Best Value Virginia Colleges

Virginia has 32 colleges ranked by value, part of our national best value ranking. We weigh academic quality against average net price so you find schools that deliver strong results without overpaying.

Washington and Lee University offers the best value in Virginia for 2027 with a 10 out of 10 academic rating and an average net price of $23,055. The top value public university is University of Virginia Main Campus. Also high value: University of Virginia Main Campus, University of Richmond and Virginia Military Institute.

Compare net price, aid, and academic ratings across the colleges below. See how value scores are calculated on our methodology page. Sort by net price, acceptance rate, or academic rating to find the best deal for your budget.

32 Results
Sort:
Virginia Public Private 4 Year

  • Private 4 Year
  • Lexington, VA
  • 4.3 | 3 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

Washington and Lee is a highly selective private liberal arts university known for undergraduate business, journalism, and politics. Most undergrads live under a strict student-run honor system on the historic campus in Lexington.

#1 Best Value in Virginia 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1430-1540
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.87
  • Acceptance Rate 14%
  • Net Price $23,055
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Charlottesville, VA
  • | 0 reviews

UVA is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate commerce, government, and architecture. The historic campus in Charlottesville centers on Thomas Jefferson's Academical Village.

#2 Best Value in Virginia 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1410-1540
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.85
  • Acceptance Rate 17%
  • Net Price $18,427
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • University of Richmond, VA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

University of Richmond is a highly selective private university known for undergraduate business and leadership studies. The suburban Collegiate Gothic campus sits in Richmond's West End.

#3 Best Value in Virginia 10/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1410-1530
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 22%
  • Net Price $30,037
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Lexington, VA
  • 5.0 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

VMI is a public military college known for undergraduate engineering and the sciences. All students join the Corps of Cadets and live in barracks under a military regimen on the historic Lexington campus.

#4 Best Value in Virginia 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1050-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Acceptance Rate 71%
  • Net Price $18,825
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Williamsburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 4 reviews
  • Jan 2 application deadline

William & Mary is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate history, government, and international relations. The historic campus adjoins Colonial Williamsburg in a small college town.

#5 Best Value in Virginia 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1400-1530
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.85
  • Acceptance Rate 34%
  • Net Price $19,686
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Fairfax, VA
  • 3.7 | 3 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

George Mason is a large public university known for undergraduate economics, public policy, and computer science. The suburban Fairfax campus sits near Washington, D.C.

#6 Best Value in Virginia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.68
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $18,823
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Salem, VA
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews

Roanoke is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, biology, and psychology. The residential campus sits in Salem at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

#7 Best Value in Virginia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1090-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.56
  • Acceptance Rate 83%
  • Net Price $26,044
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Harrisonburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

JMU is a large public university known for undergraduate business, nursing, and education. Harrisonburg is a college town in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

#8 Best Value in Virginia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1340
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.57
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $18,856
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Fredericksburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Mary Washington is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate historic preservation and education. The historic campus sits in Fredericksburg near the Rappahannock River.

#9 Best Value in Virginia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1170-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.71
  • Acceptance Rate 80%
  • Net Price $21,800
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Lynchburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews
  • Sep 1 application deadline

University of Lynchburg is a private university known for undergraduate nursing and health sciences. Students live on a residential campus in Lynchburg near the Blue Ridge Mountains.

#10 Best Value in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.53
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $23,845
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Radford, VA
  • 3.5 | 2 reviews

Radford is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, education, and business. The campus sits in a small college town in southwestern Virginia's New River Valley.

#11 Best Value in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 940-1160
  • Avg GPA 3.31
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $16,749
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Blacksburg, VA
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • Jan 15 application deadline

Virginia Tech is a large public university known for undergraduate engineering and architecture. The campus sits in the college town of Blacksburg in Virginia's Blue Ridge region.

#12 Best Value in Virginia 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1280-1450
  • Avg GPA 3.97
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $24,912
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Ashland, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Randolph-Macon is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate biology, psychology, and business. Most undergrads live on a historic campus in the small college town of Ashland.

#13 Best Value in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1220
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 87%
  • Net Price $28,912
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Norfolk, VA
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Old Dominion is a large public university known for undergraduate oceanography, engineering, and nursing. The urban campus sits in the coastal city of Norfolk.

#14 Best Value in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 90%
  • Net Price $16,419
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Winchester, VA
  • | 0 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Shenandoah is a private university known for undergraduate music, theater, and dance through the Shenandoah Conservatory. The campus is in Winchester in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

#15 Best Value in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1230
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 77%
  • Net Price $27,181
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Newport News, VA
  • 3.2 | 4 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Christopher Newport is a public liberal arts university known for undergraduate leadership studies and political science. The residential campus in Newport News features classical Georgian architecture.

#16 Best Value in Virginia 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1060-1290
  • Avg GPA 3.79
  • Acceptance Rate 86%
  • Net Price $23,148
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Richmond, VA
  • 3.0 | 1 reviews
  • Jan 18 application deadline

VCU is a large public university known for undergraduate fine arts, design, and health professions. The urban campus stretches across downtown Richmond.

#17 Best Value in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1010-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.75
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $26,836
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Arlington, VA
  • | 0 reviews

Marymount is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate nursing, health sciences, and interior design. The Arlington campus sits just outside Washington, D.C.

#18 Best Value in Virginia 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 970-1170
  • Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 93%
  • Net Price $31,989
Details