Best Colleges in Virginia

Why Should I Consider Studying in Virginia?

Virginia offers students an unique blend of natural beauty, national history, and metropolitan life. From the forested peaks of the Blue Ridge mountains to the waters of Virginia Beach, Virginia provides students with plenty of ways to enjoy the state. Similarly, Virginia has a wide range of colleges and universities. From small liberal arts colleges such as Washington and Lee University and the College of William and Mary to large public universities like the University of Virginia, the state has something for everyone.

University of Virginia is the state’s largest university, is one of the nation’s top public universities, and is located in Charlottesville, Virginia. Thomas Jefferson lived in Charlottesville for much of his life and even designed parts of the original UVA campus. Virginia Tech has a less storied history, but is no-less impressive academically. VT is a focused research institution with more than 280 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Washington and Lee University in Lexington is a premier liberal arts college with a widely renowned law school. The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg is the second oldest college in the United States and, on top of top-notch academics, is known for having one of the most beautiful campuses in the country.

Virginia Higher Education By The Numbers

Colleges in Virginia

Virginia has the 14th most colleges in the US with 136 colleges located there. For a little perspective, that is 471 fewer colleges than the leading state. 32% of Virginia's colleges are public, and 68% of its colleges are private. (44 public colleges & 92 private colleges). It has the 15th most public colleges and the 11th most private colleges in the United States.

Our favorite public colleges in Virginia are University of Virginia-Main Campus, William & Mary, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Our favorite private colleges are Washington and Lee University, University of Richmond, and Averett University-Non-Traditional Programs. George Mason University has the most students in Virginia's top 25 colleges (49,755 students).

Students in Virginia

The average state has 508,837 college students. Virginia has 41% more. There are 479,552 public college students and 237,685 private college students in Virginia. It has more public college students than 80% of states and more pivate college students than 82% of states. Its 717,237 total students make it the 9th most popular state in the USA. 33% of students in Virginia attend private institutions which is the 17th highest percentage across the nation.