15 Virginia schools make U.S. News’ 2026 universities list

Fifteen Virginia schools ranked on the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best National Universities list released Tuesday. Multiple Virginia schools were noted on other higher education rankings from the media company, including 16 on the Best National Liberal Arts Colleges list.

The University of Virginia led Virginia schools in the national universities rankings for at least the sixth consecutive year, although it dropped from No. 24 to No. 26. It tied with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

For U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges lists, researchers evaluated more than 1,500 colleges and universities using up to 17 measures of academic quality and graduate success for its national universities list and 13 indicators for the national liberal arts colleges list. Measures include graduation rates, first-year retention rates, peer assessment and other data.

Here are the 15 Virginia universities on the 2026 Best National Universities list:

• No. 26 U.Va. (tie)
• No. 51 Virginia Tech (tie)
• No. 51 William & Mary (tie)
• No. 117 George Mason University (tie)
• No. 139 Virginia Commonwealth University (tie)
• No. 151 James Madison University (tie)
• No. 273 Hampton University (tie)
• No. 273 Marymount University (tie)
• No. 293 Old Dominion University (tie)
• No. 301 Shenandoah University (tie)
• No. 329 Radford University (tie)
• No. 329 University of Lynchburg (tie)
• No. 373 Regent University (tie)
• No. 384 Mary Baldwin University (tie)
• No. 395-434 Liberty University

The University of Virginia tied for fourth on U.S. News & World Report’s Top Public Schools list, maintaining its ranking from last year, and tied with UNC Chapel Hill.

“U.Va. continues to offer a world-class education that provides exceptional value and return on investment for our graduates,” Paul Mahoney, U.Va.’s interim president, said in a statement.

Virginia Tech and William & Mary tied for 21st in the top public schools rankings. George Mason University was No. 57, tied with Arizona State University, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, San Diego State University, University of Central Florida and University of New Hampshire.

Virginia Commonwealth University tied with California State University, Fullerton, for No. 72, and James Madison University made No. 79, tying with Colorado State University, University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Rhode Island and University of Utah.

Old Dominion University ranked No. 159 (tied with Bowling Green State University, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, University of Toledo and Western Michigan University), and Radford University was 178th and tied with eight schools.

Four Virginia schools made U.S. News & World Report’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities list. Hampton University ranked No. 7 again this year. Virginia State University tied with Bowie State University in Maryland for 11th, a jump from 23rd last year. Norfolk State University was No. 26, while Virginia Union University tied for the 43rd slot. VUU tied with Southern University and A&M College in Louisiana.

Sixteen Virginia colleges made the Best National Liberal Arts Colleges list:

• No. 21 Washington and Lee University
• No. 22 University of Richmond (tie)
• No. 65 Virginia Military Institute (tie)
• No. 96 Randolph-Macon College (tie)
• No. 107 Hampden-Sydney College (tie)
• No. 107 Patrick Henry College (tie)
• No. 126 Roanoke College (tie)
• No. 131 University of Mary Washington (tie)
• No. 135 Hollins University (tie)
• No. 156 Randolph College (tie)
• No. 164 Sweet Briar College (tie)
• No. 167 Bridgewater College (tie)
• No. 167 University of Virginia’s College at Wise (tie)
• No. 178 Virginia Wesleyan University (tie)
• No. 183-201 Southern Virginia University
• No. 183-201 Virginia Union University