2024 Top Private Universities in Virginia

• Lexington, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  475 reviews

Alum: I loved my time at W&L. That school helped me grow into the person I am today. The small classes allowed me to have one-on-one time with my professors, many of whom I still speak with to this day. My friends and classmates continue to support me post grad, and the alumni network has been very accessible as I have applied to graduate programs. The school was very safe -- the only time we had a public safety announcement was when there was a bear on the outskirts of campus (living in the mountains has its perks and drawbacks). W&L is in a very very small town -- which I loved -- but may not be for everyone. I felt the academics were challenging but not impossible, and professors were accessible when I had questions. The school is not as diverse as other schools, and is more diverse than it gets credit for. There is a lot of geographic diversity -- very few students are from Virginia -- as well as wealth diversity. Most students are on some scholarship. I'd highly recommend W&L.... Read 475 reviews

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 19%

• Net price $26,063

• SAT range 1410-1530

• University Of Richmond, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  772 reviews

Freshman: My experience at the University of Richmond was transformative. Immersed in a vibrant academic community, I thrived in engaging classes led by passionate professors. Beyond academics, I found a diverse array of extracurricular opportunities, from joining clubs to participating in community service projects. The campus's picturesque setting provided a serene backdrop for personal growth and reflection. Through meaningful interactions with peers and mentors, I cultivated lifelong friendships and expanded my worldview. Overall, my time at the University of Richmond was enriching, shaping me into a well-rounded individual equipped with knowledge, skills, and cherished memories for a lifetime.... Read 772 reviews

• grade A

• Acceptance rate 29%

• Net price $28,881

• SAT range 1280-1460

• Hampden-sydney, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  177 reviews

Senior: Selecting Hampden-Sydney College was unequivocally the greatest decision I've ever made. Despite my childhood conviction that the University of Tennessee was my destined path, a single tour of Hampden-Sydney College shattered that belief, reshaping my entire perspective in an instant. If given the chance to rewind time, I would, without hesitation, choose Hampden-Sydney College once more. Its transformative impact on my life is unparalleled, and the opportunities it has afforded me are beyond measure. While the journey to acclimatization required patience and perseverance, it pales in comparison to the boundless rewards I've reaped since finding my place here. Hampden-Sydney College isn't just a school; it's a life-long brotherhood. For anyone facing a similar decision, let me be unequivocal: Choose Hampden-Sydney College. Trust me; you won't regret it.... Read 177 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 37%

• Net price $28,679

• SAT range 1080-1260

• Lynchburg, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  8,351 reviews

Graduate Student: I have had a wonderful experience in the Counselor Education & Supervision PhD program at Liberty! My program started as intensive based, but because of the pandemic, we online met online. I loved the time we had in the intensives (week only in-class instruction each semester). I had fabulous professors that really focused on our strengths and built us up rather than tear us down. Don’t get me wrong, they were fair in their assessments of us as students. The program was rigorous, accredited, and focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Yes, it’s Christian based, but all are welcome and the focus is not shoving Christianity down someone’s throat or beating people over the head with the Bible till they believe. The program I was in was fair, objective, personal, and followed counseling ethics set forth by the American Counseling Association.... Read 8,351 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 99%

• Net price $27,891

• SAT range 1040-1250

• Virginia Beach, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  1,041 reviews

Sophomore: I am currently doing online courses thru Regent University. Professors and online groups have been very helpful, with the common goal to learn as much as possible in cybersecurity. My questions are answered in a timely fashion. The online bookstore has an amazing buy back system that is financially helpful. On occasion I have met with staff on campus. They are very cordial and do their best to assist me in navigating future plans. The campus has always had a friendly, safe atmosphere. I am working towards actually being on campus Fall 2024. Can’t wait!... Read 1,041 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 41%

• Net price $16,579

• SAT range 960-1230

• Arlington, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.7 out of 5  921 reviews

Freshman: Great small university located just a few minutes away from Washington DC. The professor are kind and helpful, and since classes are small you are able to reach out for help whenever needed. It's small but close-knit and most people are really pleasant!... Read 921 reviews

• grade B+

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $26,717

• SAT range 970-1170

• Harrisonburg, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  361 reviews

Sophomore: Eastern Mennonite University is a small liberal arts school, and most of its strengths and challenges come from this title. I have had a wonderful time interacting with professors and scheduling meetings 1-on-1 to talk about assignments and life in general. The opportunities to get involved in clubs and extracurriculars are extensive, and I have felt a general openness and optimism towards new ideas on campus. EMU's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee works very hard to listen to each other's needs and the needs of campus. Grants are distributed to students who want to make a difference, and present their proposals to the committee. Funding is a struggle at EMU, however. Because of its religious background, many alum donating money to the school are religious and sometimes unsupportive of the more progressive ideas and programs that are being put in place. There is also simply a smaller group of donors than a larger school, and so upkeep of older buildings is not maintained.... Read 361 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 95%

