25 Best colleges for Astrophysics and Astronomy in Virginia

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 1.07M citations received by 37.4K academic papers made by 25 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

#33 in the United States

#35 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Blacksburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#56 in the United States

#63 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

3. George Mason University

Fairfax

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#98 in the United States

#112 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

4. College of William and Mary

Williamsburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#141 in the United States

#164 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1448
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 79%

5. Old Dominion University

Norfolk

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#156 in the United States

#181 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 92%

6. Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#160 in the United States

#185 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

7. Marymount University

Arlington

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#218 in the United States

#247 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $24,664
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $26,190

8. Hampton University

Hampton

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#257 in the United States

#292 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $32,421

9. Eastern Virginia Medical School

Norfolk

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#298 in the United States

#336 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,319
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1973

10. James Madison University

Harrisonburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#300 in the United States

#339 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 58%

11. University of Richmond

Richmond

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#337 in the United States

#380 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1464
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $29,248

12. Washington and Lee University

Lexington

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#511 in the United States

#564 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1472
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,733

13. Norfolk State University

Norfolk

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#514 in the United States

#567 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 940
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 95%

14. Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#548 in the United States

#601 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $29,899

15. Radford University

Radford

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#612 in the United States

#669 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 98%

16. Virginia State University

Petersburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#631 in the United States

#688 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 930
Average ACT: 16
Receiving Aid: 92%

17. Christopher Newport University

Newport News

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#648 in the United States

#706 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 77%

18. Virginia Military Institute

Lexington

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#680 in the United States

#741 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1203
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 85%

19. University of Mary Washington

Fredericksburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#689 in the United States

#750 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

20. University of Lynchburg

Lynchburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#697 in the United States

#758 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $23,256

21. Roanoke College

Salem

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#716 in the United States

#777 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $29,169

22. Liberty University

Lynchburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#764 in the United States

#828 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Net Price: $29,913
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $12,471

23. Emory & Henry College

Emory

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#773 in the United States

#837 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Net Price: $20,834
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $31,643

24. Longwood University

Farmville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#781 in the United States

#845 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

25. Sweet Briar College

Sweet Briar

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#793 in the United States

#857 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $28,408

Closest to Virginia states to learn Astrophysics and Astronomy

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
West Virginia	4	107
District of Columbia	8	104
North Carolina	23	53
Maryland	18	13
Pennsylvania	58	12
South Carolina	12	94
Ohio	32	20
New Jersey	18	6
Kentucky	11	68
Tennessee	20	63
Georgia	22	31
Indiana	20	36
New York	84	9
Connecticut	17	22
Rhode Island	6	50
Massachusetts	44	4
Alabama	16	87
Vermont	4	164
Illinois	33	10
Michigan	21	7
New Hampshire	8	77
Florida	27	29
Mississippi	7	157
Wisconsin	20	21
Missouri	14	47
Maine	7	196
Arkansas	9	146
Iowa	9	48
Louisiana	16	67
Minnesota	20	28
Kansas	9	88
Oklahoma	9	72
Nebraska	7	93
South Dakota	6	244
Texas	52	14
North Dakota	3	193
Colorado	14	19
New Mexico	5	65
Puerto Rico	6	304
Montana	4	102
Utah	6	51
Arizona	5	5
Idaho	4	162
Washington	16	11
Oregon	13	73
California	68	1
Alaska	3	120
Hawaii	4	61