Private colleges, unlike large public institutions, can be a great option for students wanting a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Here is our list of the best private colleges in Virginia.
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.
Find college admissions consultants in your state.
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.
Public and private colleges and universities operate under different business models. Public colleges and universities are owned by the state and receive both state and federal funding to operate. Private colleges and universities are private companies with private funding. If you’re looking at the pros and cons of private vs. public colleges, consider that many public colleges provide diverse course offerings, influential professors, and an excellent return on your investment.
Public colleges are schools that receive most of their funding from tax revenues. As a result, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public university is often lower than the equivalent cost at a private college — especially for students attending a public school in their home state. Attending a college in-state is usually the cheapest option. Private universities and colleges can be very competitive with their funding opportunities, so do not simply believe that private colleges are always going to be more expensive. According to National Center for Educational Statistics, the average annual cost (tuition, fees, room and board for full-time students) at a public university was slightly over $20,000. In contrast, private universities cost, on average, nearly $43,000 annually. But in the end, the cost of college comes down to each student’s academic and financial situation.
This list is composed entirely of private colleges and universities that offer bachelor’s degrees. We’ve identified 28 private universities in Virginia. To be included in the list below of the best private universities in Virginia, schools must be fully accredited, private, non-profit institution, and must offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees.
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
$23K
Acceptance
99%
Graduation
62%
Student body
79K
Median SAT/ACT
1145/25
Liberty University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$29K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
57%
Student body
3K
Hampton University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$19K
Acceptance
41%
Graduation
62%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/25
Regent 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
$17K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
42%
Student body
14K
ECPI 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
$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
$34K
Acceptance
74%
Graduation
64%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1120/22
Shenandoah University’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
$37K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
47%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1075/24
Virginia Wesleyan University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
34%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
985/17
Ferrum College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$31K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
48%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1030/21
Mary Baldwin University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$34K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
66%
Student body
2K
University of Lynchburg’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Graduation
11%
Student body
<1K
Virginia University of Lynchburg’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
48%
Graduation
42%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
985/18
Averett University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$29K
Acceptance
72%
Graduation
35%
Student body
1K
Bluefield University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$19K
Graduation
32%
Student body
<1K
The Art Institute of Virginia Beach’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 private colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top private schools in every state.