Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Virginia
Colleges that offer a bachelor’s in biology, the usual route for pre-medical study, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Virginia38 schools
38 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 biology, 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 biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 21%
- 2
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- 3
University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 50%
- 4
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- 5
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 6% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 29%
- 6
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · PublicTop 11% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 27%
- 7
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA · PublicTop 9% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- 8
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, VA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 42%
- 9
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · PublicTop 10% for earnings
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A · Top 6%
- 10
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA · PublicVery good: Compass grade B+
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 11
Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA · PublicTop 18% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B
- 12
Hollins University
Roanoke, VA · Private nonprofit#17 in Virginia
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade C+
- 13
Roanoke College
Salem, VA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 14
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, VA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade C+
- 15
University of Virginia's College at Wise
Wise, VA · PublicTop 13% for low net price
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade A- · Top 17%
- 16
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 17Tie
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade C+
- 17Tie
University of Lynchburg
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 19
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 20
Longwood University
Farmville, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B
- 21
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade C+
- 22
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B
- 23
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 24
Hampton University
Hampton, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B-
- 25
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Bachelor’s program in biology
- Value grade B+ · Top 31%
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington and Lee University | About $24,000 | $19,500 | $94,810 | 94% |
| University of Virginia | About $22,000 | $17,500 | $86,863 | 96% |
| University of Richmond | About $31,000 | $21,000 | $76,178 | 85% |
| William & Mary | About $19,000 | $18,500 | $73,490 | 89% |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | About $25,000 | $21,500 | $81,698 | 86% |
| James Madison University | About $23,000 | $20,093 | $69,954 | 80% |
| Virginia Military Institute | About $17,000 | $22,996 | $77,369 | 76% |
| Hampden-Sydney College | About $22,000 | $26,000 | $67,640 | 62% |
| George Mason University | About $18,000 | $19,500 | $76,343 | 68% |
| University of Mary Washington | About $21,000 | $20,500 | $60,613 | 66% |
| Christopher Newport University | About $23,000 | $25,000 | $60,509 | 72% |
| Hollins University | About $21,000 | $27,000 | $40,075 | 65% |
| Roanoke College | About $25,000 | $27,000 | $58,047 | 67% |
| Randolph-Macon College | About $28,000 | $27,000 | $58,448 | 70% |
| University of Virginia's College at Wise | About $9,000 | $16,750 | $45,325 | 47% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | About $23,000 | $21,500 | $58,128 | 63% |
| Shenandoah University | About $30,000 | $25,000 | $58,433 | 67% |
| University of Lynchburg | About $22,000 | $27,000 | $56,380 | 57% |
| Eastern Mennonite University | About $25,000 | $24,813 | $54,869 | 67% |
| Longwood University | About $19,000 | $25,000 | $52,347 | 61% |
| Liberty University | About $29,000 | $24,500 | $44,813 | 65% |
| Sweet Briar College | About $18,000 | $27,000 | $51,943 | 52% |
| Bridgewater College | About $18,000 | $26,000 | $53,453 | 53% |
| Hampton University | About $25,000 | $25,442 | $59,159 | 57% |
| Old Dominion University | About $15,000 | $24,000 | $54,914 | 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 23
- Alaska 3
- Arizona 9
- Arkansas 19
- California 69
- Colorado 15
- Connecticut 21
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 8
- Florida 35
- Georgia 49
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 7
- Illinois 48
- Indiana 40
- Iowa 26
- Kansas 23
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 22
- Maine 13
- Maryland 20
- Massachusetts 47
- Michigan 33
- Minnesota 30
- Mississippi 15
- Missouri 40
- Montana 9
- Nebraska 17
- Nevada 4
- New Hampshire 11
- New Jersey 25
- New Mexico 8
- New York 88
- North Carolina 50
- North Dakota 8
- Ohio 60
- Oklahoma 21
- Oregon 18
- Pennsylvania 98
- Puerto Rico 25
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 31
- South Dakota 9
- Tennessee 36
- Texas 68
- Utah 7
- Vermont 7
- Washington 18
- West Virginia 15
- Wisconsin 28