Several years ago, we offered a deep dive into UVA, Virginia’s flagship university, my graduate school alma mater, a well-known “Public Ivy,” and recently crowned “New Ivy.” But as Virginia residents (like me) know well, UVA is hardly the only college in the state. In fact, Virginia is home to a number of excellent universities, both public and private. Below, we’ll introduce you to some of our favorite Virginia schools, which are compelling options for students from any location.
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TTA’S TOP UNIVERSITIES IN VIRGINIA
William & Mary
As the second oldest university in the country (founded by royal charter just a few decades after Harvard), William & Mary is known for both its historic campus and its long-standing traditions, including the Yule Log Ceremony and Charter Day. Prospective students are often drawn to the school’s strong academic programs and its focus on teaching. (Although W&M is a university, it takes a liberal arts approach to undergraduate education, with low student-to-teacher ratios and faculty teaching 100% of classes.) Psychology, biology, and government top the school’s list of most popular majors, but W&M is especially well-known for its Department of History. The department has particular strengths in colonial history, as it is just down the road from Colonial Williamsburg (which offers discounts for current W&M students) and home to the National Institute of American History and Democracy and the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture. The school also offers undergraduate degrees in business, a combined engineering degree (offered in conjunction with Columbia University), and—for students with international interests—a Joint Degree Programme with University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
Getting into William & Mary is no easy feat, however, especially for out-of-state students. W&M has an overall acceptance rate of 33%, but as a public school, it prioritizes in-state students. The admit rate for Virginia applicants is 39%, as opposed to a 28% acceptance rate for other U.S. students. For applicants who feel confident that William & Mary is their first choice, Early Decision offers a 45% acceptance rate, significantly increasing students’ odds of acceptance. The university also has a transfer acceptance rate of 48% for fall transfers and 64% for spring transfers. One thing prospective applicants will not need to consider: legacy status. As of March 2024, Virginia has banned the practice of giving preference to legacy applicants at its public universities.
University of Richmond
A private liberal arts college just fifteen minutes from downtown Richmond, the University of Richmond offers a beautiful, close-knit campus with easy access to the city. The university has over 60 majors, but it is perhaps best known for its Robins School of Business, which offers Richmond’s most popular undergraduate offerings. The university also boasts the nation’s first-ever undergraduate school for leadership studies, which allows students—who apply sophomore year—to study subjects ranging from ethics to science leadership. Across all majors, Richmond prioritizes small class sizes and student research; all undergraduate students are eligible to receive the Richmond Guarantee, a fellowship of up to $5,000 to support a summer research project or internship. Students who hope to integrate their academic and residential experiences can also take advantage of some of the university’s many living-learning programs.
In contrast to William & Mary, where 62% of students are in-state residents, only 15% of Richmond students hail from Virginia. All students, however, face reasonably tough admissions prospects, given Richmond’s 23% overall acceptance rate. Many students who are interested in Richmond take advantage of the school’s Early Action program, which the university offers in addition to Early Decision I and II and Regular Decision. It is worth noting, however, that Early Action actually has the lowest acceptance rate of any application round at Richmond: only 20% of Early Action applicants are admitted, in contrast to 46% of Early Decision and 30% of Regular Decision candidates. Although the school claims not to consider demonstrated interest, it does reward students who take the time to explore the university before applying by granting application fee waivers for campus visits and virtual events.
Washington & Lee
The ninth oldest university in the U.S., Washington and Lee is—like William & Mary—known for its history and traditions, such as its Speaking Tradition, which encourages students to greet everyone they pass on campus. Situated in the small city of Lexington, W&L offers strong programs in business administration, journalism, and (especially uncommon for a liberal arts college) engineering. Politics is also a popular major, and every four years, 95% of the student body comes together for Mock Con, a mock presidential nominating contest to predict the presidential nominee of the party currently out of power. Speaking of politics: the W&L student body skews significantly more conservative than most liberal arts colleges. The school also has a strong Greek presence, as 71% of undergraduate students participate in fraternities or sororities.
When it comes to admissions, W&L has an overall acceptance rate of only 17%, although the admit rate rises to 34% for students who apply Early Decision. (W&L offers both Early Decision I and II rounds.) Legacy candidates also get a boost in the admissions process; W&L aims to ensure that legacy students make up roughly 10% of each class. For all students, the university offers a number of full-tuition merit scholarships, including the prestigious Johnson Scholarship. It’s worth noting that incoming freshmen applying for this scholarship must submit their applications by December 1st, even if they are applying to W&L in the regular round.
Virginia Tech
A public, land grant university in Blacksburg, Virginia Tech is known as the go-to school for VA students who hope to study technical fields. While far removed from most major cities, VT’s college town environment and its strong school spirit ensure a tight-knit school community. Academically, the university is perhaps best-known for its College of Engineering—in fact, over 30% of undergraduates at VT are enrolled in engineering majors—which has particular strengths in civil, environmental, ISE, and aerospace engineering. The university’s Pamplin College of Business, which offers undergraduate degrees in fields ranging from finance to hospitality, is also very well-regarded. Many students at VT take advantage of the university’s strong co-op program, which allows students to gain hands-on experience working in their fields of interest. For students with an interest in leadership training, the university’s Corps of Cadets offers both military and citizen-leader tracks.
Aspiring Hokies will be glad to hear that the university has a relatively generous 57% acceptance rate, although the admit rates for individual majors can vary. (VT offers data on the admit rates by major here.) As a public university, the school gives precedence to in-state students (60% of enrolled students are VA residents), but counterintuitively, VT’s out-of-state acceptance rate is actually higher than its in-state acceptance rate. For the Class of 2027, Virginia Tech’s out-of-state acceptance rate was 63%, while its in-state acceptance rate was 47%. This surprising figure is largely attributable to VT’s popularity among Virginia residents; Virginia students submit 40% of VT’s total applications, and admitted in-state students are generally twice as likely to enroll at the university. For students who are not admitted as freshmen or who discover their interest in Virginia Tech later in their college career, the university has a promising 60% transfer acceptance rate.
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While we’ve highlighted some of the top universities in Virginia, there are many other excellent options throughout the state that cater to a variety of student interests and aspirations. For example, James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg is known for its strong programs in business, health sciences, and music, and is a great choice for students looking for a vibrant campus life. Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond offers robust programs in the arts and health sciences and is ideal for students interested in urban campus settings and diverse academic opportunities. George Mason University in Fairfax is noted for its research initiatives and proximity to Washington, D.C., making it perfect for students pursuing careers in public policy, international relations, and technology.
Each of these universities provides unique strengths and environments that appeal to different types of high school students, whether they are looking for a close-knit community, specialized academic programs, or opportunities for hands-on learning and internships.
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One reply on “Universities in Virginia”
As a native Virginian, I can attest to the fact school reputations have changed a lot since the 80s! UVA is about equal to what it was, W&M has lost some of its prestige and VA Tech is Up and Richmond is way up (especially on a national scale). Although UVA is the hardest to gain admission to, the outcomes for Richmond grads is breathtakingly good (top Investment banks, Ivy grad schools, plethora of MD’s and JD’s). I say this as a surprised parent (not of a Richmond student) who recalls Richmond’s rep as a good school for wealthy but not too bright students up until about 20 years ago. Being the 40th richest university in the world (appx. $2.7 Billion) with an undergrad enrollment of only 3,000 can do that ostensibly.