43 Best colleges for Biology in Virginia

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Virginia ranked based on their research performance in Biology. A graph of 12M citations received by 332K 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: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg

For Biology

#82 in the United States

#92 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

3. Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond

For Biology

#102 in the United States

#118 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

4. George Mason University

Fairfax

For Biology

#172 in the United States

#196 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 79%

5. Marymount University

Arlington

For Biology

#187 in the United States

#211 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $31,989
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $26,069

6. Eastern Virginia Medical School

Norfolk

For Biology

#196 in the United States

#221 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,216
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1973

7. College of William and Mary

Williamsburg

For Biology

#211 in the United States

#237 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 55%

8. Old Dominion University

Norfolk

For Biology

#214 in the United States

#241 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 94%

9. University of Richmond

Richmond

For Biology

#310 in the United States

#348 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,037

10. James Madison University

Harrisonburg

For Biology

#333 in the United States

#373 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 58%

11. Emory & Henry College

Emory

For Biology

#489 in the United States

#540 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1137
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $21,446

12. Hampton University

Hampton

For Biology

#501 in the United States

#553 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 940
Average ACT: 18
Net Price: $27,428

13. Washington and Lee University

Lexington

For Biology

#509 in the United States

#561 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,055

14. Norfolk State University

Norfolk

For Biology

#537 in the United States

#589 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 927
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 94%

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: 955
Average ACT: 17
Receiving Aid: 92%

17. Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Blacksburg

For Biology

#600 in the United States

#653 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,617
Male:Female: 40:60

18. Radford University

Radford

For Biology

#609 in the United States

#662 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1050
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 96%

19. Regent University

Virginia Beach

For Biology

#651 in the United States

#709 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $20,512

20. Christopher Newport University

Newport News

For Biology

#656 in the United States

#714 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 78%

21. Liberty University

Lynchburg

For Biology

#732 in the United States

#793 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Net Price: $29,532
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $12,489

22. Longwood University

Farmville

For Biology

#771 in the United States

#833 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1120
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 99%

23. University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg

For Biology

#776 in the United States

#838 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 99%

24. Shenandoah University

Winchester

For Biology

#786 in the United States

#848 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Net Price: $27,181
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $24,747

25. Virginia Military Institute

Lexington

For Biology

#793 in the United States

#855 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

26. Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney

For Biology

#812 in the United States

#874 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $29,717

27. Randolph-Macon College

Ashland

For Biology

#911 in the United States

#978 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $28,912

28. University of Lynchburg

Lynchburg

For Biology

#913 in the United States

#980 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1105
Net Price: $23,845
Receiving Aid: 100%

29. Roanoke College

Salem

For Biology

#944 in the United States

#1012 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $26,044

30. Sweet Briar College

Sweet Briar

For Biology

#1109 in the United States

#1179 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1205
Net Price: $21,322
Receiving Aid: 99%

31. Bridgewater College

Bridgewater

For Biology

#1141 in the United States

#1212 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1190
Net Price: $11,316
Receiving Aid: 100%

32. Randolph College

Lynchburg

For Biology

#1174 in the United States

#1246 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $21,668

33. Hollins University

Roanoke

For Biology

#1180 in the United States

#1252 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1245
Net Price: $22,605
Receiving Aid: 100%

34. Ferrum College

Ferrum

For Biology

#1191 in the United States

#1263 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Net Price: $20,082
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $34,444

35. Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Beach

For Biology

#1214 in the United States

#1287 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Net Price: $21,267
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,923

36. University of Virginia's College at Wise

Wise

For Biology

#1264 in the United States

#1338 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1033
Average ACT: 20
Receiving Aid: 99%

37. Eastern Mennonite University

Harrisonburg

For Biology

#1287 in the United States

#1362 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $25,021
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $32,378

38. Mary Baldwin University

Staunton

For Biology

#1318 in the United States

#1395 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $17,810
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $28,135

39. Appalachian College of Pharmacy

Oakwood

For Biology

#1356 in the United States

#1434 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 113
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 2003

40. University of Management and Technology

Arlington

For Biology

#1458 in the United States

#1538 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $8,987
Receiving Aid: 0%
Average Aid: $4,680

41. Union Presbyterian Seminary

Richmond

For Biology

#1494 in the United States

#1577 in North America

Enrollment: 159
Male:Female: 33:67

42. Averett University

Danville

For Biology

#1516 in the United States

#1600 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1035
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $23,471

43. Virginia Union University

Richmond

For Biology

#1530 in the United States

#1614 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Average SAT: 868
Net Price: $11,483
Receiving Aid: 88%

Closest to Virginia states to learn Biology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
West Virginia	21	120
District of Columbia	9	81
North Carolina	46	18
Maryland	28	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	37	4
New Hampshire	12	99
Florida	62	22
Mississippi	14	145
Wisconsin	33	13
Missouri	36	17
Maine	16	176
Arkansas	17	115
Iowa	30	42
Louisiana	25	83
Minnesota	28	16
Kansas	17	98
Oklahoma	21	124
Nebraska	14	97
South Dakota	10	207
Texas	79	20
North Dakota	9	167
Colorado	20	57
New Mexico	9	96
Puerto Rico	15	315
Montana	9	141
Utah	11	36
Arizona	11	37
Idaho	7	159
Nevada	8	142
Washington	33	5
Oregon	18	64
California	134	3
Alaska	4	184
Hawaii	7	123

Closest to Virginia states to learn Biology

Biology subfields in Virginia