Best English Colleges in Virginia (2026)
Updated
This page ranks the 23 English programs in Virginia by median earnings of English graduates four years after completing. University of Richmond ranks 1st with median earnings of $70,444 four years after completing.
Across the listed schools, the median figure is $45,844, and the range stretches from $70,444 to $28,598. For 5 of the 23 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
The list splits almost evenly between 12 public and 11 private nonprofit institutions. Radford University posts the lowest average net price at $14,578, while University of Virginia-Main Campus reports the highest six-year completion rate at 96%.
George Mason University ranks 33rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median English Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Richmond · University Of Richmond, VA | $70,444 | $31,309 | $12,808 | 22.2% |
| University of Richmond reports $70,444 in median earnings for its English graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (23 graduates), English Language and Literature, General (20 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($58,014) | |||||
| 2 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · Blacksburg, VA | $64,225 | $24,953 | $11,689 | 54.8% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 86%, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ranks 2nd on this page and posts median earnings of $64,225 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (86 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($64,225) | |||||
| 3 | William & Mary · Williamsburg, VA | $57,616 | $19,096 | $3,106 | 34.1% |
| William & Mary admits 34% of applicants and its English graduates earn a median of $57,616 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (73 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($57,616) | |||||
| 4 | James Madison University · Harrisonburg, VA | $57,338 | $23,322 | $11,444 | 71.5% |
| James Madison University ranks 4th on this list, with an average net price of $23,322 and median earnings of $57,338 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (49 graduates), Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (46 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($57,487) | |||||
| 5 | George Mason University · Fairfax, VA | $57,115 | $17,915 | $11,942 | 87.5% |
| George Mason University holds the strongest Azimuth composite rank on the page, 33rd among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its English graduates earn a median of $57,115 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (106 graduates), Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (21 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies ($62,383), English Language and Literature, General ($56,071) | |||||
| 6 | University of Virginia-Main Campus · Charlottesville, VA | $55,412 | $21,565 | $8,174 | 16.8% |
| Graduating 96% of its students within six years, University of Virginia-Main Campus reports median earnings of $55,412 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (172 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($55,412) | |||||
| 7 | Christopher Newport University · Newport News, VA | $55,379 | $23,015 | $12,461 | 86.0% |
| Christopher Newport University posts an average net price of $12,461 for families earning under $30,000 alongside median earnings of $55,379 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (36 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($55,379) | |||||
| 8 | Old Dominion University · Norfolk, VA | $53,375 | $14,638 | $9,739 | 90.4% |
| Old Dominion University ranks 8th on this list, with an admission rate of 90% and median earnings of $53,375 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (210 graduates), English Language and Literature, General (49 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies ($54,390), English Language and Literature, General ($49,024) | |||||
| 9 | Longwood University · Farmville, VA | $51,485 | $19,066 | $11,896 | 90.2% |
| Longwood University reports a six-year completion rate of 61% and median earnings of $51,485 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (24 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($51,485) | |||||
| 10 | Randolph-Macon College · Ashland, VA | $47,804 | $27,866 | $16,601 | 86.6% |
| A private nonprofit institution, Randolph-Macon College ranks 10th on this page with median earnings of $47,804 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (8 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($47,804) | |||||
| 11 | Virginia Military Institute · Lexington, VA | $46,087 | $17,113 | $12,697 | 71.3% |
| Virginia Military Institute reports median earnings of $46,087 for its English graduates two years after completing and an average net price of $17,113. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (22 graduates) | |||||
| 12 | Virginia Commonwealth University · Richmond, VA | $45,844 | $23,433 | $17,512 | 92.6% |
| An admission rate of 93% coincides with median earnings of $45,844 for English graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University four years after completing, matching the list median of $45,844. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (116 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($45,844) | |||||
| 13 | University of Mary Washington · Fredericksburg, VA | $45,824 | $20,667 | $10,304 | 79.8% |
| University of Mary Washington reports median earnings of $45,824 for its English graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $20,667. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (66 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($45,824) | |||||
| 14 | Roanoke College · Salem, VA | $43,974 | $24,503 | $15,204 | 83.1% |
| With a six-year completion rate of 67%, Roanoke College ranks 14th on this list and shows median earnings of $43,974 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (8 graduates), Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (7 graduates) | |||||
| 15 | Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA | $42,576 | $29,357 | $30,667 | 99.0% |
| Liberty University admits 99% of applicants and posts median earnings of $42,576 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (105 graduates), English Language and Literature, General (19 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($42,576) | |||||
| 16 | Marymount University · Arlington, VA | $42,235 | $29,137 | $27,413 | 93.2% |
| Marymount University ranks 16th on this list, with median earnings of $42,235 for its English graduates two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (7 graduates) | |||||
| 17 | Regent University · Virginia Beach, VA | $40,012 | $19,923 | $20,064 | 38.1% |
| A private nonprofit university in Virginia Beach, Regent University reports an average net price of $19,923 and median earnings of $40,012 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (41 graduates) | |||||
| 18 | Bridgewater College · Bridgewater, VA | $39,369 | $17,800 | $13,283 | 91.7% |
| Bridgewater College shows a six-year completion rate of 53% and median earnings of $39,369 for its English graduates two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (6 graduates) | |||||
| 19 | Radford University · Radford, VA | $39,085 | $14,578 | $8,965 | 89.5% |
| Radford University carries an average net price of $14,578 and reports median earnings of $39,085 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (21 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($39,085) | |||||
| 20 | Hollins University · Roanoke, VA | $38,172 | $20,896 | $17,511 | 68.0% |
| Hollins University ranks 20th on this list, with an admission rate of 68% and median earnings of $38,172 four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (19 graduates), Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (16 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: English Language and Literature, General ($38,172) | |||||
| 21 | Washington and Lee University · Lexington, VA | $37,593 | $23,781 | -$1,777* | 14.0% |
| Washington and Lee University admits 14% of applicants and reports median earnings of $37,593 for its English graduates two years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (26 graduates) | |||||
| 22 | Southern Virginia University · Buena Vista, VA | $33,115 | $22,213 | $18,957 | 96.4% |
| Southern Virginia University posts a six-year completion rate of 33% and median earnings of $33,115 for its English graduates four years after completing. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (18 graduates) | |||||
| 23 | Hampton University · Hampton, VA | $28,598 | $25,319 | $32,101 | 62.3% |
| Hampton University reports median earnings of $28,598 for its English graduates two years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 62%. | |||||
Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: English Language and Literature, General (12 graduates) | |||||
* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their English graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only schools with a reported English earnings cohort in Virginia appear. The figure covers federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 5 of the 23 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The range from University of Richmond at $70,444 to the lowest listed figure of $28,598 spans $41,846, with a $6,219 gap between University of Richmond and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Related rankings
- Best English Colleges in the United States
- Best Colleges in Virginia
- Best English Colleges in Alabama
- Best English Colleges in New Jersey
- English Colleges in Virginia for Social Mobility