23 Best colleges for Communications and Public Relations 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 Communications and Public Relations. A graph of 505K citations received by 16.5K academic papers made by 23 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 Communications and Public Relations

#23 in the United States

#26 in North America

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

2. George Mason University

Fairfax

For Communications and Public Relations

#49 in the United States

#58 in North America

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

3. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg

For Communications and Public Relations

#50 in the United States

#59 in North America

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

4. Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond

For Communications and Public Relations

#86 in the United States

#98 in North America

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

5. Old Dominion University

Norfolk

For Communications and Public Relations

#143 in the United States

#168 in North America

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

6. University of Richmond

Richmond

For Communications and Public Relations

#158 in the United States

#185 in North America

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

7. College of William and Mary

Williamsburg

For Communications and Public Relations

#162 in the United States

#189 in North America

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

8. James Madison University

Harrisonburg

For Communications and Public Relations

#165 in the United States

#192 in North America

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

9. Marymount University

Arlington

For Communications and Public Relations

#180 in the United States

#208 in North America

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

10. Regent University

Virginia Beach

For Communications and Public Relations

#193 in the United States

#222 in North America

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

11. Radford University

Radford

For Communications and Public Relations

#371 in the United States

#412 in North America

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

12. Washington and Lee University

Lexington

For Communications and Public Relations

#377 in the United States

#419 in North America

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

13. Emory & Henry College

Emory

For Communications and Public Relations

#466 in the United States

#515 in North America

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

14. Longwood University

Farmville

For Communications and Public Relations

#535 in the United States

#586 in North America

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

15. Liberty University

Lynchburg

For Communications and Public Relations

#542 in the United States

#593 in North America

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

16. Eastern Virginia Medical School

Norfolk

For Communications and Public Relations

#546 in the United States

#598 in North America

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

17. Christopher Newport University

Newport News

For Communications and Public Relations

#551 in the United States

#603 in North America

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

18. University of Lynchburg

Lynchburg

For Communications and Public Relations

#555 in the United States

#608 in North America

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

19. Shenandoah University

Winchester

For Communications and Public Relations

#559 in the United States

#612 in North America

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

20. University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg

For Communications and Public Relations

#585 in the United States

#638 in North America

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

21. Virginia State University

Petersburg

For Communications and Public Relations

#638 in the United States

#698 in North America

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

22. Norfolk State University

Norfolk

For Communications and Public Relations

#722 in the United States

#785 in North America

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

23. Hampton University

Hampton

For Communications and Public Relations

#821 in the United States

#888 in North America

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

Closest to Virginia states to learn Communications and Public Relations

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
West Virginia	4	97
District of Columbia	8	31
North Carolina	21	20
Maryland	16	12
Pennsylvania	54	2
South Carolina	12	44
Ohio	30	16
New Jersey	17	17
Kentucky	11	51
Tennessee	20	48
Georgia	26	26
Indiana	17	27
New York	82	11
Connecticut	16	28
Rhode Island	7	170
Massachusetts	40	4
Alabama	11	83
Vermont	4	137
Illinois	30	19
Michigan	18	1
New Hampshire	6	93
Florida	29	21
Mississippi	7	139
Wisconsin	14	14
Missouri	17	52
Maine	6	217
Arkansas	7	124
Iowa	7	46
Louisiana	17	92
Minnesota	20	9
Kansas	8	64
Oklahoma	8	58
Nebraska	6	54
South Dakota	3	296
Texas	53	22
North Dakota	2	213
Colorado	14	68
Puerto Rico	4	790
Utah	7	70
Arizona	6	5
Idaho	3	200
Washington	16	3
Oregon	12	89
California	78	6
Hawaii	4	127