2027 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 10,000 applications per year.
Have fewer than 7,000 undergraduate students.
Offer 5 or more unique majors
Have a 20% acceptance rate or higher.
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	25869	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. 100% of students receive grant aid, with each package averaging $13,345. Most students, 88%, stay on after the first year, and many major in Strategic Intelligence, Political Science and Government, General, and Journalism. Acceptance Rate 77.4% SAT Score 1,260 – 1,440 Avg. Net Price $25,869 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,721
2	Virginia Military Institute	74.12	1,080 – 1,290	18825	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, 429 athletes (the Keydets) compete in the NCAA Division I-FCS Southern Conference. Moe the Kangaroo cheers them on. Acceptance Rate 74.1% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $18,825 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,545
3	Christopher Newport University	86.04	1,080 – 1,300	23148	51931	#3 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Christopher Newport University Newport News, VA Based in Newport News, Christopher Newport University accepted 86% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 57% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. 81% of students decide to stay at Christopher Newport......Read more Acceptance Rate 86.0% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $23,148 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,931
4	University of Mary Washington	74.13	1,190 – 1,370	21800	49411	#4 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, VA Located in Fredericksburg, the University of Mary Washington accepted 74% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications and . About 94% of students attending the University of Mary Washington will receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year......Read more Acceptance Rate 74.1% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $21,800 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,411
5	Randolph-Macon College	91.05	1,000 – 1,260	28912	48067	#5 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 91.1% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,260 Avg. Net Price $28,912 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,067
6	Hampden-Sydney College	37.52	1,090 – 1,320	29717	55846	#6 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 37.5% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $29,717 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,846
7	Hollins University	67.47	1,140 – 1,300	22605	29863	#7 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Hollins University Roanoke, VA Located in Roanoke, Hollins University’s acceptance rate is 67% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. 71% of students continued their studies at Hollins University after completing their first year....Read more Acceptance Rate 67.5% SAT Score 1,140 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $22,605 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $29,863
8	Roanoke College	83.06	1,110 – 1,320	26044	45330	#8 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Roanoke College Salem, VA Found in Salem, Roanoke College accepted 83% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 100% of students attending Roanoke College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The school’s first year......Read more Acceptance Rate 83.1% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $26,044 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,330
9	Shenandoah University	77.85	1,040 – 1,270	27181	48167	#9 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Shenandoah University Winchester, VA Found in Winchester, Shenandoah University’s acceptance rate is 78% 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 81% first year retention rate and......Read more Acceptance Rate 77.9% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,270 Avg. Net Price $27,181 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,167
10	Longwood University	90.22	1,030 – 1,220	20847	46058	#10 Top Hidden Gem Colleges in Virginia Longwood University Farmville, VA Located in Farmville, Longwood University accepts 90% of applicants and charges $50 for undergraduate applications. About 90% of students at Longwood University currently receive institutional grant aid. They receive $7,486 on average. The first year retention rate is 80%....Read more Acceptance Rate 90.2% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $20,847 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,058
11	Eastern Mennonite University	99.92	1,140 – 1,540	25021	48158	#11 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 96% of students attending Eastern Mennonite University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more Acceptance Rate 99.9% SAT Score 1,140 – 1,540 Avg. Net Price $25,021 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,158
12	Randolph College	90.04	1,050 – 1,230	21668	39122	#12 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 $16,567. Biology/Biological Sciences, General is the most popular major. Acceptance Rate 90.0% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $21,668 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,122