Best Political Science Colleges in Virginia2026 Rankings
Virginia is home to 37 accredited institutions offering Political Science programs — from large public research universities to small private liberal arts colleges. This ranking evaluates each school on admission selectivity, four-year graduation rate, net price, and graduate earnings to surface the programs that deliver the strongest outcomes.
Among the schools listed here, University of Virginia-Main Campus is the most selective, admitting 17% of applicants. Average in-state tuition across this group sits at $29,351, while out-of-state students can expect to pay around $37,932. Median early-career earnings for Political Science graduates in this state average $38,404 per year, and the average four-year graduation rate among ranked programs is 63%.
Not sure if your profile matches these schools?
Looking at schools in Virginia is a great start — but knowing whether your GPA, test scores, and activities match what these programs actually admit takes a deeper look.
Drop your application data into our Free Application Review. Our AI will analyze your admission chances and stats in 2 minutes. Get practical next steps for improvements where it matters most.
Get My Free Application Review →2026 Rankings: Political Science Programs in Virginia
| # | College | Value Score | Admit Rate | Grad Rate | Net Price | Median Earnings | Student:Faculty | Majors Offered | Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington and Lee UniversityPrivate | Elite· 48 | 17% | 95% | $6,983 | $60,434 | 8:1 | 36 | 1,884 |
| 2 | University of Virginia-Main CampusPublic | Excellent· 46 | 17% | 95% | $14,658 | $45,875 | 15:1 | 61 | 17,315 |
| 3 | William & MaryPublic | Excellent· 46 | 33% | 91% | $12,603 | $41,317 | 13:1 | 35 | 6,949 |
| 4 | University of RichmondPrivate | Excellent· 45 | 23% | 88% | $15,818 | $43,253 | 7:1 | 43 | 3,002 |
| 5 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityPublic | Excellent· 42 | 57% | 86% | $19,660 | $42,114 | 17:1 | 74 | 30,435 |
| 6 | James Madison UniversityPublic | Great· 39 | 76% | 81% | $17,150 | $42,128 | 17:1 | 47 | 20,497 |
| 7 | Hampden-Sydney CollegePrivate | Strong· 37 | 50% | 65% | $23,831 | $37,123 | 9:1 | 26 | 876 |
| 8 | Christopher Newport UniversityPublic | Strong· 37 | 88% | 75% | $15,030 | $43,508 | 13:1 | 23 | 4,402 |
| 9 | Randolph-Macon CollegePrivate | Strong· 36 | 83% | 75% | $28,921 | $41,684 | 10:1 | 40 | 1,489 |
| 10 | Shenandoah UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 78% | 71% | $25,951 | $47,589 | 11:1 | 36 | 2,127 |
| 11 | Hollins UniversityPrivate | Strong· 36 | 71% | 70% | $24,291 | $25,104 | 8:1 | 25 | 673 |
| 12 | University of LynchburgPrivate | Strong· 35 | 82% | 62% | $19,432 | $45,005 | 11:1 | 34 | 1,599 |
| 13 | University of Virginia's College at WisePublic | Strong· 35 | 94% | 50% | $7,159 | $35,642 | 13:1 | 30 | 1,214 |
| 14 | Averett UniversityPrivate | Strong· 34 | 48% | 44% | $19,655 | $45,152 | 13:1 | 48 | 1,162 |
| 15 | Roanoke CollegePrivate | Strong· 34 | 80% | 66% | $24,279 | $36,855 | 11:1 | 34 | 1,801 |
| 16 | Sweet Briar CollegePrivate | Strong· 34 | 72% | 48% | $20,468 | $21,090 | 9:1 | 32 | 463 |
| 17 | George Mason UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 89% | 69% | $16,296 | $45,846 | 16:1 | 68 | 27,083 |
| 18 | Longwood UniversityPublic | Good· 33 | 85% | 62% | $18,489 | $43,256 | 14:1 | 28 | 2,957 |
| 19 | University of Mary WashingtonPublic | Good· 33 | 86% | 67% | $19,886 | $35,687 | 13:1 | 27 | 3,504 |
| 20 | Virginia Wesleyan UniversityPrivate | Good· 33 | 71% | 49% | $18,364 | $36,440 | 13:1 | 34 | 1,243 |
| 21 | Randolph CollegePrivate | Good· 33 | 95% | 51% | $17,824 | $28,483 | 7:1 | 31 | 520 |
| 22 | Radford UniversityPublic | Good· 32 | 91% | 50% | $14,533 | $27,136 | 12:1 | 48 | 5,609 |
| 23 | Virginia Commonwealth UniversityPublic | Good· 32 | 93% | 65% | $16,455 | $34,080 | 17:1 | 56 | 20,797 |
| 24 | Old Dominion UniversityPublic | Good· 32 | 91% | 44% | $13,142 | $31,700 | 15:1 | 52 | 17,521 |
| 25 | Marymount UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 81% | 58% | $24,661 | $41,186 | 13:1 | 29 | 1,795 |
| 26 | Regent UniversityPrivate | Good· 31 | 41% | 54% | $16,647 | $42,499 | 20:1 | 38 | 4,282 |
| 27 | Eastern Mennonite UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 100% | 47% | $21,592 | $50,046 | 10:1 | 40 | 800 |
| 28 | Emory & Henry UniversityPrivate | Good· 30 | 96% | 54% | $19,781 | $31,937 | 12:1 | 42 | 1,107 |
| 29 | Ferrum CollegePrivate | Good· 30 | 100% | 29% | $20,145 | $33,980 | 11:1 | 40 | 745 |
| 30 | Norfolk State UniversityPublic | Good· 30 | 87% | 33% | $13,868 | $36,917 | 18:1 | 32 | 5,495 |