State profile · VA · Clery Act

Safest Colleges in Virginia

Federal Clery Act filings for all 131 tracked Virginia campuses, ranked by 2024 on-campus Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents per 1,000 students. Among nonzero reporters, ECPI University currently has the lowest rate.

131
Institutions tracked
2.23
Avg campus rate / 1k (131 of 131 scored)
2.60
Statewide rate / 1k
#33
Rank by avg campus rate
577,171
Students enrolled

Among nonzero Clery reporters, ECPI University has the lowest rate in Virginia

According to U.S. Department of Education Clery Act filings, across 131 tracked campuses in Virginia, 80 reported zero 2024 Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents used in the rate; among campuses with any in those categories, ECPI University has the lowest rate at 0.08 per 1,000 students. This comparison excludes other Clery tables and unreported harm, so review the details before drawing a safety conclusion.

Data source U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety and Security Survey

campuses tracked
131
average campus, per 1,000 (131 of 131 scored)
2.23
lowest nonzero rate - ECPI University
0.08
campuses at zero in score categories
80

Data updated August 2026

Clery Act plate

Sheet VA · Virginia 2.23/1k campus avg · #33/59

RATE-MID · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · ZERO-HEAVY · WT-LARGE-HOT · BOOK-FULL · CONC-MID

  • RATE-MID 2.23/1k
  • RANK-MID #33/59
  • PHOTO-FINISH North Carolina · ±0.01
  • ZERO-HEAVY 61% zero
  • WT-LARGE-HOT Δ −0.37
  • BOOK-FULL 131/131
  • CONC-MID top5 46%

Nearest campus-rate peer: North Carolina (-0.01/1k)

Virginia sheet RATE-MID · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · ZERO-HEAVY · WT-LARGE-HOT · BOOK-FULL · CONC-MID · peer North Carolina. Codes from this state’s OPE Campus Safety filing: unweighted campus rate, corpus rank (low = safer), photo-finish peer state, zero-report share, campus-vs-weighted gap, scored book, top-five enrollment concentration. Not a moving recommendation.

Clery plate RATE-MID · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · ZERO-HEAVY · WT-LARGE-HOT · BOOK-FULL · CONC-MID. Nearest unweighted-rate peer is North Carolina (-0.01/1k). Among nonzero reporters inside the state, ECPI University leads at 0.08/1k. Instrument codes from this state's OPE Campus Safety sheet; compare similarly sized campuses before treating any single rate as decisive.

Most scored campuses in Virginia (80 of 131) reported zero in the 2024 score categories and stay unranked against each other. Among the nonzero reporters, ECPI University leads at 0.08/1k, then J Sargeant Reynolds Community College (0.12/1k); Regent University (0.19/1k). A high zero share is a filing pattern, not a proof that campuses are safer.

Campus-rate neighbourhood around Virginia

Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest Virginia on unweighted average campus Clery rate. Full ladder: /rankings/.

per 1,000 students

What this shows Neighbourhood of scored states around Virginia's 2.23/1k unweighted campus average, not a full 50-state board reprint.

Source U.S. Department of Education, OPE Campus Safety and Security Survey (Clery Act) As of 2024

Safest colleges in Virginia, ranked by reported rate

Ranked from the lowest 2024 Criminal Offenses and VAWA rate upward, counting only the 51 Virginia campuses with at least one incident in those score categories. Showing the top 50 here so the page stays crawlable; positions are numbered within the full nonzero group.

