36 Best Theology / Divinity / Religious studies schools 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 Theology / Divinity / Religious studies. A graph of 439K citations received by 24K academic papers made by 36 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 Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#28 in the United States

#31 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

2. George Mason University

Fairfax

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#72 in the United States

#82 in North America

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

3. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#75 in the United States

#85 in North America

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

4. Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#86 in the United States

#99 in North America

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

5. College of William and Mary

Williamsburg

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#118 in the United States

#137 in North America

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

6. University of Richmond

Richmond

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#171 in the United States

#196 in North America

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

7. Old Dominion University

Norfolk

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#182 in the United States

#209 in North America

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

8. Regent University

Virginia Beach

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#205 in the United States

#233 in North America

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

9. Marymount University

Arlington

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#207 in the United States

#235 in North America

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

10. James Madison University

Harrisonburg

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#253 in the United States

#283 in North America

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

11. Washington and Lee University

Lexington

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#275 in the United States

#306 in North America

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

12. Liberty University

Lynchburg

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#359 in the United States

#396 in North America

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

13. Union Presbyterian Seminary

Richmond

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#429 in the United States

#474 in North America

Enrollment: 159
Male:Female: 33:67

14. Christopher Newport University

Newport News

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#460 in the United States

#506 in North America

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

15. University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#534 in the United States

#586 in North America

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

16. Eastern Virginia Medical School

Norfolk

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#538 in the United States

#590 in North America

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

17. Radford University

Radford

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#605 in the United States

#658 in North America

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

18. University of Lynchburg

Lynchburg

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#657 in the United States

#713 in North America

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

19. Longwood University

Farmville

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#674 in the United States

#731 in North America

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

20. Emory & Henry College

Emory

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#778 in the United States

#841 in North America

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

21. Roanoke College

Salem

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#784 in the United States

#847 in North America

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

22. Norfolk State University

Norfolk

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#792 in the United States

#855 in North America

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

23. Virginia Military Institute

Lexington

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#802 in the United States

#866 in North America

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

24. Hampton University

Hampton

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#815 in the United States

#880 in North America

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

25. Stratford University

Fairfax

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#865 in the United States

#932 in North America

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

26. Randolph-Macon College

Ashland

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#889 in the United States

#958 in North America

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

27. Hollins University

Roanoke

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#910 in the United States

#980 in North America

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

28. Shenandoah University

Winchester

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#957 in the United States

#1028 in North America

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

29. Eastern Mennonite University

Harrisonburg

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#965 in the United States

#1036 in North America

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

30. Sweet Briar College

Sweet Briar

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#981 in the United States

#1053 in North America

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

31. Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#991 in the United States

#1064 in North America

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

32. Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia Beach

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#995 in the United States

#1068 in North America

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

33. Randolph College

Lynchburg

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1036 in the United States

#1110 in North America

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

34. Virginia State University

Petersburg

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1041 in the United States

#1115 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 955
Average ACT: 17
Receiving Aid: 92%

35. Bridgewater College

Bridgewater

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1116 in the United States

#1192 in North America

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

36. University of Virginia's College at Wise

Wise

For Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

#1117 in the United States

#1193 in North America

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

Closest to Virginia states to learn Theology / Divinity / Religious studies

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
West Virginia	5	134
District of Columbia	10	34
North Carolina	32	1
Maryland	22	23
Pennsylvania	78	9
South Carolina	17	84
Ohio	43	19
New Jersey	21	16
Kentucky	20	48
Tennessee	28	38
Georgia	29	35
Indiana	27	25
New York	107	8
Connecticut	17	7
Rhode Island	8	56
Massachusetts	53	5
Alabama	18	77
Vermont	6	91
Illinois	55	6
Michigan	30	2
New Hampshire	11	78
Florida	34	26
Mississippi	8	167
Wisconsin	24	12
Missouri	25	46
Maine	7	258
Arkansas	12	103
Iowa	17	37
Louisiana	19	89
Minnesota	25	27
Kansas	10	62
Oklahoma	11	79
Nebraska	7	96
South Dakota	5	469
Texas	62	14
North Dakota	3	245
Colorado	17	50
New Mexico	5	108
Puerto Rico	3	775
Utah	6	54
Arizona	6	22
Idaho	4	305
Washington	18	15
Oregon	14	109
California	101	3
Hawaii	5	102