Best large colleges in Virginia
Colleges with 10,000 or more undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best large colleges in Virginia8 schools
8 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Virginia.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- 10,000 or more undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- 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
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- 17,612 undergraduates
- 96% graduate
- 2
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 6% for graduation
- 30,504 undergraduates
- 86% graduate
- 3
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · PublicTop 11% for graduation
- 21,006 undergraduates
- 80% graduate
- 4
- 5
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- 21,205 undergraduates
- 63% graduate
- 6
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 52,823 undergraduates
- 65% graduate
- 7
- 8
ECPI University
Virginia Beach, VA · Private for-profit#46 in Virginia
- 11,385 undergraduates
- 42% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| George Mason University | $17,915 | $19,500 | $76,343 | 68% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | $23,433 | $21,500 | $58,128 | 63% |
| Liberty University | $29,357 | $24,500 | $44,813 | 65% |
| Old Dominion University | $14,638 | $24,000 | $54,914 | 46% |
| ECPI University | $22,965 | $20,000 | $42,837 | 42% |
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 5
- Arizona 6
- California 29
- Colorado 6
- District of Columbia 3
- Florida 13
- Georgia 8
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 8
- Indiana 6
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 4
- Louisiana 4
- Maryland 4
- Massachusetts 6
- Michigan 8
- Minnesota 3
- Mississippi 3
- Missouri 6
- Nebraska 3
- New Jersey 4
- New York 19
- North Carolina 9
- Ohio 9
- Oklahoma 3
- Oregon 3
- Pennsylvania 6
- South Carolina 4
- Tennessee 4
- Texas 19
- Utah 8
- Washington 3
- Wisconsin 3