Best colleges for engineering in Virginia
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in any engineering field, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for engineering in Virginia22 schools
22 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Virginia.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in engineering, from the College Scorecard field-of-study data (credential level 3).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Virginia
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 2
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- 3
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 6% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B+ · Top 29%
- 4
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · PublicTop 11% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 5
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA · PublicTop 9% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- 6
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, VA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 7
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · PublicTop 10% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- 8
Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA · PublicTop 18% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B
- 9
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B-
- 10
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, VA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade C+
- 11
University of Virginia's College at Wise
Wise, VA · PublicTop 13% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade A- · Top 17%
- 12
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 13
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B-
- 14
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade C+
- 15
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B
- 16
Hampton University
Hampton, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B-
- 17
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 18
Emory & Henry University
Emory, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B-
- 19
Randolph College
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 20
Marymount University
Arlington, VA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B-
- 21
Virginia State University
Petersburg, VA · Public#47 in Virginia
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B-
- 22
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, VA · PublicSolid: Compass grade C+
- Bachelor’s program in engineering
- Value grade B-
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington and Lee University | $23,781 | $19,500 | $94,810 | 94% |
| University of Virginia | $21,565 | $17,500 | $86,863 | 96% |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | $24,953 | $21,500 | $81,698 | 86% |
| James Madison University | $23,322 | $20,093 | $69,954 | 80% |
| Virginia Military Institute | $17,113 | $22,996 | $77,369 | 76% |
| Hampden-Sydney College | $22,400 | $26,000 | $67,640 | 62% |
| George Mason University | $17,915 | $19,500 | $76,343 | 68% |
| Christopher Newport University | $23,015 | $25,000 | $60,509 | 72% |
| Regent University | $19,923 | $24,534 | $44,498 | 57% |
| Randolph-Macon College | $27,866 | $27,000 | $58,448 | 70% |
| University of Virginia's College at Wise | $9,210 | $16,750 | $45,325 | 47% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | $23,433 | $21,500 | $58,128 | 63% |
| Eastern Mennonite University | $24,588 | $24,813 | $54,869 | 67% |
| Liberty University | $29,357 | $24,500 | $44,813 | 65% |
| Sweet Briar College | $17,758 | $27,000 | $51,943 | 52% |
| Hampton University | $25,319 | $25,442 | $59,159 | 57% |
| Old Dominion University | $14,638 | $24,000 | $54,914 | 46% |
| Emory & Henry University | $19,061 | $26,332 | $47,385 | 56% |
| Randolph College | $15,921 | $26,950 | $53,409 | 46% |
| Marymount University | $29,137 | $25,000 | $67,516 | 54% |
| Virginia State University | $15,840 | $26,500 | $45,543 | 39% |
| Norfolk State University | $15,282 | $29,000 | $44,666 | 39% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 11
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 11
- California 56
- Colorado 13
- Connecticut 17
- District of Columbia 4
- Florida 27
- Georgia 12
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 27
- Indiana 28
- Iowa 13
- Kansas 9
- Kentucky 9
- Louisiana 10
- Maine 4
- Maryland 11
- Massachusetts 22
- Michigan 29
- Minnesota 15
- Mississippi 6
- Missouri 14
- Montana 3
- Nebraska 3
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 11
- New Mexico 3
- New York 41
- North Carolina 17
- North Dakota 5
- Ohio 36
- Oklahoma 10
- Oregon 8
- Pennsylvania 57
- Puerto Rico 8
- Rhode Island 5
- South Carolina 15
- South Dakota 4
- Tennessee 25
- Texas 46
- Utah 8
- Vermont 5
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 9
- Wisconsin 16