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Easiest colleges to get into in Virginia

Updated Federal and Common Data Set numbers, each with its year

The short answer

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in Virginia are Mary Baldwin University (open admission), Eastern Mennonite University (100%) and Liberty University (99%), by the share of applicants admitted.

A high acceptance rate means the college admits most people who apply. Open-admission colleges admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. Each row also shows the average price after grants, so you can weigh the two.

The list (20 of 40)

Four-year colleges in Virginia with 500 or more undergraduates, open-admission colleges first, then the highest acceptance rate. The list shows 20 of the 40 colleges with an acceptance rate or open admission on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024).

  1. Mary Baldwin University Open admission Staunton, VA · Admits every applicant with a high school diploma. Average price after grants: $15,810 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, 2024-25
  2. Eastern Mennonite University 100% admitted Harrisonburg, VA · Average price after grants: $24,731 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  3. Liberty University 99% admitted Lynchburg, VA · Average price after grants: $29,235 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  4. Virginia Union University 98% admitted Richmond, VA · Average price after grants: $29,932 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  5. Southern Virginia University 96% admitted Buena Vista, VA · Average price after grants: $23,913 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  6. Randolph College 94% admitted Lynchburg, VA · Average price after grants: $22,101 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  7. Marymount University 93% admitted Arlington, VA · Average price after grants: $28,521 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  8. Virginia Commonwealth University 93% admitted Richmond, VA · Average price after grants: $25,037 a year in-state, about $48,201 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  9. Bridgewater College 92% admitted Bridgewater, VA · Average price after grants: $21,083 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  10. Old Dominion University 90% admitted Norfolk, VA · Average price after grants: $12,913 a year in-state, about $33,988 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  11. Longwood University 90% admitted Farmville, VA · Average price after grants: $20,773 a year in-state, about $33,381 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  12. Chamberlain University-Virginia 90% admitted Vienna, VA · Average price after grants: $44,710 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  13. Radford University 90% admitted Radford, VA · Average price after grants: $13,701 a year in-state, about $27,483 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  14. Ferrum College 89% admitted Ferrum, VA · Average price after grants: $18,070 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  15. Virginia State University 89% admitted Petersburg, VA · Average price after grants: $14,893 a year in-state, about $27,879 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  16. Norfolk State University 88% admitted Norfolk, VA · Average price after grants: $12,180 a year in-state, about $23,530 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  17. George Mason University 88% admitted Fairfax, VA · Average price after grants: $14,697 a year in-state, about $39,693 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  18. Randolph-Macon College 87% admitted Ashland, VA · Average price after grants: $28,145 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  19. Christopher Newport University 86% admitted Newport News, VA · Average price after grants: $22,310 a year in-state, about $36,531 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
  20. Emory & Henry University 84% admitted Emory, VA · Average price after grants: $24,031 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the easiest colleges to get into in Virginia?

The easiest four-year colleges to get into in Virginia are Mary Baldwin University (open admission), Eastern Mennonite University (100%) and Liberty University (99%), by the share of applicants admitted.

How many of these colleges have open admission?

1 of the 20 colleges listed have open admission: they admit anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent. The others admitted 84% to 100% of applicants.

How recent are these acceptance rates?

Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.

Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.

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