2026 College Rankings

Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia

About

College Raptor’s Hidden Gem rankings highlight under-the-radar colleges that may not be household names, but they're bringing serious academic heat. Hidden Gems are based on College Raptor’s overall national rankings and must meet the following criteria:

Receive fewer than 5,000 applications a year.
Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students enrolled.
Have an acceptance rate higher than 10%.
Have 5 or more unique majors.
Rank within the top half of College Raptor’s overall rankings.

For more information on methodology behind our college rankings, check out our ranking methodology breakdown.

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Rank	Institution	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Patrick Henry College	77.44	1,260 – 1,440	25128	63721	#1 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Patrick Henry College Purcellville, VA Patrick Henry College is a fairly new school, having only opened in 2000. 98% of students receive grant aid, with each package averaging $13,798. Most students, 88%, stay on after the first year, and many major in Political Science and Government, General, Strategic Intelligence, and Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. Acceptance Rate 77.4% SAT Score 1,260 – 1,440 Avg. Net Price $25,128 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,721
2	Virginia Military Institute	71.25	1,110 – 1,330	17229	63545	#2 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA Abraham Lincoln called the Virginia Military Institute the “West Point of the South.” Located on the Maury River in the Shenandoah Valley, 562 athletes (the Keydets) compete in the NCAA Division I-FCS Big South Conference. Moe the Kangaroo cheers them on. Acceptance Rate 71.3% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $17,229 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,545
3	Randolph-Macon College	86.61	1,050 – 1,230	29058	48067	#3 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Randolph-Macon College Ashland, VA Randolph-Macon College was founded in 1830, making it the oldest Methodist-run college in continuous operation in the United States. Although the school offers up to Master's degrees, most students are undergraduates....Read more Acceptance Rate 86.6% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $29,058 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,067
4	Hampden-Sydney College	40.92	1,080 – 1,280	29578	55846	#4 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney, VA Hampden-Sydney College is the oldest privately-charted college in the south. This all-male school focuses heavily on tradition. The campus sprawls over 1,300 acres, with part of it named to the National Register of Historic Places. The most popular major currently at H-SC is Business/Managerial Economics. Acceptance Rate 40.9% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $29,578 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,846
5	Hollins University	67.95	1,230 – 1,340	23444	29863	#5 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Hollins University Roanoke, VA Located in Roanoke, Hollins University’s acceptance rate is 68% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. 74% of students continued their studies at Hollins University after completing their first year....Read more Acceptance Rate 68.0% SAT Score 1,230 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $23,444 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $29,863
6	Shenandoah University	76.95	990 – 1,270	26400	48167	#6 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Shenandoah University Winchester, VA Found in Winchester, Shenandoah University’s acceptance rate is 77% and charges $30 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 100% of students at Shenandoah University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Shenandoah University, there is a 82% first year retention rate and......Read more Acceptance Rate 77.0% SAT Score 990 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $26,400 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,167
7	Bridgewater College	91.72	1,020 – 1,360	19660	45620	#7 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Bridgewater College Bridgewater, VA Found in Bridgewater, Bridgewater College’s acceptance rate is 92%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. About 100% of students at Bridgewater College currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more Acceptance Rate 91.7% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $19,660 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,620
8	Marymount University	80.21	990 – 1,200	28147	57801	#8 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Marymount University Arlington, VA Located in Arlington, Marymount University accepts 80% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. Approximately 96% of students at Marymount University currently receive grant aid from the school. At Marymount University, there is a 74% first year retention rate and around 50% of students will earn......Read more Acceptance Rate 80.2% SAT Score 990 – 1,200 Avg. Net Price $28,147 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $57,801
9	Eastern Mennonite University	100	1,140 – 1,540	24710	48158	#9 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg, VA Based in Harrisonburg, Eastern Mennonite University’s acceptance rate is 100%. They require unknown for undergraduate applications. About 95% of students attending Eastern Mennonite University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more Acceptance Rate 100.0% SAT Score 1,140 – 1,540 Avg. Net Price $24,710 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,158
10	Randolph College	93.71	1,050 – 1,230	20856	39122	#10 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Randolph College Lynchburg, VA Randolph College was an all women’s school for over 100 years, only becoming coeducational in 2007. It has an 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. 100% receive institutional grants, with each package averaging $15,460. Health and Physical Education/Fitness, General is the most popular major. Acceptance Rate 93.7% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $20,856 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,122
11	Sweet Briar College	71.74	1,020 – 1,360	25598	35533	#11 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar, VA Acceptance Rate 71.7% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $25,598 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $35,533
12	Southern Virginia University	99.73	900 – 1,250	25440	36988	#12 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Southern Virginia University Buena Vista, VA Located in Buena Vista, Southern Virginia University’s acceptance rate is 100%. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. Approximately 99% of students at Southern Virginia University will receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year retention rate is 48% and around 28% of students will graduate in four......Read more Acceptance Rate 99.7% SAT Score 900 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $25,440 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,988