Best colleges for art and design in Virginia
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in art or design, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for art and design in Virginia33 schools
33 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Virginia.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Offers a bachelor’s program in art or design, 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 art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 2
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- 3
University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 4
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- 5
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 6% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 29%
- 6
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · PublicTop 11% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 7
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, VA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 8
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · PublicTop 10% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- 9
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA · PublicVery good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 10
Hollins University
Roanoke, VA · Private nonprofit#17 in Virginia
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 11
Roanoke College
Salem, VA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 12
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 13
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, VA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 14
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 15
University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 16
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 17
Longwood University
Farmville, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B
- 18
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade C+
- 19
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B
- 20
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 21
Hampton University
Hampton, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 22
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
- 23
Emory & Henry University
Emory, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 24
Averett University
Danville, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B-
- 25
Randolph College
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B-
- Bachelor’s program in art or design
- Value grade B · Top 45%
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% |
| University of Richmond | $31,309 | $21,000 | $76,178 | 85% |
| William & Mary | $19,096 | $18,500 | $73,490 | 89% |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | $24,953 | $21,500 | $81,698 | 86% |
| James Madison University | $23,322 | $20,093 | $69,954 | 80% |
| Hampden-Sydney College | $22,400 | $26,000 | $67,640 | 62% |
| George Mason University | $17,915 | $19,500 | $76,343 | 68% |
| University of Mary Washington | $20,667 | $20,500 | $60,613 | 66% |
| Hollins University | $20,896 | $27,000 | $40,075 | 65% |
| Roanoke College | $24,503 | $27,000 | $58,047 | 67% |
| Regent University | $19,923 | $24,534 | $44,498 | 57% |
| Randolph-Macon College | $27,866 | $27,000 | $58,448 | 70% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | $23,433 | $21,500 | $58,128 | 63% |
| University of Lynchburg | $22,235 | $27,000 | $56,380 | 57% |
| Eastern Mennonite University | $24,588 | $24,813 | $54,869 | 67% |
| Longwood University | $19,066 | $25,000 | $52,347 | 61% |
| Liberty University | $29,357 | $24,500 | $44,813 | 65% |
| Sweet Briar College | $17,758 | $27,000 | $51,943 | 52% |
| Bridgewater College | $17,800 | $26,000 | $53,453 | 53% |
| 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% |
| Averett University | $22,925 | $25,000 | $51,516 | 48% |
| Randolph College | $15,921 | $26,950 | $53,409 | 46% |
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 19
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 17
- California 75
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 21
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 7
- Florida 29
- Georgia 32
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 47
- Indiana 36
- Iowa 24
- Kansas 21
- Kentucky 22
- Louisiana 16
- Maine 13
- Maryland 20
- Massachusetts 44
- Michigan 30
- Minnesota 30
- Mississippi 7
- Missouri 32
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 15
- Nevada 4
- New Hampshire 8
- New Jersey 26
- New Mexico 6
- New York 85
- North Carolina 39
- North Dakota 5
- Ohio 59
- Oklahoma 15
- Oregon 14
- Pennsylvania 74
- Puerto Rico 17
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 25
- South Dakota 9
- Tennessee 27
- Texas 54
- Utah 8
- Vermont 8
- Washington 16
- West Virginia 11
- Wisconsin 29