1
ECPI University Virginia Beach · 12,572 students
Enrollment
12,572
Incidents /1k
0.08
3
Regent University Virginia Beach · 10,657 students
Enrollment
10,657
Incidents /1k
0.19
14
Liberty University Lynchburg · 104,327 students
Enrollment
104,327
Incidents /1k
1.42
22
William & Mary Williamsburg · 9,818 students
Enrollment
9,818
Incidents /1k
3.16
27
Ferrum College Ferrum · 763 students
Enrollment
763
Incidents /1k
3.93
31
Roanoke College Salem · 1,804 students
Enrollment
1,804
Incidents /1k
4.43
46
Randolph College Lynchburg · 816 students
Enrollment
816
Incidents /1k
12.25
# Campus EnrollmentIncidents /1k
1 ECPI University Virginia Beach · 12,572 students 12,572 0.08 4% of the leader · rank #1
2 J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond · 8,681 students 8,681 0.12 4% of the leader · rank #2
3 Regent University Virginia Beach · 10,657 students 10,657 0.19 4% of the leader · rank #3
4 Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg · 3,481 students 3,481 0.29 4% of the leader · rank #4
5 Southside Virginia Community College Alberta · 3,306 students 3,306 0.30 4% of the leader · rank #5
6 Northern Virginia Community College Annandale · 56,457 students 56,457 0.43 4% of the leader · rank #6
7 Virginia Western Community College Roanoke · 6,332 students 6,332 0.47 4% of the leader · rank #7
8 Patrick & Henry Community College Martinsville · 1,908 students 1,908 0.52 4% of the leader · rank #8
9 Piedmont Virginia Community College Charlottesville · 5,263 students 5,263 0.57 4% of the leader · rank #9
10 Shenandoah University Winchester · 4,454 students 4,454 0.67 4% of the leader · rank #10
11 James Madison University Harrisonburg · 22,740 students 22,740 0.97 4% of the leader · rank #11
12 Marymount University Arlington · 4,060 students 4,060 0.99 4% of the leader · rank #12
13 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg · 38,857 students 38,857 1.16 4% of the leader · rank #13
14 Liberty University Lynchburg · 104,327 students 104,327 1.42 4% of the leader · rank #14
15 University of Richmond University of Richmond · 3,722 students 3,722 1.61 4% of the leader · rank #15
16 Richard Bland College South Prince George · 2,788 students 2,788 1.79 5% of the leader · rank #16
17 Chamberlain University-Virginia Vienna · 557 students 557 1.80 5% of the leader · rank #17
18 Bluefield University Bluefield · 959 students 959 2.09 6% of the leader · rank #18
19 Virginia Wesleyan University Virginia Beach · 1,853 students 1,853 2.16 6% of the leader · rank #19
20 Hampton University Hampton · 4,244 students 4,244 2.83 8% of the leader · rank #20
21 George Mason University Fairfax · 39,766 students 39,766 3.12 9% of the leader · rank #21
22 William & Mary Williamsburg · 9,818 students 9,818 3.16 9% of the leader · rank #22
23 University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg · 3,826 students 3,826 3.40 9% of the leader · rank #23
24 Radford University Radford · 7,812 students 7,812 3.58 10% of the leader · rank #24
25 Virginia Union University Richmond · 1,646 students 1,646 3.65 10% of the leader · rank #25
26 Old Dominion University Norfolk · 23,743 students 23,743 3.92 11% of the leader · rank #26
27 Ferrum College Ferrum · 763 students 763 3.93 11% of the leader · rank #27
28 Mary Baldwin University Staunton · 1,772 students 1,772 3.95 11% of the leader · rank #28
29 Southern Virginia University Buena Vista · 936 students 936 4.27 12% of the leader · rank #29
30 Longwood University Farmville · 4,612 students 4,612 4.34 12% of the leader · rank #30
31 Roanoke College Salem · 1,804 students 1,804 4.43 12% of the leader · rank #31
32 Eastern Virginia Medical School Norfolk · 1,216 students 1,216 4.93 14% of the leader · rank #32
33 Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg · 1,154 students 1,154 5.20 14% of the leader · rank #33
34 Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney · 946 students 946 5.29 15% of the leader · rank #34
35 Emory & Henry University Emory · 1,311 students 1,311 5.34 15% of the leader · rank #35
36 Norfolk State University Norfolk · 6,053 students 6,053 5.95 16% of the leader · rank #36
37 Union Presbyterian Seminary Richmond · 159 students 159 6.29 17% of the leader · rank #37
38 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond · 28,464 students 28,464 6.99 19% of the leader · rank #38
39 Washington and Lee University Lexington · 2,241 students 2,241 7.14 20% of the leader · rank #39
40 Virginia Military Institute Lexington · 1,527 students 1,527 7.20 20% of the leader · rank #40
41 University of Lynchburg Lynchburg · 2,316 students 2,316 7.34 20% of the leader · rank #41
42 Averett University Danville · 1,476 students 1,476 7.45 21% of the leader · rank #42
43 Randolph-Macon College Ashland · 1,687 students 1,687 9.48 26% of the leader · rank #43
44 Virginia State University Petersburg · 5,605 students 5,605 9.63 27% of the leader · rank #44
45 Christopher Newport University Newport News · 4,454 students 4,454 9.65 27% of the leader · rank #45
46 Randolph College Lynchburg · 816 students 816 12.25 34% of the leader · rank #46
47 Bridgewater College Bridgewater · 1,448 students 1,448 12.43 34% of the leader · rank #47
48 University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville · 26,409 students 26,409 13.75 38% of the leader · rank #48
49 University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise · 2,167 students 2,167 24.00 66% of the leader · rank #49
50 Sovah School of Health Professions Danville · 30 students 30 33.33 92% of the leader · rank #50

