Virginia universities and colleges scored well in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 rankings of the best colleges.
The University of Virginia ranked No. 4 in top public schools, No. 24 in a tie in the national universities category, and No. 30 in best value as U.S. News evaluated 1,497 institutions.
Here are some of the other Virginia universities in the national rankings:
- Virginia Tech — No. 51 (tie)
- William & Mary — No. 54 (tie)
- George Mason University — No. 109 (tie)
- Virginia Commonwealth University — No. 136 (tie)
- James Madison University — No. 148 (tie)
- Hampton University — No. 273 (tie)
- Marymount University — No. 288 (tie)
George Mason University
George Mason University in Fairfax took the No. 25 spot among the most innovative schools. It came in tied for the No. 52 spot among top public schools, tied for No. 109 in the national university rankings, and tied for No. 98 among schools with the best undergraduate engineering programs.
“As Virginia’s largest and most diverse public university, George Mason is a leader in advancing Virginia as a top state in business and education,” said George Mason President Gregory Washington. “George Mason serves families by providing flexibility and affordability of educational excellence and serves the commonwealth by driving innovation for economic development. Most of our graduates stay in Virginia and around the Washington, DC, region, building a strong career-ready pipeline critical to regional and state prosperity.”
Marymount University
Marymount University in Arlington reached its highest ranking, jumping 32 spots to tie for No. 288 among national universities and tying for No. 218 for its nursing program. Its undergraduate nursing program tied for No. 1 among private Virginia schools.
“We are incredibly proud of the momentum that Marymount continues to build in the national landscape of higher education,” said Irma Becerra, president of Marymount University, in a news release. “These rankings reflect the dedication of our faculty and staff and our focus on offering an education that transforms lives, empowers students from all backgrounds and equips them to excel in their careers and communities. It’s gratifying to see the hard work and strategic investments we’ve made pay off with these accomplishments.”
University of Mary Washington
The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg ranked tied for ninth in top public schools and tied for No. 132 in the national liberal arts colleges ranking.
“The new ranking puts UMW uniquely among the top colleges in the nation that are dedicated to the undergraduate experience and offer select graduate programs,” a news release from the university said. “It places UMW among the top 10, along with the Virginia Military Institution (VMI), showcasing the mission-driven focus of higher education in the commonwealth.”
See more of how all universities did on the U.S. News & World Report‘s Best Colleges rankings. Here’s how all Virginia colleges and universities ranked.
Feature image courtesy Marymount Universty
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