Ranking

Best History Colleges in Virginia 2026

39 Virginia colleges offering History, ranked by EduGradify value grade.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $9,210
Top earnings 10y: $94,810
Public / Private: 15 / 10

University of Virginia's College at Wise

Wise, VA · Public

ROI score: 12.30
Net price: $9,210
Earnings 10y: $45,325
Acceptance: 28.5%

Virginia Military Institute

Lexington, VA · Public

ROI score: 11.30
Net price: $17,113
Earnings 10y: $77,369
Acceptance: 71.3%

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA · Public

ROI score: 10.65
Net price: $17,915
Earnings 10y: $76,343
Acceptance: 87.5%

University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public

ROI score: 10.07
Net price: $21,565
Earnings 10y: $86,863
Acceptance: 16.8%

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 9.97
Net price: $23,781
Earnings 10y: $94,810
Acceptance: 14%

William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA · Public

ROI score: 9.62
Net price: $19,096
Earnings 10y: $73,490
Acceptance: 34.1%

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA · Public

ROI score: 9.38
Net price: $14,638
Earnings 10y: $54,914
Acceptance: 90.4%

Radford University

Radford, VA · Public

ROI score: 9.22
Net price: $14,578
Earnings 10y: $53,739
Acceptance: 89.5%

Mary Baldwin University

Staunton, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 8.71
Net price: $12,756
Earnings 10y: $44,427
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#10

Randolph College

Lynchburg, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 8.39
Net price: $15,921
Earnings 10y: $53,409
Acceptance: 93.7%

#11

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

ROI score: 8.19
Net price: $24,953
Earnings 10y: $81,698
Acceptance: 54.8%

#12

Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.55
Net price: $22,400
Earnings 10y: $67,640
Acceptance: 40.9%

#13

Bridgewater College

Bridgewater, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.51
Net price: $17,800
Earnings 10y: $53,453
Acceptance: 91.7%

#14

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public

ROI score: 7.50
Net price: $23,322
Earnings 10y: $69,954
Acceptance: 71.5%

#15

University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg, VA · Public

ROI score: 7.33
Net price: $20,667
Earnings 10y: $60,613
Acceptance: 79.8%

#16

Sweet Briar College

Sweet Briar, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.31
Net price: $17,758
Earnings 10y: $51,943
Acceptance: 75.5%

#17

Norfolk State University

Norfolk, VA · Public

ROI score: 7.31
Net price: $15,282
Earnings 10y: $44,666
Acceptance: 87.8%

#18

Virginia Union University

Richmond, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.23
Net price: $13,235
Earnings 10y: $38,275
Acceptance: 98%

#19

Virginia State University

Petersburg, VA · Public

ROI score: 7.19
Net price: $15,840
Earnings 10y: $45,543
Acceptance: 88.6%

#20

Longwood University

Farmville, VA · Public

ROI score: 6.86
Net price: $19,066
Earnings 10y: $52,347
Acceptance: 90.2%

#21

Christopher Newport University

Newport News, VA · Public

ROI score: 6.57
Net price: $23,015
Earnings 10y: $60,509
Acceptance: 86%

#22

Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Beach, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.36
Net price: $19,676
Earnings 10y: $50,074
Acceptance: 72.9%

#23

University of Lynchburg

Lynchburg, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.34
Net price: $22,235
Earnings 10y: $56,380
Acceptance: 43%

#24

Emory & Henry University

Emory, VA · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.21
Net price: $19,061
Earnings 10y: $47,385
Acceptance: 83.7%

#25

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, VA · Public

ROI score: 6.20
Net price: $23,433
Earnings 10y: $58,128
Acceptance: 92.6%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Virginia schools with positive History program-share evidence, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 8.21 (15 public, 10 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

University of Virginia's College at Wise in Wise, VA tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Virginia colleges are in this list?

39 Virginia colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.