1 additional nonzero-reporting campus rank below this top-50 list in the same rate order.

Look up any campus via the Campus Safety Incident Tool or browse all schools.

Unranked campuses (80): zero score or no normalized rate

80 filed zero 2024 Criminal Offenses and VAWA incidents in the score categories; other Clery tables can still contain reports. Neither group supports a safety ordering, so these campuses are listed alphabetically without positions. Showing 15 alphabetically; the remaining 65 stay out of this HTML table so large states stay crawlable.

# Campus EnrollmentIncidents /1k
Advanced Technology Institute Virginia Beach · 415 students 415 0.00
American National University Salem · 770 students 770 0.00
Another Level Barbering and Cosmetology School Petersburg · 70 students 70 0.00
Appalachian College of Pharmacy Oakwood · 113 students 113 0.00
Appalachian School of Law Grundy · 154 students 154 0.00
Arizona College of Nursing - Chesapeake Chesapeake · 149 students 149 0.00
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church Falls Church · 348 students 348 0.00
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Lafayette-Arlington Arlington · 166 students 166 0.00
Avi Career Training Great Falls · 22 students 22 0.00
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Manassas Manassas · 272 students 272 0.00
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk Norfolk · 270 students 270 0.00
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave · 3,790 students 3,790 0.00
Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing Richmond · 591 students 591 0.00
Bon Secours St Mary's Hospital School of Medical Imaging Richmond · 35 students 35 0.00
Brightpoint Community College Chester · 9,380 students 9,380 0.00

Open any remaining campus from the school directory or the incident tool.

The largest universities in Virginia by enrollment

Enrollment leaders: Liberty University (104,327); Northern Virginia Community College (56,457); George Mason University (39,766), then 128 more. The 15 biggest Virginia institutions by total enrolled students, from the same federal IPEDS collection, each shown with its 2024 Criminal Offenses and VAWA rate. The five largest alone account for 46% of the 577,171 students enrolled across all 131 tracked Virginia institutions. Mid-pack by size sits near Randolph College (816 students, 12.25/1k).

