Norfolk, VA

Norfolk State University

#562 in United States #617 in North America

88% Acceptance

5,410 Enrollment

927 Avg SAT

1935 Founded

17

Newport News

Christopher Newport University

#588 in United States #645 in North America

86% Acceptance

896 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1961 Founded

18

Fredericksburg

University of Mary Washington

#595 in United States #652 in North America

80% Acceptance

3,660 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

19

Petersburg

Virginia State University

#622 in United States #681 in North America

89% Acceptance

3,177 Enrollment

955 Avg SAT

1882 Founded

20

Farmville

Longwood University

#699 in United States #764 in North America

90% Acceptance

7,500 Enrollment

1120 Avg SAT

1839 Founded

21

Winchester, VA

Shenandoah University

#709 in United States #775 in North America

77% Acceptance

2,641 Enrollment

1108 Avg SAT

1875 Founded

22

Salem, VA

Roanoke College

#753 in United States #821 in North America

83% Acceptance

6,885 Enrollment

1195 Avg SAT

1842 Founded

23

Lynchburg

University of Lynchburg

#776 in United States #844 in North America

43% Acceptance

7,500 Enrollment

1105 Avg SAT

1903 Founded

24

Sweet Briar

Sweet Briar College

#804 in United States #872 in North America

76% Acceptance

444 Enrollment

1205 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

25

Emory

Emory & Henry College

#858 in United States #927 in North America

84% Acceptance

5,382 Enrollment

1137 Avg SAT

1836 Founded

26

Bridgewater, VA

Bridgewater College

#883 in United States #953 in North America

92% Acceptance

6,885 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

27

Roanoke

Hollins University

#920 in United States #992 in North America

68% Acceptance

665 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

1842 Founded

28

Ashland, VA

Randolph-Macon College

#955 in United States #1027 in North America

87% Acceptance

1,643 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1830 Founded

29

Harrisonburg

Eastern Mennonite University

#1015 in United States #1088 in North America

100% Acceptance

791 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1917 Founded

30

Virginia Beach

Virginia Wesleyan University

#1147 in United States #1222 in North America

73% Acceptance

1,749 Enrollment

1208 Avg SAT

1961 Founded

31

Staunton

Mary Baldwin University

#1179 in United States #1254 in North America

100% Acceptance

1,124 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1842 Founded

32

Lynchburg

Randolph College

#1239 in United States #1317 in North America

94% Acceptance

694 Enrollment

1155 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

33

Richmond, VA

Virginia Union University

#1272 in United States #1350 in North America

98% Acceptance

63,012 Enrollment

868 Avg SAT

1865 Founded

34

Ferrum

#1278 in United States #1356 in North America

89% Acceptance

1,765 Enrollment

890 Avg SAT

1913 Founded

35

Wise

University of Virginia’s College at Wise

#1291 in United States #1369 in North America

29% Acceptance

2,142 Enrollment

1033 Avg SAT

1954 Founded

36

Blacksburg

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

#1298 in United States #1376 in North America

10% Acceptance

835 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

37

Richmond, VA

Union Presbyterian Seminary

#1452 in United States #1537 in North America

81% Acceptance

374 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

38

Danville, VA

Averett University

#1507 in United States #1593 in North America

57% Acceptance

63,012 Enrollment

1035 Avg SAT

1859 Founded

39

Fairfax

Stratford University

#1530 in United States #1616 in North America

75% Acceptance

6,636 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

$23,243 Net Price

40

Bluefield, VA

Bluefield College

#1644 in United States #1731 in North America

59% Acceptance

627 Enrollment

1922 Founded

$22,216 Net Price

41

Virginia Beach

ECPI University

#1715 in United States #1803 in North America

75% Acceptance

12,164 Enrollment

1966 Founded

$22,407 Net Price

42

Oakwood

Appalachian College of Pharmacy

#1880 in United States #1971 in North America

100% Acceptance

5,186 Enrollment

1288 Avg SAT

2003 Founded

43

Lynchburg

Virginia University of Lynchburg

#1885 in United States #1977 in North America

100% Acceptance

126 Enrollment

$19,066 Net Price

44

Arlington, VA

University of Management and Technology

#1897 in United States #1989 in North America

100% Acceptance

7,500 Enrollment

1045 Avg SAT

$8,987 Net Price

45

Grundy

Appalachian School of Law

#1931 in United States #2024 in North America

87% Acceptance

46

Fairfax

Virginia International University

#1995 in United States #2088 in North America

96% Acceptance

5 Enrollment

$19,632 Net Price

47

Vienna, VA

University of the Potomac – Virginia

#2068 in United States #2163 in North America

100% Acceptance

157 Enrollment

1991 Founded

$21,564 Net Price

48

Vienna, VA

IGlobal University

#2094 in United States #2191 in North America

7% Acceptance

400 Enrollment

$22,709 Net Price

49

Arlington, VA

Divine Mercy University

#2150 in United States #2249 in North America

88% Acceptance

50

Salem, VA

American National University

#2173 in United States #2272 in North America

100% Acceptance

630 Enrollment

$18,061 Net Price

51

Fredericksburg

Veritas Baptist College

#2292 in United States #2393 in North America

95% Acceptance

133 Enrollment

$21,695 Net Price

52

Chesapeake, VA

Sentara College of Health Sciences

#2316 in United States #2417 in North America

100% Acceptance

251 Enrollment

53

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach Theological Seminary

#2332 in United States #2433 in North America

78% Acceptance

1 Enrollment

54

Danville, VA

Averett University – Non-Traditional Programs

#2456 in United States #2557 in North America

55% Acceptance

$12,165 Net Price

55

Roanoke

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

#2472 in United States #2573 in North America

9% Acceptance

56

Fairfax

Virginia University of Oriental Medicine

#2493 in United States #2594 in North America

81% Acceptance