Best Colleges In Virginia, DC: U.S. News Rankings For 2021
Editor's Note: Patch has updated this article to reflect the latest rankings. An earlier version of this article mistakenly included the previous year's rankings. Patch regrets the error.
WASHINGTON, DC — As students and colleges across the nation grapple with the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, U.S. News & World Report on Monday remained steadfast with the release of its 2021 edition of Best U.S. Colleges, a list that includes more than 40 schools in Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Despite how the pandemic has forced current and potential students to alter college plans, U.S. News said in a news release that it must “continue providing students and their families with the tools they need to help find the right school for them.”
To rank colleges, U.S. News first placed each school into a category based on its mission and, in some cases, its geographical location in the United States. U.S. News then evaluated more than 1,400 colleges and universities on 17 indicators of academic quality. The colleges are ranked based on their overall scores.
These DC and Virginia colleges and universities were included in this year’s rankings:
National Universities
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. Ranked 23.
University of Virginia, Charlottesville. Ranked 26.
College of William and Mary, Williamsburg. Ranked 39.
George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Ranked 66.
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg. Ranked 74.
American University, Washington, D.C. Ranked 76.
Howard University, Washington, D.C. Ranked 80.
The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Ranked 143. tie
George Mason University, Fairfax. Ranked 143. tie
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond. Ranked 160.
Gallaudet University, Washington, D.C. Ranked 124.
Hampton University, Hampton. Ranked 217.
Shenandoah University, Winchester. Ranked 241.
Old Dominion University, Norfolk. Ranked 258.
Liberty University, Lynchburg. (Ranked in bottom 50 of top national schools.)
Mary Baldwin University, Staunton. (Ranked in bottom of top national schools.)
Regent University, Virginia Beach. (Ranked in bottom of top national schools.)
National Liberal Arts Colleges
Washington and Lee University, Lexington. Ranked 9.
University of Richmond, Richmond. Ranked 22.
Virginia Military Institute, Lexington. Ranked 69.
Hollins University, Roanoke. Ranked 102. (tie)
Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney. Ranked 102. (tie)
Randolph-Macon College, Ashland. Ranked 111. (tie)
Roanoke College, Salem. Ranked 130.
Randolph College, Lynchburg. Ranked 140.
Emory and Henry College, Emory. Ranked 154.
Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar. Ranked 162.
University of Virginia-Wise, Wise. Ranked 166.
Bridgewater College, Bridgewater. (Ranked in bottom 50 of top liberal arts colleges.)
Southern Virginia University, Buena Vista. (Ranked in bottom 50 of top liberal arts colleges.)
Virginia Union University, Richmond. (Ranked in bottom 50 of top liberal arts colleges.)
Virginia Wesleyan University,Norfolk. (Ranked in bottom 50 of top liberal arts colleges.)
Regional Colleges and Universities
James Madison University, Harrisonburg. Ranked 3.
Christopher Newport University, Newport News. Ranked 7.
Longwood University, Farmville. Ranked 16.
University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg. Ranked 18.
Averett University, Danville. Ranked 18.
University of Lynchburg, Lynchburg. Ranked 22.
Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg. Ranked 31. (tie)
Marymount University, Arlington. Ranked 31. (tie)
Radford University, Radford. Ranked 33.
Ferrum College, Ferrum. Ranked 50.
Bluefield College, Bluefield. Ranked 59.
Virginia State University, Petersburg. Ranked 80. (tie)
Norfolk State University, Norfolk. Ranked 80. (tie)
ECPI University, Virginia Beach. Ranked in bottom 30 of regional universities.
Strayer University, Washington, DC. Ranked in bottom 30 of regional universities.
Trinity Washington University, Washington, D.C. Ranked in bottom 40 of regional universities.
University of the District of Columbia, Washington, D.C. Ranked in bottom 40 of regional universities.
Princeton University is once again No. 1 among National Universities, and Williams College remains in the top spot among National Liberal Arts Colleges.
For Top Public Schools, the University of California - Los Angeles is No. 1 among National Universities. The United States Naval Academy ranks No. 1 for Top Public Schools among National Liberal Arts Colleges.
The data used for this year’s rankings was gathered in spring and early summer 2020; however, the publication noted that the pandemic did not affect the numbers.
This year’s edition also includes new measures that look at timely topics such as student debt, social mobility and test-blind admissions policies. U.S. News also added new weights and indicators to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and added a new ranking for computer science programs.
See more detailed methodologies and frequently asked questions about the rankings.
See all of 2021’s Best U.S. Colleges by U.S. News & World Report.
This article originally appeared on the Georgetown Patch