1
Liberty University Lynchburg · 104,327 students
Enrollment
104,327
Incidents /1k
1.42
10
ECPI University Virginia Beach · 12,572 students
Enrollment
12,572
Incidents /1k
0.08
11
Regent University Virginia Beach · 10,657 students
Enrollment
10,657
Incidents /1k
0.19
12
William & Mary Williamsburg · 9,818 students
Enrollment
9,818
Incidents /1k
3.16
# Institution EnrollmentIncidents /1k
1 Liberty University Lynchburg · 104,327 students 104,327 100% of the leader · rank #1 1.42
2 Northern Virginia Community College Annandale · 56,457 students 56,457 54% of the leader · rank #2 0.43
3 George Mason University Fairfax · 39,766 students 39,766 38% of the leader · rank #3 3.12
4 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg · 38,857 students 38,857 37% of the leader · rank #4 1.16
5 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond · 28,464 students 28,464 27% of the leader · rank #5 6.99
6 University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville · 26,409 students 26,409 25% of the leader · rank #6 13.75
7 Old Dominion University Norfolk · 23,743 students 23,743 23% of the leader · rank #7 3.92
8 James Madison University Harrisonburg · 22,740 students 22,740 22% of the leader · rank #8 0.97
9 Tidewater Community College Norfolk · 16,884 students 16,884 16% of the leader · rank #9 0.00
10 ECPI University Virginia Beach · 12,572 students 12,572 12% of the leader · rank #10 0.08
11 Regent University Virginia Beach · 10,657 students 10,657 10% of the leader · rank #11 0.19
12 William & Mary Williamsburg · 9,818 students 9,818 9% of the leader · rank #12 3.16
13 Brightpoint Community College Chester · 9,380 students 9,380 9% of the leader · rank #13 0.00
14 J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond · 8,681 students 8,681 8% of the leader · rank #14 0.12
15 Germanna Community College Locust Grove · 8,544 students 8,544 8% of the leader · rank #15 0.00

Enrollment is total reported students, not full-time equivalent, and a branch campus is reported separately from its parent institution. A larger campus is not a less safe one: the incident rate beside it is already per 1,000 students.

Nationwide states with similar campus scale or Clery rate

Two nationwide peer sets for Virginia: closest on tracked campus count (131 here) and closest on unweighted average 2024 Clery rate (2.23/1k here). The rate-neighbourhood and keep-peer blocks above stay geo-adjacent; these columns are cross-state ABS comparisons with deduped link sets.

Similar campus count

Nearest other states by number of tracked postsecondary institutions (≥5 scored campuses in corpus).

Similar campus Clery rate

Nearest other states by unweighted average on-campus Clery rate. Campus-count peers above are excluded.

Read with this state

Keep-peer handoff: North Carolina sits nearest on unweighted campus average (-0.01/1k). Inside Virginia, open ECPI University's campus sheet next.

ECPI University profile → | All states → | Virginia net price → | Incident tool → | Methodology →

Virginia campus safety FAQ

What are the safest colleges in Virginia?

Among Virginia campuses that reported at least one 2024 Criminal Offense or VAWA incident in the Clery categories used here, ECPI University has the lowest rate (0.08 per 1,000 students). Next among nonzero reporters: J Sargeant Reynolds Community College (0.12/1k); Regent University (0.19/1k). 80 campuses reported zero in those score categories and are listed separately without a safety ordinal, because a zero report is not the same as a proven safer campus.

How does PlainCampus rank campus safety in Virginia?

In Virginia, campuses with any 2024 Criminal Offenses or VAWA incidents in the score categories are ordered by incidents per 1,000 students - ECPI University currently leads that nonzero list at 0.08/1k. Zero-report and unscored campuses stay unranked and alphabetical. See /methodology for the full rate definition.

How many colleges in Virginia are compared?

This page covers 131 tracked higher-education institutions in Virginia, serving about 577,171 enrolled students combined across 63 cities. 51 carry a ranked nonzero rate; 80 are listed without a safety ordinal. By enrollment the largest are Liberty University (104,327); Northern Virginia Community College (56,457); George Mason University (39,766). Nearby state averages for context: North Carolina (2.22/1k); Indiana (2.24/1k); New Hampshire (2.27/1k); Tennessee (2.31/1k); Wyoming (2.32/1k); California (2.11/1k).

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal Clery Act source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.