Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

29 Best Universities in Virginia for Optics

Focusing specifically on Optics, our data science engine identified the 29 most influential universities in Virginia. To determine these leaders, we isolated 681.7K specialized research publications which collectively generated 20.37M citations. This targeted approach bypasses general university reputation, directly revealing the strongest programs.

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1

Charlottesville

University of Virginia

For Optics

#52 in United States #57 in North America

17% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1819 Founded

2

Blacksburg

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

For Optics

#53 in United States #58 in North America

55% Acceptance

31,035 Enrollment

1365 Avg SAT

1872 Founded

3

Richmond, VA

Virginia Commonwealth University

For Optics

#129 in United States #151 in North America

93% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1140 Avg SAT

1838 Founded

4

Norfolk, VA

Old Dominion University

For Optics

#139 in United States #162 in North America

90% Acceptance

4,202 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1930 Founded

5

Fairfax

George Mason University

For Optics

#160 in United States #184 in North America

87% Acceptance

6,353 Enrollment

1260 Avg SAT

1957 Founded

6

Norfolk, VA

Norfolk State University

For Optics

#259 in United States #294 in North America

88% Acceptance

5,410 Enrollment

927 Avg SAT

1935 Founded

7

Emory

Emory & Henry College

For Optics

#636 in United States #693 in North America

84% Acceptance

5,382 Enrollment

1137 Avg SAT

1836 Founded

8

Virginia Beach

Regent University

For Optics

#724 in United States #786 in North America

38% Acceptance

5,049 Enrollment

1120 Avg SAT

1978 Founded

9

Sweet Briar

Sweet Briar College

For Optics

#926 in United States #992 in North America

76% Acceptance

444 Enrollment

1205 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

10

Radford

Radford University

For Optics

#772 in United States #835 in North America

90% Acceptance

6,161 Enrollment

1050 Avg SAT

1910 Founded

11

Lynchburg

University of Lynchburg

For Optics

#904 in United States #969 in North America

43% Acceptance

7,500 Enrollment

1105 Avg SAT

1903 Founded

12

Lynchburg

Liberty University

For Optics

#874 in United States #939 in North America

99% Acceptance

52,961 Enrollment

1190 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

13

Salem, VA

Roanoke College

For Optics

#805 in United States #868 in North America

83% Acceptance

6,885 Enrollment

1195 Avg SAT

1842 Founded

14

Norfolk, VA

Eastern Virginia Medical School

For Optics

#274 in United States #309 in North America

9% Acceptance

2,220 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

1973 Founded

15

Winchester, VA

Shenandoah University

For Optics

#836 in United States #900 in North America

77% Acceptance

2,641 Enrollment

1108 Avg SAT

1875 Founded

16

Hampton

Hampton University

For Optics

#268 in United States #303 in North America

62% Acceptance

3,728 Enrollment

940 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

17

Farmville

Longwood University

For Optics

#863 in United States #928 in North America

90% Acceptance

7,500 Enrollment

1120 Avg SAT

1839 Founded

18

Lexington, VA

Washington and Lee University

For Optics

#624 in United States #680 in North America

14% Acceptance

670 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT

1749 Founded

19

Lexington, VA

Virginia Military Institute

For Optics

#645 in United States #702 in North America

71% Acceptance

4,202 Enrollment

1160 Avg SAT

1839 Founded

20

Arlington, VA

Marymount University

For Optics

#212 in United States #241 in North America

93% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1425 Avg SAT

1950 Founded

21

Petersburg

Virginia State University

For Optics

#706 in United States #768 in North America

89% Acceptance

3,177 Enrollment

955 Avg SAT

1882 Founded

22

Harrisonburg

James Madison University

For Optics

#335 in United States #379 in North America

72% Acceptance

7,500 Enrollment

1255 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

23

Fairfax

Stratford University

For Optics

#774 in United States #837 in North America

75% Acceptance

6,636 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

$23,243 Net Price

24

Fredericksburg

University of Mary Washington

For Optics

#841 in United States #906 in North America

80% Acceptance

3,660 Enrollment

1270 Avg SAT

1908 Founded

25

Richmond, VA

University of Richmond

For Optics

#386 in United States #433 in North America

22% Acceptance

6,885 Enrollment

1470 Avg SAT

1830 Founded

26

Ashland, VA

Randolph-Macon College

For Optics

#810 in United States #873 in North America

87% Acceptance

1,643 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1830 Founded

27

Newport News

Christopher Newport University

For Optics

#500 in United States #554 in North America

86% Acceptance

896 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1961 Founded

28

Williamsburg, VA

College of William and Mary

For Optics

#169 in United States #194 in North America

34% Acceptance

7,063 Enrollment

1465 Avg SAT

1693 Founded

29

Hampden-Sydney

Hampden-Sydney College

For Optics

#811 in United States #874 in North America

41% Acceptance

946 Enrollment

1140 Avg SAT

1775 Founded