29 Best colleges for Astrophysics and Astronomy 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 Astrophysics and Astronomy. A graph of 1.69M citations received by 44.7K academic papers made by 29 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 Astrophysics and Astronomy

#36 in the United States

#38 in North America

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

2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#54 in the United States

#61 in North America

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

3. George Mason University

Fairfax

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#92 in the United States

#106 in North America

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

4. College of William and Mary

Williamsburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#141 in the United States

#163 in North America

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

5. Old Dominion University

Norfolk

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#152 in the United States

#175 in North America

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

6. Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#163 in the United States

#189 in North America

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

7. Marymount University

Arlington

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#214 in the United States

#242 in North America

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

8. Hampton University

Hampton

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#249 in the United States

#284 in North America

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

9. Eastern Virginia Medical School

Norfolk

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#299 in the United States

#338 in North America

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

10. James Madison University

Harrisonburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#301 in the United States

#340 in North America

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

11. University of Richmond

Richmond

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#336 in the United States

#379 in North America

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

12. Norfolk State University

Norfolk

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#492 in the United States

#544 in North America

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

13. Washington and Lee University

Lexington

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#516 in the United States

#569 in North America

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

14. Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#571 in the United States

#625 in North America

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

15. Christopher Newport University

Newport News

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#608 in the United States

#663 in North America

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

16. Radford University

Radford

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#674 in the United States

#735 in North America

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

17. Virginia Military Institute

Lexington

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#691 in the United States

#753 in North America

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

18. Virginia State University

Petersburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#696 in the United States

#758 in North America

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

19. Regent University

Virginia Beach

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#701 in the United States

#763 in North America

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

20. University of Lynchburg

Lynchburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#707 in the United States

#769 in North America

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

21. University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#724 in the United States

#786 in North America

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

22. Liberty University

Lynchburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#757 in the United States

#821 in North America

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

23. Shenandoah University

Winchester

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#771 in the United States

#835 in North America

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

24. Roanoke College

Salem

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#772 in the United States

#836 in North America

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

25. Emory & Henry College

Emory

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#790 in the United States

#854 in North America

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

26. Longwood University

Farmville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#825 in the United States

#891 in North America

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

27. Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Blacksburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#839 in the United States

#905 in North America

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

28. Randolph-Macon College

Ashland

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#846 in the United States

#912 in North America

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

29. Sweet Briar College

Sweet Briar

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#847 in the United States

#913 in North America

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

Closest to Virginia states to learn Astrophysics and Astronomy

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
West Virginia	6	107
District of Columbia	8	101
North Carolina	25	45
Maryland	18	14
Pennsylvania	64	12
South Carolina	14	97
Ohio	35	21
New Jersey	18	6
Kentucky	13	68
Tennessee	20	63
Georgia	25	32
Indiana	20	33
New York	85	9
Connecticut	18	22
Rhode Island	6	51
Massachusetts	48	4
Alabama	16	91
Vermont	4	169
Illinois	36	10
Michigan	21	8
New Hampshire	8	75
Florida	27	29
Mississippi	7	161
Wisconsin	21	19
Missouri	16	44
Maine	7	202
Arkansas	9	142
Iowa	11	53
Louisiana	17	64
Minnesota	21	28
Kansas	10	82
Oklahoma	9	71
Nebraska	7	93
South Dakota	7	239
Texas	53	15
North Dakota	3	206
Colorado	14	20
New Mexico	6	69
Puerto Rico	6	305
Montana	4	109
Utah	6	50
Arizona	5	7
Idaho	4	171
Washington	16	11
Oregon	14	74
California	73	1
Alaska	3	117
Hawaii	4	61