• Net price $23,936

• SAT range 1040-1590

• Winchester, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  892 reviews

Junior: I moved from VT to VA for the SU Music Therapy program. I have never regretted that decision as I love every aspect of the school. Challenging but fun academics, good people and overall lots to do! Overall a great place to spend a very important four years of my life!... Read 892 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 74%

• Net price $29,077

• SAT range 1000-1200

• Salem, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  770 reviews

Senior: Embarking on the journey of higher education as a first-generation college student at Roanoke College has been a transformative experience, marked by academic accomplishments, personal growth, and the discovery of my true passions. As a finance major with a solid 3.0 GPA, my time at Roanoke College has not only equipped me with the technical skills required in my field but has also provided a platform for holistic development. One of the defining aspects of my college experience has been the invaluable relationships forged with professors who have served not only as educators but as mentors and guides. The close-knit community at Roanoke College has allowed me to establish professional connections with faculty members who have played a crucial role in my academic journey.... Read 770 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 80%

• Net price $27,758

• SAT range 1080-1230

• Lynchburg, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  719 reviews

Alum: I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Lynchburg. The small campus has such a homie feel. It is an extremely tight knit community. The small class sizes were perfect and promoted more student-professor interaction that I desired. Aside from the gorgeous campus, the city of Lynchburg is full of rich history and beautiful scenery to explore on the weekends.... Read 719 reviews

• grade B

• Acceptance rate 97%

• Net price $27,305

• SAT range 970-1170

• Danville, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  365 reviews

Sophomore: Overall, I have had a wonderful experience at Averett University. Even though having only been there for three semesters, I feel like the on hands learning environment that is given to me has helped me further my knowledge, growth and overall passion about what I want to do after higher education. Not only has my education been impacted but also my growth as an athlete and leader has occurred at the university.... Read 365 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 48%

• Net price $22,674

• SAT range 910-1100

• Roanoke, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  561 reviews

Senior: I truly enjoyed my time at Hollins University, particularly engaging with close friends, professors, and an array of courses. While aspects of my time there were less than ideal, I don’t regret my time here!... Read 561 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 75%

• Net price $23,825

• SAT range 1050-1260

• Virginia Beach, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  1,309 reviews

Freshman: There are a lot of pros and cons about going to ECPI University. Firstly, the tuition price alone is enough to scare some people away. However this school made the most sense for me at the time because after getting out of boot camp and Hospital Corpsman basic in the Navy Reserves, I did not have any prerequisites. I enjoy the accelerated style of ECPI and how they incorporate prerequisites into the program. I am currently taking pharmacology and dosage calc, I have had all of my clinicals so far, cancelled, which i do find a major con. The program has promised to reschedule the clinicals and my reschedule was cancelled as well. I believe the hours will get made up toward the end of the program which poses as a con because juggling extra clinicals in a class with lecture and sim lab then the extra clinicals on top of it may be very challenging. for pros I enjoy the smaller class setting and amazing professors that do the best to prepare students for NCLEX and real world nursing.... Read 1,309 reviews

• grade B minus

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $22,004

• SAT range —

• Emory, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  261 reviews

Sophomore: While the rest of my experience at Emory & Henry has been positive the one thing I wish the school would take more seriously is renovating the older buildings. Most of the older buildings have a problem with wasps getting indoors and there is somewhat of a mold problem in one of the dorms.... Read 261 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 87%

• Net price $19,797

• SAT range 960-1150

• Ferrum, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  386 reviews

Alum: Ferrum being a small school facilitated a family feel. The classes were small which allowed you to get to know your professors well. The professors definitely had a passion for teaching and even after graduation, many kept up with their students' lives and accomplishments. It has been great to see the school grow and flourish. I hope that those currently in attendance and future Pathers have a fulfilling experience like me and my fellow classmates did.... Read 386 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 76%

• Net price $22,278

• SAT range 920-1180

• Bluefield, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.46 out of 5  217 reviews

Freshman: The campus is nice and the teachers do an amazing job, the coaches are great and so are the teams and students. However the team of people that are there to help to students obtain the education, the people that help the students find ways to pay for the education don't really help that much there should be multiple ways for a student to pa for an education and they also don't offer any academic money for the athletes that have athletic scholarships.... Read 217 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 72%

• Net price $18,726

• SAT range 900-1070

• Bridgewater, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.57 out of 5  466 reviews

Senior: I loved the small-town feel of the campus. However, the food was not good, and the housing had mildew and many different heating issues. Depending on the department, the teachers were a hit or miss depending on what they were teaching. In the end, I made a lot of memories with friends, and there were many things to do on campus!... Read 466 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 75%

