Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Virginia
Colleges ranked by instructional spending for each full-time-equivalent student.
Colleges that spend the most on teaching in Virginia22 schools
22 schools qualify, ranked by teaching spending per student.
How this list is made
- Schools in Virginia.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has instructional spending per full-time-equivalent student from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by instructional spending per student, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Virginia
- $40,378 on teaching per student
- 7 students per faculty member
- 2
University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $27,137 on teaching per student
- 7 students per faculty member
- 3
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- $26,598 on teaching per student
- 15 students per faculty member
- 4
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $22,377 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 5
Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, VA · PublicTop 9% for earnings
- $21,289 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 6
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, VA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- $20,153 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 7
Hollins University
Roanoke, VA · Private nonprofit#17 in Virginia
- $19,506 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
- 8
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- $18,167 on teaching per student
- 12 students per faculty member
- 9
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- $16,705 on teaching per student
- 17 students per faculty member
- 10
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 6% for graduation
- $15,632 on teaching per student
- 17 students per faculty member
- 11
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA · PublicTop 10% for earnings
- $15,232 on teaching per student
- 16 students per faculty member
- 12
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, VA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- $14,501 on teaching per student
- 11 students per faculty member
- 13
Riverside College of Health Careers
Newport News, VA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- $13,902 on teaching per student
- 8 students per faculty member
- 14
Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA · PublicTop 18% for graduation
- $12,950 on teaching per student
- 13 students per faculty member
- 15
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- $12,697 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
- 16
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- $12,250 on teaching per student
- 12 students per faculty member
- 17
Patrick Henry College
Purcellville, VA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- $12,211 on teaching per student
- 14 students per faculty member
- 18
Roanoke College
Salem, VA · Private nonprofitTop 25% for graduation
- $11,658 on teaching per student
- 11 students per faculty member
- 19
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA · PublicVery good: Compass grade B+
- $11,398 on teaching per student
- 13 students per faculty member
- 20
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA · PublicTop 11% for graduation
- $10,620 on teaching per student
- 17 students per faculty member
- 21
Centra College
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- $9,536 on teaching per student
- 3 students per faculty member
- 22
Chamberlain University-Virginia
Vienna, VA · Private for-profitTop 1% for graduation
- $6,839 on teaching per student
- 9 students per faculty member
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 Richmond | About $31,000 | $21,000 | $76,178 | 85% |
| University of Virginia | About $22,000 | $17,500 | $86,863 | 96% |
| Sweet Briar College | About $18,000 | $27,000 | $51,943 | 52% |
| Virginia Military Institute | About $17,000 | $22,996 | $77,369 | 76% |
| Hampden-Sydney College | About $22,000 | $26,000 | $67,640 | 62% |
| Hollins University | About $21,000 | $27,000 | $40,075 | 65% |
| William & Mary | About $19,000 | $18,500 | $73,490 | 89% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | About $23,000 | $21,500 | $58,128 | 63% |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | About $25,000 | $21,500 | $81,698 | 86% |
| George Mason University | About $18,000 | $19,500 | $76,343 | 68% |
| Randolph-Macon College | About $28,000 | $27,000 | $58,448 | 70% |
| Riverside College of Health Careers | About $21,000 | $14,787 | $66,072 | 100% |
| Christopher Newport University | About $23,000 | $25,000 | $60,509 | 72% |
| Eastern Mennonite University | About $25,000 | $24,813 | $54,869 | 67% |
| Shenandoah University | About $30,000 | $25,000 | $58,433 | 67% |
| Patrick Henry College | — | — | — | 74% |
| Roanoke College | About $25,000 | $27,000 | $58,047 | 67% |
| University of Mary Washington | About $21,000 | $20,500 | $60,613 | 66% |
| James Madison University | About $23,000 | $20,093 | $69,954 | 80% |
| Centra College | — | $15,250 | $60,122 | 100% |
| Chamberlain University-Virginia | About $33,000 | $20,919 | $92,405 | 100% |
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 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 64
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 21
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 47
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 20
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 33
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15