According to College Navigator, students can choose from 15 public colleges, 32 private non-profit colleges, and 15 private for-profit colleges in Virginia.
The average academic-related costs in Virginia for the 2021-22 school year was $14,120, according to College Board.
Students in the U.S. pursuing a bachelor’s degree received an average financial aid package of $14,800 during the 2020-21 school year.
This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar schools in Virginia. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.
The colleges on our list are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), a reputable organization that examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of education programs in the southern United States.
We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for on-campus students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
Understanding the career opportunities available in the state where you wish to attend college can help you make an informed decision about where to study. Researching the largest industries in Virginia provides additional insight into the future job market. As of October 2021, the top five industries in Virginia are professional and business services; government; trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; and goods-producing.
The five fastest-growing careers for job seekers in Virginia with an undergraduate degree are information security analysts, medical and health services managers, coaches and scouts, actuaries, and logisticians.
When thinking about post-graduation opportunities, it’s also helpful to look at the biggest employers in the state. Companies on the list of the top 150 employers in Virginia include Virginia Commonwealth University, College of William & Mary, Huntington Ingalls, Heart & Vascular Institute, and Nestle.
Consider the financial aid options available to you when researching schools in Virginia. This list of federal and state resources will provide you with information about scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and other aid opportunities available to you.