• Net price $19,592

• SAT range 1010-1250

• Buena Vista, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  427 reviews

Freshman: From my visit, I found that I really like Southern Virginia! It is definitely the school for me. I was especially a fan of the atmosphere of the school. I loved how peaceful the campus was. You could hear the birds chirping. It almost felt like time passed differently on campus compared to everything else. I am also a fan of the close proximity of everything. It was really nice to be able to walk to every building on campus and not have to worry about being late to a class. Everything is a walk away. This small distance also means that you don't really need a car. You can always find a ride of campus to the grocery store if you need, but also campus has everything you would need so you don't have to worry. I also loved the people at SVU. They were all happy to be there and weren't judging me or anything. They were all super accepting and everyone wanted to say hi and introduce themselves. This is a really good quality to have in a school.... Read 427 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $22,951

• SAT range 980-1200

• Ashland, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.54 out of 5  527 reviews

Alum: Randolph-Macon was the perfect "home away from home" that I could ask for. The entire community, from the professors and staff to the students, is incredibly welcoming and supportive. Professors genuinely care for your well-being and want to see you succeed both inside and outside of the classroom. There are countless ways to get involved on campus and pursue your passions. Internships, study abroad opportunities, and research are all encouraged and easily accessible to students, offering unique ways of learning/gaining experience outside of the traditional classroom setting. The dining hall seems to get a bad reputation, but I honestly loved the food and always felt like there were plenty of options if I wasn't interested in one of the main courses offered. If food is a big concern, make sure to visit the dining hall when you visit to decide if it is up to your standards. Overall, I wouldn't trade my experience here for the world and feel very lucky that I chose RMC.... Read 527 reviews

• grade C+

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $26,794

• SAT range 1030-1230

• Staunton, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.43 out of 5  636 reviews

Freshman: Mary Baldwin is a college that includes all sorts of students. When I visited the campus for a free tour, I already felt welcomed and was excited to begin my 4 year journey at the college. The college allowed me to connect to resources in order to get through college easily. As I am a first generation student, I am treated more with resources since this I have no clue as to what is going on within the college. My advisor allows me to look at look at and organize my schedule to my liking so that I can have time to study, visit events, and have personal time with friends.... Read 636 reviews

• grade C

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $17,525

• SAT range —

• Arlington, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  400 reviews

Alum: I loved the experience. I obtained my Bachelors and master degree from Strayer University. I thank them for helping me obtain my education and degrees. They have a wonderful campus in Chesapeake Virginia. The staff was wonderful there.... Read 400 reviews

• grade C

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $20,047

• SAT range —

• Hampton, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.25 out of 5  2,158 reviews

Freshman: I am a student at Hampton University, and while I have no intention of disparaging this esteemed institution, there are certain aspects I wish I had been aware of before enrolling. Despite Hampton’s reputation for being supportive and attentive to its students, I have not found this to be the case. The faculty and staff, in my experience, have not been helpful, and I have often found their demeanor disrespectful. I have suffered from food poisoning on two occasions, which is attributed to undercooked meals that we pay $5000 for. It’s disheartening to think that we invest so much money, yet we are not provided with proper meals, adequate treatment, or satisfactory living conditions. There’s even mold in the dorms. However, the campus is indeed beautiful, and it offers a sense of safety. You could venture out at 2 am and feel completely secure. But that’s about the extent of it. Hampton is not known for its party scene, and the surrounding area doesn’t offer much in terms of either.... Read 2,158 reviews

• grade C

• Acceptance rate 80%

• Net price $33,204

• SAT range 980-1120

• Virginia Beach, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.52 out of 5  759 reviews

Freshman: Personally, it's my first time and year learning in virginia wesleyan and I am flabbergasted on how the university is beautiful, how wonderful it was on the Cafe their meals and even the campus life is very good on casting events that could let us meet different types of people. In diversity they got good amount of diverse students from different countries and it has been good being marlin.... Read 759 reviews

• grade C minus

• Acceptance rate 86%

• Net price $22,584

• SAT range 1150-1380

• Virginia Beach, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.12 out of 5  135 reviews

Freshman: I start soon. I started by visiting 3 schools total before making my decision. From the moment I walked in the door, I knew it was different. From the receptionist to the admission advisor to financial aid to the top of the chain, everyone has been so welcoming, helpful, understanding, and caring. I can see the difference it makes with the students. This isn't to say some may not have a different experience, I just haven't encountered that yet. The amount of support I got before even taking my first class has been incredible. I can't wait to obtain my degree and come back for my second. So far, they have an A+ in my book and I hope it stays that way. I have already recommended this particular location to others and hope they join to have the same experiences I have had thus far. RN Student of Dec 2025!!... Read 135 reviews

• grade C minus

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $17,172

• SAT range —

• Richmond, VA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.31 out of 5  544 reviews

Freshman: Virginia Union University is a small school but that's one of the reasons why I chose to attend. When you attend a small University you get to know your professors and they get to know you. I also like it because the classrooms are smaller than your usual big schools. There's a short walk to all of the classrooms, dorms and cafeterias. The only thing I would change would be the hours of operation at the cafeteria on the weekend and maybe use the vans that are at school for student transportation in a two mile radius.... Read 544 reviews

• grade C minus

• Acceptance rate 94%

• Net price $16,068

• SAT range 760-940