Academic Index Last updated: June 12, 2026

57 Best Universities in Virginia

Discover the top 57 universities in Virginia with our comprehensive academic index. By assessing 730.9K research papers and their 21.58M citations, we reveal the most impactful research centers. The ranking also highlights the real-world influence of these universities, represented by 306.6K 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

Virginia Commonwealth University

#103 in United States #118 in North America

93% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1140 Avg SAT

1838 Founded

5

Williamsburg

College of William and Mary

#138 in United States #159 in North America

34% Acceptance

7,063 Enrollment

1465 Avg SAT

1693 Founded

6

United States | Texas

University of Texas at Arlington

#179 in North America #156 in United States

80% Acceptance

32,545 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

1895 Founded

7

Norfolk

Old Dominion University

#169 in United States #193 in North America

90% Acceptance

4,202 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1930 Founded

8

Richmond

University of Richmond

#229 in United States #258 in North America

22% Acceptance

6,885 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1830 Founded

9

Harrisonburg

James Madison University

#236 in United States #266 in North America

72% Acceptance

7,500 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

10

Arlington

Marymount University

#279 in United States #310 in North America

93% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1425 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

11

Lexington

Washington and Lee University

#341 in United States #378 in North America

14% Acceptance

670 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT

1749 Founded

12

Hampton

Hampton University

#346 in United States #385 in North America

62% Acceptance

3,728 Enrollment

940 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

13

Norfolk

Eastern Virginia Medical School

#411 in United States #457 in North America

9% Acceptance

2,220 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

1973 Founded

14

Lynchburg

Liberty University

#419 in United States #465 in North America

99% Acceptance

52,961 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

15

Radford

Radford University

#474 in United States #523 in North America

90% Acceptance

6,161 Enrollment

1050 Avg SAT

1910 Founded

16

Virginia Beach

Regent University

#551 in United States #606 in North America

38% Acceptance

5,049 Enrollment

1120 Avg SAT

1978 Founded

17

Norfolk

Norfolk State University

#562 in United States #617 in North America

88% Acceptance

5,410 Enrollment

927 Avg SAT

1935 Founded

18

Newport News

Christopher Newport University

#588 in United States #645 in North America

86% Acceptance

896 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1961 Founded

19

Fredericksburg

University of Mary Washington

#595 in United States #652 in North America

80% Acceptance

3,660 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

20

Petersburg

Virginia State University

#622 in United States #681 in North America

89% Acceptance

3,177 Enrollment

955 Avg SAT

1882 Founded

21

Lexington

Virginia Military Institute

#672 in United States #735 in North America

71% Acceptance

4,202 Enrollment

1160 Avg SAT

1839 Founded

22

Farmville

Longwood University

#699 in United States #764 in North America

90% Acceptance

7,500 Enrollment

1120 Avg SAT

1839 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

Bridgewater College

#883 in United States #953 in North America

92% Acceptance

6,885 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

27

Hampden-Sydney

Hampden-Sydney College

#890 in United States #960 in North America

41% Acceptance

946 Enrollment

1140 Avg SAT

1775 Founded

28

Roanoke

Hollins University

#920 in United States #992 in North America

68% Acceptance

665 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

1842 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

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

Union Presbyterian Seminary

#1452 in United States #1537 in North America

81% Acceptance

374 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

38

Danville

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

Purcellville

Patrick Henry College

#1652 in United States #1739 in North America

77% Acceptance

425 Enrollment

1330 Avg SAT

$25,869 Net Price

41

Buena Vista

Southern Virginia University

#1692 in United States #1780 in North America

96% Acceptance

936 Enrollment

1867 Founded

$24,561 Net Price

42

Virginia Beach

ECPI University

#1715 in United States #1803 in North America

75% Acceptance

12,164 Enrollment

1966 Founded

$22,407 Net Price

43

Oakwood

Appalachian College of Pharmacy

#1880 in United States #1971 in North America

100% Acceptance

5,186 Enrollment

1288 Avg SAT

2003 Founded

44

Lynchburg

Virginia University of Lynchburg

#1885 in United States #1977 in North America

100% Acceptance

126 Enrollment

$19,066 Net Price

45

Arlington

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

46

Grundy

Appalachian School of Law

#1931 in United States #2024 in North America

87% Acceptance

47

Fairfax

Virginia International University

#1995 in United States #2088 in North America

96% Acceptance

5 Enrollment

$19,632 Net Price

48

Arlington

Divine Mercy University

#2150 in United States #2249 in North America

88% Acceptance

49

Richmond

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

#2278 in United States #2379 in North America

100% Acceptance

591 Enrollment

50

Fredericksburg

Veritas Baptist College

#2292 in United States #2393 in North America

95% Acceptance

133 Enrollment

$21,695 Net Price

51

Hampton

#2294 in United States #2395 in North America

100% Acceptance

83 Enrollment

$6,357 Net Price

52

Chesapeake

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

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

Lynchburg

Centra College of Nursing

#2484 in United States #2585 in North America

100% Acceptance

219 Enrollment

$24,868 Net Price

57

Fairfax

Virginia University of Oriental Medicine

#2493 in United States #2594 in North America

81% Acceptance