Here Are The Best VA Colleges, According To New Rankings

VIRGINIA — University of Virginia is the best college in Virginia, according to rankings released Monday by Niche, a college ranking and review platform. In all, 20 colleges in Virginia were ranked among the best.

Niche said its 2024 Best Colleges Rankings reflect the declining importance of SAT and ACT scores and the increasing importance prospective students and their families place on value and economic mobility — that is, the ability of students to improve their economic status after graduation.

The platform evaluated 4,048 public and private four-year colleges nationwide and developed separate lists for the best academics value, food, dorms and college life.

The top five colleges in Virginia are:

1. University of Virginia
Overall Niche grade: A+
Acceptance rate: 20 percent
Net price: $20,401
SAT range: 1,380-1,500

2. Washington and Lee University
Overall Niche grade: A+
Acceptance rate: 19 percent
Net price: $26,063
SAT range: 1,410-1,530

3. Virginia Tech
Overall Niche grade: A+
Acceptance rate: 56 percent
Net price: $20,109
SAT range: 1,210-1,410

4. William & Mary
Overall Niche grade: A+
Acceptance rate: 37 percent
Net price: $18,399
SAT range: 1,360-1,520

5. University of Richmond
Overall Niche grade: A
Acceptance rate: 29 percent
Net price: $28,881
SAT range: 1,280-1,460

Other Virginia schools ranked by Niche are found on the website.

To rank the schools, Niche analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Education along with reviews and ratings from current students, alumni and parents. The new economic mobility index takes into account the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants, the net tuition price for students from low-income households and the median earnings of those students six years after they get their first post-graduation jobs.

The top schools nationwide are, respectively: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; Stanford University, Stanford, California; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge; Harvard University, Cambridge; and Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.

The best value colleges are, respectively, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California; Stanford University; Massachusetts Institute of Technology; California Institute of Technology, Pasadena; and Clarmont-McKenna College.

None of Virginia's schools ranked among the 25 best value colleges.