Skip to content
  • X

Subscribe

Magazine | Newsletters
  • Food & Drink
  • News
  • Culture
  • Style
  • Home
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Things to Do
  • Travel
  • Best of NoVA
  • Best Restaurants
  • Most Influential
  • Top High Schools
  • In This Issue
  • Home
    • Education
  • These 3 Virginia Colleges Made the 2026 ‘U.S. News & World Report’ Top 100 List
landmark at UVA
  • Education

These 3 Virginia Colleges Made the 2026 ‘U.S. News & World Report’ Top 100 List

See how the commonwealth’s schools stacked up this year.

By Debbie Williams September 23, 2025 at 10:56 am

Three Virginia schools have landed in U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of the nation’s top 100 colleges and universities.

The University of Virginia is the top rated in the state at No. 26 on the list. Though it fell two spots from last year, UVA also scored the No. 4 spot for top public schools.

Virginia Tech ranked the same as last year, at No. 51. William & Mary tied with Virginia Tech at the No. 51 spot, up from No. 54 last year.

George Mason University dropped eight spots to No. 117. However, it was ranked as the top school in the DC area for social mobility. It was also named the fifth best Virginia school in terms of value, behind UVA, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, and William & Mary.

Other Virginia schools that ranked in the top 300 include VCU at No. 139; James Madison University at No. 151; Hampton University and Marymount, both at No. 273; and Old Dominion University at No. 293.

Washington and Lee University rated as the top Virginia school for liberal arts at No. 21 nationally, followed by University of Richmond at No. 22.

The Top 10

Ivy schools dominated the top three spots on the list. Princeton University cinched the No. 1 spot, followed by Harvard at No. 2 and Yale at No. 3.

The rest of the top 10 schools included:

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology at No. 4
  • Rice University at No. 5
  • California Institute of Technology at No. 6
  • Vanderbilt University at No. 7
  • University of Chicago at No. 8
  • Dartmouth College at No. 9
  • Stanford University at No. 10

Feature image of the University of Virginia, Bram/stock.adobe.com

Debbie Williams

Debbie Williams

Senior Editor

Northern Virginia Magazine Senior Editor Debbie Williams is a George Mason University graduate and longtime NoVA resident. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for a variety of nonprofit, lifestyle, and government publications, including for AARP.org and USA TODAY magazines.

  • Email
  • LinkedIn

Trending in NoVA

7 Virginia Universities Ranked World Best in 2026-2027 List

DC’s Fourth of July Fireworks Will Begin Much Later than Usual

Grab a Drink at 4 New Northern Virginia Breweries  

Where to Watch DC’s National Mall Fireworks Show from Northern Virginia

22 Fourth of July Fireworks Shows Set to Light Up the Night Sky in Northern Virginia

things to do newsletter

Our Top Stories In Your Inbox

Our newsletters delivered weekly.

Subscribe

Feeds

RSS Feed Follow in Feedly

You May Also Like

Historic reenactor Daniel Cross dressed up as mid-Revolutionary War George Washington

America250 Puts Virginia’s Historical Interpreters in the Spotlight

Man and child looking at exhibit screen at National Geographic Museum

National Geographic Museum Opens This Week in DC

The Rotunda at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA

7 Virginia Universities Ranked World Best in 2026-2027 List

  • X

Company

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Writer’s Guidelines
  • Internships
  • Terms of Use

Magazine

  • Magazine
  • Subscription
  • Newsletter
  • Back Issues

Talk to Us

  • Contact Us
  • Submit an Event
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Shopping

  • Subscription
  • Back Issues
  • Plaques
  • Realtor Client Gift Subscriptions

On Newsstands Now

NoVA 250 - July 2026 cover image

Copyright © 2026 Northern Virginia Magazine

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Hey AI.