Most selective colleges in Virginia
Colleges that admit the smallest share of applicants.
Most selective colleges in Virginia22 schools
22 schools qualify, ranked by admission rate.
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 an admission rate from federal data (College Scorecard). Average SAT scores are shown where the college reports them.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by admission rate, lowest first. Selectivity measures demand for places, not the quality of teaching.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Riverside College of Health Careers
Newport News, VA · Private nonprofitTop 1% for graduation
- Admits 13%
- 2
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Virginia
- Admits 14%
- Average SAT 1498
- 3
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 2% for graduation
- Admits 17%
- Average SAT 1480
- 4
University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 22%
- Average SAT 1497
- 5
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Admits 34%
- Average SAT 1473
- 6
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, VA · Private nonprofitTop 17% for earnings
- Admits 41%
- Average SAT 1207
- 7
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA · PublicHonor RollTop 6% for graduation
- Admits 55%
- Average SAT 1364
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Admits 76%
- Average SAT 1230
- 12
- 13
Patrick Henry College
Purcellville, VA · Private nonprofitExcellent: Compass grade A-
- Admits 77%
- Average SAT 1352
- 14
University of Mary Washington
Fredericksburg, VA · PublicVery good: Compass grade B+
- Admits 80%
- Average SAT 1272
- 15
- 16
Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA · PublicTop 18% for graduation
- Admits 86%
- Average SAT 1180
- 17
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, VA · Private nonprofitTop 20% for graduation
- Admits 87%
- Average SAT 1095
- 18
- 19
- 20
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Admits 93%
- Average SAT 1137
- 21Tie
- 21Tie
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside College of Health Careers | $20,744 | $14,787 | $66,072 | 100% |
| 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% |
| Hampden-Sydney College | $22,400 | $26,000 | $67,640 | 62% |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | $24,953 | $21,500 | $81,698 | 86% |
| Hollins University | $20,896 | $27,000 | $40,075 | 65% |
| Virginia Military Institute | $17,113 | $22,996 | $77,369 | 76% |
| James Madison University | $23,322 | $20,093 | $69,954 | 80% |
| Sweet Briar College | $17,758 | $27,000 | $51,943 | 52% |
| Shenandoah University | $30,298 | $25,000 | $58,433 | 67% |
| Patrick Henry College | — | — | — | 74% |
| University of Mary Washington | $20,667 | $20,500 | $60,613 | 66% |
| Roanoke College | $24,503 | $27,000 | $58,047 | 67% |
| Christopher Newport University | $23,015 | $25,000 | $60,509 | 72% |
| Randolph-Macon College | $27,866 | $27,000 | $58,448 | 70% |
| George Mason University | $17,915 | $19,500 | $76,343 | 68% |
| Chamberlain University-Virginia | $33,199 | $20,919 | $92,405 | 100% |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | $23,433 | $21,500 | $58,128 | 63% |
| Centra College | — | $15,250 | $60,122 | 100% |
| Eastern Mennonite University | $24,588 | $24,813 | $54,869 | 67% |
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 57
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 20
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Washington 12
- Wisconsin 15