Liberal arts colleges are a great option for students seeking a well-rounded education in an intimate campus setting. The best liberal arts colleges in Virginia offer a diverse selection of degree programs with opportunities for a highly individualized educational experience.
Liberty University, a private Christian school in Lynchburg, is the largest school in Virginia, serving over 60,000 students. The largest public university, Virginia Tech, has a student population of about half that but offers many in-person degree programs as well as eight master’s programs and 19 certificate programs online. Students who attend Virginia Tech can pursue fields like engineering, criminal justice, education, and business.
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The majority of Virginia’s universities and colleges could be considered small schools, serving populations of less than 5,000 students. Included on this list are public schools, like Christopher Newport University in Newport News, and private schools, like Hampton University, a historically black university in Hampton. Though most of its higher education institutes charge tuition fees above the national average, Virginia offers several loan forgiveness programs for qualifying attorneys and medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmaceutical professionals.
Virginia is perhaps most famous for its rich history - but the state is also home to many unique museums and famous landmarks. For example, those who love the classics can visit the Edgar Allen Poe Museum in Richmond. Those who harbor romantic dreams of espionage and intrigue might visit the CIA Museum in McLean. And, if you like your attractions random, you could check out Virginia’s 300-yard-long natural tunnel or its 29-ton spinning granite ball. While you’re here, you might consider attending one of the 78 colleges located in the state.
Learn more about Virginia’s higher education opportunities by checking out the state’s many colleges and universities.
Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges
A liberal arts college is a school that puts a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. We’ve identified 32 liberal arts colleges in Virginia. To be ranked among the 25 best liberal arts colleges in Virginia, schools must fully accredited institutions.
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
94%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1425/33
Washington and Lee University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
29%
Graduation
89%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1370/31
University of Richmond’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
82%
Student body
21K
Median SAT/ACT
1200/25
James Madison University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
54%
Student body
8K
Radford University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
64%
Graduation
74%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1165/25
Virginia Military Institute’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
48%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
910/17
Virginia State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
75%
Student body
5K
Christopher Newport University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$23K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
42%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1095/22
Sweet Briar College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
68%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1180/26
University of Mary Washington’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
89%
Graduation
37%
Student body
5K
Median SAT/ACT
930/17
Norfolk State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
42%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
850/15
Virginia Union University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$48K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
70%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1140/24
Roanoke College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$15K
Graduation
100%
Student body
2K
Stratford University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$40K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
59%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1155/25
Hollins University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
90%
Graduation
65%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1050/20
Longwood University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
62%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1070/24
Marymount University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$45K
Acceptance
84%
Graduation
72%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1124/24
Randolph–Macon College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$50K
Acceptance
37%
Graduation
65%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1130/24
Hampden–Sydney College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$27K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
56%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
1055/21
Randolph College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$40K
Acceptance
95%
Graduation
55%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1105/26
Eastern Mennonite University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$35K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
51%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1055/21
Emory and Henry College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
44%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1234/24
Southern Virginia University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$38K
Acceptance
75%
Graduation
62%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/22
Bridgewater College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$11K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
39%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/20
University of Virginia's College at Wise’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
Check out our directory of liberal arts colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top liberal arts schools in every state.