Two Virginia colleges have landed on Forbes’ list of the Top 25 Public Colleges in the United States: The University of Virginia and William & Mary. According to Forbes, the 25 public colleges “give the private elites a run for their money.”
For this ranking, Forbes used the same methodology as it uses in its Top 500 Colleges list. The formula “prioritizes high alumni salaries, great academic outcomes (including for low-income students), and strong returns on students’ investment.”
The University of Virginia is No. 9 on the list, and Forbes called out the school’s “beautiful” Charlottesville campus (designed by Thomas Jefferson) and D1 athletics. UVA earned its place on the ranking in part due to its six-year graduation rate of 95 percent, the highest of the top 25 public schools. Graduates earn median incomes of $82,300 three years out of school and $153,900 after 20 years.
William & Mary, No. 19 on the list, is one of Forbes’ New Public Ivies, and it has the lowest undergrad population on the top public colleges list (7,359 students). Forbes noted that the school is home to the oldest Greek life organizations and is also known for campus traditions such as the Charter Day celebration and Candlelight Ceremony.
Nearby University of Maryland College Park was also on the list at No. 10.
Forbes’ top five public schools were the University of California Berkeley, the University of California Los Angeles, the University of California San Diego, the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, and the University of Florida.
Top 500 List
On the broader Top 500 Colleges list, 13 Virginia colleges made the cut. They include:
- No. 34: University of Virginia
- No. 47: Washington and Lee University
- No. 60: William & Mary
- No. 81: Virginia Tech
- No. 92: University of Richmond
- No. 114: George Mason University
- No. 121: James Madison University
- No. 274: Virginia Commonwealth University
- No. 302: Christopher Newport University
- No. 306: Virginia Military Institute
- No. 316: University of Mary Washington
- No. 318: Hampden-Sydney College
- No. 418: Marymount University
Federal data for these rankings is from the 2023–2024 school year, the most recent data available.
Feature image of William & Mary courtesy stock.adobe.com
