43 Best colleges for Biology in Virginia

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Virginia ranked based on their research performance in Biology. A graph of 11.4M citations received by 323K academic papers made by 43 universities in Virginia was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Virginia

Charlottesville

For Biology

#49 in the United States

#53 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg

For Biology

#83 in the United States

#94 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

3. Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond

For Biology

#104 in the United States

#120 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 100%

4. George Mason University

Fairfax

For Biology

#172 in the United States

#196 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

5. Marymount University

Arlington

For Biology

#184 in the United States

#208 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $28,147
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $28,003

6. Eastern Virginia Medical School

Norfolk

For Biology

#196 in the United States

#220 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,235
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1973

7. College of William and Mary

Williamsburg

For Biology

#212 in the United States

#238 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1438
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

8. Old Dominion University

Norfolk

For Biology

#215 in the United States

#242 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 94%

9. University of Richmond

Richmond

For Biology

#308 in the United States

#345 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $35,263

10. James Madison University

Harrisonburg

For Biology

#336 in the United States

#375 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

11. Emory & Henry College

Emory

For Biology

#474 in the United States

#524 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $21,714

12. Hampton University

Hampton

For Biology

#504 in the United States

#556 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1042
Average ACT: 18
Net Price: $28,576

13. Washington and Lee University

Lexington

For Biology

#507 in the United States

#559 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,667

14. Norfolk State University

Norfolk

For Biology

#529 in the United States

#581 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 970
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 97%

15. Stratford University

Fairfax

For Biology

#548 in the United States

#600 in North America

Net Price: $23,243
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $4,605
Enrollment: 1,947

16. Virginia State University

Petersburg

For Biology

#594 in the United States

#646 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 925
Average ACT: 17
Receiving Aid: 92%

17. Radford University

Radford

For Biology

#609 in the United States

#661 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

18. Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Blacksburg

For Biology

#628 in the United States

#684 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,596
Male:Female: 41:59

19. Regent University

Virginia Beach

For Biology

#644 in the United States

#700 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $18,314

20. Christopher Newport University

Newport News

For Biology

#656 in the United States

#714 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 77%

21. Liberty University

Lynchburg

For Biology

#738 in the United States

#800 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Net Price: $29,692
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $12,023

22. Longwood University

Farmville

For Biology

#767 in the United States

#829 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 100%

23. University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg

For Biology

#777 in the United States

#839 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 99%

24. Virginia Military Institute

Lexington

For Biology

#789 in the United States

#851 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

25. Shenandoah University

Winchester

For Biology

#791 in the United States

#853 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Net Price: $26,400
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $24,100

26. Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney

For Biology

#814 in the United States

#876 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $29,578

27. University of Lynchburg

Lynchburg

For Biology

#909 in the United States

#976 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1105
Net Price: $22,921
Receiving Aid: 100%

28. Randolph-Macon College

Ashland

For Biology

#910 in the United States

#977 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $29,058

29. Roanoke College

Salem

For Biology

#946 in the United States

#1014 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $27,695

30. Sweet Briar College

Sweet Briar

For Biology

#1100 in the United States

#1170 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $25,598

31. Bridgewater College

Bridgewater

For Biology

#1144 in the United States

#1215 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1223
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $19,660

32. Randolph College

Lynchburg

For Biology

#1168 in the United States

#1240 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $20,856

33. Hollins University

Roanoke

For Biology

#1174 in the United States

#1246 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $23,444

34. Ferrum College

Ferrum

For Biology

#1189 in the United States

#1261 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Average SAT: 990
Net Price: $22,521
Receiving Aid: 100%

35. Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Beach

For Biology

#1223 in the United States

#1296 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $21,862

36. University of Virginia's College at Wise

Wise

For Biology

#1275 in the United States

#1350 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1055
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

37. Eastern Mennonite University

Harrisonburg

For Biology

#1284 in the United States

#1359 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $24,710
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $30,242

38. Mary Baldwin University

Staunton

For Biology

#1321 in the United States

#1397 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $18,838
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $25,673

39. Appalachian College of Pharmacy

Oakwood

For Biology

#1362 in the United States

#1440 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 125
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 2003

40. University of Management and Technology

Arlington

For Biology

#1459 in the United States

#1540 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $8,987
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $4,680

41. Union Presbyterian Seminary

Richmond

For Biology

#1489 in the United States

#1572 in North America

Enrollment: 173
Male:Female: 35:65

42. Averett University

Danville

For Biology

#1507 in the United States

#1591 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1076
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $24,091

43. Virginia Union University

Richmond

For Biology

#1526 in the United States

#1610 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Average SAT: 880
Net Price: $20,207
Receiving Aid: 91%

Closest to Virginia states to learn Biology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
West Virginia	21	121
District of Columbia	9	81
North Carolina	46	18
Maryland	27	2
Delaware	3	105
Pennsylvania	102	8
South Carolina	28	94
Ohio	60	24
New Jersey	27	35
Kentucky	27	61
Tennessee	38	43
Georgia	48	32
Indiana	33	46
New York	136	7
Connecticut	20	9
Rhode Island	9	69
Massachusetts	69	1
Alabama	28	44
Vermont	12	112
Illinois	74	23
Michigan	36	4
New Hampshire	12	99
Florida	61	22
Mississippi	14	145
Wisconsin	33	13
Missouri	36	17
Maine	16	176
Arkansas	17	114
Iowa	30	42
Louisiana	25	82
Minnesota	28	16
Kansas	17	98
Oklahoma	21	124
Nebraska	14	97
South Dakota	10	207
Texas	79	21
North Dakota	9	167
Colorado	20	57
New Mexico	9	96
Puerto Rico	15	315
Montana	9	139
Utah	11	36
Arizona	11	37
Idaho	7	162
Nevada	8	143
Washington	33	5
Oregon	18	64
California	134	3
Alaska	4	185
Hawaii	7	122

Closest to Virginia states to learn Biology

Biology subfields in Virginia