Ranking

Most Selective Colleges in Virginia by Acceptance Rate 2026

The hardest Virginia colleges to get into — ranked by lowest undergraduate acceptance.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $9,210
Top earnings 10y: $94,810
Public / Private: 8 / 16

Riverside College of Health Sciences

Newport News, VA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 12.9%
Net price: $20,744
Earnings 10y: $66,072
Acceptance: 12.9%

Washington and Lee University

Lexington, VA · Private Non-Profit

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

University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public

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

University of Richmond

University of Richmond, VA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 22.2%
Net price: $31,309
Earnings 10y: $76,178
Acceptance: 22.2%

University of Virginia's College at Wise

Wise, VA · Public

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

William & Mary

Williamsburg, VA · Public

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

Regent University

Virginia Beach, VA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 38.1%
Net price: $19,923
Earnings 10y: $44,498
Acceptance: 38.1%

Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney, VA · Private Non-Profit

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

University of Lynchburg

Lynchburg, VA · Private Non-Profit

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

#10

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg, VA · Public

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

#11

Averett University

Danville, VA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 56.6%
Net price: $22,925
Earnings 10y: $51,516
Acceptance: 56.6%

#12

Bluefield University

Bluefield, VA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 59.3%
Net price: $25,573
Earnings 10y: $48,896
Acceptance: 59.3%

#13

Hampton University

Hampton, VA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 62.3%
Net price: $25,319
Earnings 10y: $59,159
Acceptance: 62.3%

#14

Hollins University

Roanoke, VA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 68%
Net price: $20,896
Earnings 10y: $40,075
Acceptance: 68%

#15

Virginia Military Institute

Lexington, VA · Public

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

#16

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public

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

#17

Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Beach, VA · Private Non-Profit

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

#18

ECPI University

Virginia Beach, VA · Private For-Profit

Acceptance: 74.5%
Net price: $22,965
Earnings 10y: $42,837
Acceptance: 74.5%

#19

Sweet Briar College

Sweet Briar, VA · Private Non-Profit

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

#20

Shenandoah University

Winchester, VA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 77%
Net price: $30,298
Earnings 10y: $58,433
Acceptance: 77%

#21

University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg, VA · Public

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

#22

Roanoke College

Salem, VA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 83.1%
Net price: $24,503
Earnings 10y: $58,047
Acceptance: 83.1%

#23

Emory & Henry University

Emory, VA · Private Non-Profit

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

#24

Christopher Newport University

Newport News, VA · Public

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

#25

Randolph-Macon College

Ashland, VA · Private Non-Profit

Acceptance: 86.6%
Net price: $27,866
Earnings 10y: $58,448
Acceptance: 86.6%

How we picked this list

This list starts with Virginia colleges that report a standard admission rate, then sorts by acceptance rate. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 7.12 (8 public, 16 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?

Riverside College of Health Sciences in Newport News, VA tops this ranking. Acceptance rate is 12.9%.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by acceptance 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?

41 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.