Most Selective Colleges in Virginia
Ranked by acceptance rate (41 colleges with at least 500 undergraduates). Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.
| # | College | Acceptance rate | Net price | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA · Private nonprofit | 14% | $23,781 | $94,810 |
| 2 | University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA · Public | 17% | $21,565 | $86,863 |
| 3 | University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA · Private nonprofit | 22% | $31,309 | $76,178 |
| 4 | Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing Falls Church, VA · Private for-profit | 28% | $35,726 | — |
| 5 | University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise, VA · Public | 29% | $9,210 | $45,325 |
| 6 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VA · Public | 34% | $19,096 | $73,490 |
| 7 | Regent University Virginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofit | 38% | $19,923 | $44,498 |
| 8 | Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, VA · Private nonprofit | 41% | $22,400 | $67,640 |
| 9 | University of Lynchburg Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit | 43% | $22,235 | $56,380 |
| 10 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA · Public | 55% | $24,953 | $81,698 |
| 11 | Averett University Danville, VA · Private nonprofit | 57% | $22,925 | $51,516 |
| 12 | Bluefield University Bluefield, VA · Private nonprofit | 59% | $25,573 | $48,896 |
| 13 | Hampton University Hampton, VA · Private nonprofit | 62% | $25,319 | $59,159 |
| 14 | Hollins University Roanoke, VA · Private nonprofit | 68% | $20,896 | $40,075 |
| 15 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA · Public | 71% | $17,113 | $77,369 |
| 16 | James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA · Public | 72% | $23,322 | $69,954 |
| 17 | Virginia Wesleyan University Virginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofit | 73% | $19,676 | $50,074 |
| 18 | ECPI University Virginia Beach, VA · Private for-profit | 75% | $22,965 | $42,837 |
| 19 | Shenandoah University Winchester, VA · Private nonprofit | 77% | $30,298 | $58,433 |
| 20 | University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA · Public | 80% | $20,667 | $60,613 |
| 21 | Roanoke College Salem, VA · Private nonprofit | 83% | $24,503 | $58,047 |
| 22 | Emory & Henry University Emory, VA · Private nonprofit | 84% | $19,061 | $47,385 |
| 23 | Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA · Public | 86% | $23,015 | $60,509 |
| 24 | Randolph-Macon College Ashland, VA · Private nonprofit | 87% | $27,866 | $58,448 |
| 25 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA · Public | 87% | $17,915 | $76,343 |
| 26 | Norfolk State University Norfolk, VA · Public | 88% | $15,282 | $44,666 |
| 27 | Virginia State University Petersburg, VA · Public | 89% | $15,840 | $45,543 |
| 28 | Ferrum College Ferrum, VA · Private nonprofit | 89% | $20,082 | $44,296 |
| 29 | Richard Bland College South Prince George, VA · Public | 89% | $13,045 | $41,452 |
| 30 | Radford University Radford, VA · Public | 90% | $14,578 | $53,739 |
| 31 | Chamberlain University-Virginia Vienna, VA · Private for-profit | 90% | $33,199 | $92,405 |
| 32 | Longwood University Farmville, VA · Public | 90% | $19,066 | $52,347 |
| 33 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VA · Public | 90% | $14,638 | $54,914 |
| 34 | Bridgewater College Bridgewater, VA · Private nonprofit | 92% | $17,800 | $53,453 |
| 35 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA · Public | 93% | $23,433 | $58,128 |
| 36 | Marymount University Arlington, VA · Private nonprofit | 93% | $29,137 | $67,516 |
| 37 | Randolph College Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit | 94% | $15,921 | $53,409 |
| 38 | Southern Virginia University Buena Vista, VA · Private nonprofit | 96% | $22,213 | $50,002 |
| 39 | Virginia Union University Richmond, VA · Private nonprofit | 98% | $13,235 | $38,275 |
| 40 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit | 99% | $29,357 | $44,813 |
| 41 | Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg, VA · Private nonprofit | 100% | $24,588 | $54,869 |