28 Best colleges for Astrophysics and Astronomy 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 Astrophysics and Astronomy. A graph of 1.61M citations received by 43.8K academic papers made by 28 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: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#54 in the United States

#61 in North America

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

3. George Mason University

Fairfax

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#92 in the United States

#106 in North America

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

4. College of William and Mary

Williamsburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#141 in the United States

#163 in North America

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

5. Old Dominion University

Norfolk

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#155 in the United States

#179 in North America

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

6. Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#166 in the United States

#192 in North America

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

7. Marymount University

Arlington

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#215 in the United States

#243 in North America

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

8. Hampton University

Hampton

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#248 in the United States

#281 in North America

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

9. Eastern Virginia Medical School

Norfolk

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#298 in the United States

#337 in North America

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

10. James Madison University

Harrisonburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#303 in the United States

#342 in North America

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

11. University of Richmond

Richmond

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#337 in the United States

#380 in North America

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

12. Norfolk State University

Norfolk

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#490 in the United States

#542 in North America

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

13. Washington and Lee University

Lexington

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#518 in the United States

#571 in North America

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

14. Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#565 in the United States

#618 in North America

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

15. Christopher Newport University

Newport News

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#608 in the United States

#663 in North America

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

16. Radford University

Radford

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#671 in the United States

#730 in North America

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

17. Virginia State University

Petersburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#693 in the United States

#755 in North America

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

18. Virginia Military Institute

Lexington

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#695 in the United States

#757 in North America

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

19. Regent University

Virginia Beach

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#698 in the United States

#760 in North America

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

20. University of Lynchburg

Lynchburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#710 in the United States

#772 in North America

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

21. University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#742 in the United States

#806 in North America

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

22. Roanoke College

Salem

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#761 in the United States

#825 in North America

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

23. Liberty University

Lynchburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#767 in the United States

#831 in North America

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

24. Shenandoah University

Winchester

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#768 in the United States

#832 in North America

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

25. Emory & Henry College

Emory

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#794 in the United States

#858 in North America

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

26. Longwood University

Farmville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#828 in the United States

#894 in North America

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

27. Randolph-Macon College

Ashland

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#840 in the United States

#906 in North America

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

28. Sweet Briar College

Sweet Briar

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#842 in the United States

#908 in North America

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

Closest to Virginia states to learn Astrophysics and Astronomy

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
West Virginia	5	108
District of Columbia	8	101
North Carolina	24	47
Maryland	18	14
Pennsylvania	63	12
South Carolina	14	98
Ohio	34	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	35	10
Michigan	21	8
New Hampshire	8	75
Florida	28	29
Mississippi	7	164
Wisconsin	21	19
Missouri	16	45
Maine	7	202
Arkansas	9	142
Iowa	11	53
Louisiana	17	64
Minnesota	21	28
Kansas	10	82
Oklahoma	9	72
Nebraska	7	93
South Dakota	7	242
Texas	53	15
North Dakota	3	206
Colorado	14	20
New Mexico	6	69
Puerto Rico	6	306
Montana	4	109
Utah	6	50
Arizona	5	7
Idaho	4	170
Washington	16	11
Oregon	14	74
California	73	1
Alaska	3	116
Hawaii	4	61