15 Va. schools make U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 national universities list

Fifteen Virginia schools ranked on the U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best National Universities list released Tuesday. Several Virginia schools were noted on other education rankings released by the media company, including 16 Virginia colleges on the best national liberal arts colleges list.

For U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges lists, researchers evaluated nearly 1,500 colleges and universities using up to 17 measures of academic quality for its national universities list and 13 indicators for the national liberal arts colleges list. 

The University of Virginia was again the highest-ranking Virginia school on the list, maintaining its No. 24 ranking. It tied with Georgetown and Emory universities. Also notable: Mary Baldwin University jumped 34 spots in the ranking, to the 377th spot this year. 

The 15 Virginia universities on the 2025 Best National Universities list are:

• No. 24 U.Va. (tie)
• No. 51 Virginia Tech (tie)
• No. 54 William & Mary (tie)
• No. 109 George Mason University (tie)
• No. 136 Virginia Commonwealth University (tie)
• No. 148 James Madison University (tie)
• No. 273 Hampton University (tie)
• No. 288 Marymount University (tie)
• No. 296 Old Dominion University (tie)
• No. 315 Radford University (tie)
• No. 315 Shenandoah University (tie)
• No. 329 University of Lynchburg (tie)
• No. 377 Mary Baldwin University (tie)
• No. 377 Regent University (tie)
• No. 392-434 Liberty University 

U.Va. ranked No. 4 on U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of top public schools list, up one spot from last year’s ranking.

“We’re grateful that U.S. News has once again recognized the strength of the university and especially the success of our students,” Stephen Farmer, U.Va’s vice provost for enrollment, said in a statement.

Virginia Tech ranked No. 21 (tied with Texas A&M University) in top public schools. William & Mary ranked No. 23 (a tie with Florida State University and University of Minnesota Twin Cities). George Mason ranked No. 52 (tied with eight other schools), while James Madison University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Old Dominion University and Radford University rounded out the public schools with rankings of Nos. 78 (tie), 69 (tie), 161 (tie) and 170 (tie), respectively.

Hampton University ranked No. 7 among Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Norfolk State University ranked No. 23 on that list, tying with Virginia State University as well as Prairie View A&M University in Texas and the University of the District of Columbia. Virginia Union University ranked No. 47 (tie).

On the best national liberal arts colleges list, 16 Virginia colleges made the 2025 rankings:

• No. 19 Washington and Lee University (tie)
• No. 22 University of Richmond (tie)
• No. 59 Virginia Military Institute (tie)
• No. 103 Hampden-Sydney College (tie)
• No. 103 Randolph-Macon College (tie)
• No. 122 Roanoke College (tie)
• No. 132 University of Mary Washington (tie)
• No. 136 Hollins University (tie)
• No. 136 Patrick Henry College (tie)
• No. 162 Randolph College (tie)
• No. 165 Bridgewater College (tie)
• No. 173 University of Virginia’s College at Wise (tie)
• No. 173 Sweet Briar College (tie)
• No. 175 Virginia Wesleyan University (tie)
• No. 182 Southern Virginia University (tie)
• No. 187-204 Virginia Union University