Colleges in Virginia

This page aggregates every Title IV–eligible college and university with a primary campus in Virginia, drawing from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, IPEDS institutional reports, and de-identified IRS earnings linkage for federal-aid recipients. Coverage includes public flagships, regional comprehensives, community and technical colleges, private nonprofit institutions, and for-profit schools.

The state-aggregate statistics below include all reporting institutions in Virginia as a single denominator — community colleges, public universities, private nonprofits, and for-profit institutions are pooled. State averages are therefore useful for high-level framing (in-state tuition is X, average admission rate is Y, average earnings are Z) but should not be read as representative of any specific sector or institution. Drill into individual school profiles for the full picture: admissions, costs (sticker and net), federal-aid usage, completion, retention, demographics, and earnings outcomes 6 and 10 years after enrollment.

The most-recent Scorecard release is from September 2024. Tuition figures reflect institutional reports for the 2022–23 academic year and may differ from current-year prices. Earnings data has an inherent lag — the 10-year earnings horizon reflects students who enrolled approximately a decade prior to the data publication, as the IRS-matching process requires time to accumulate post-enrollment income.

Largest Colleges in Virginia by Enrollment

Liberty University50012Northern Virginia Community College33048Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University30923George Mason University27752James Madison University20888Virginia Commonwealth University20753University of Virginia-Main Campus17597Old Dominion University17514ECPI University12090Tidewater Community College12082William & Mary7055Radford University6038

Source:

Highest Earnings 10-Year Median — Virginia

Liberty University44813Northern Virginia Community College53557Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University81698George Mason University76343James Madison University69954Virginia Commonwealth University58128University of Virginia-Main Campus86863Old Dominion University54914ECPI University42837Tidewater Community College38349William & Mary73490Radford University53739

Source:

147
Total Schools
$18,319
Avg In-State Tuition
70.7%
Avg Acceptance Rate
$45,520
Avg Median Earnings
44 Public 0 Private NP 0 For-Profit
Ownership Breakdown

What the IPEDS Data Shows for Colleges in Virginia

Virginia has 147 Title IV-participating postsecondary institutions in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the federal directory that captures every college eligible to award federal student aid. The ownership mix is 44 public institutions, 0 private nonprofits, and 0 private for-profit schools — a structural split that drives most of the tuition variation visible in the table below. Public institutions typically report substantially lower in-state tuition because state appropriations subsidize the published price, while private nonprofits often show higher sticker prices that are partially offset by institutional aid.

Cost and selectivity signals vary widely even within a single state. The average in-state tuition across Virginia institutions is $18,319, and the average admission rate (weighted by institutions that report one) sits at 70.7%. Admission rates from IPEDS exclude open-enrollment institutions, which is why community colleges and many for-profits show as unreported rather than at 100 percent. Looking at the table, the acceptance-rate column is blank for schools that don’t screen applicants, a meaningful distinction when evaluating selectivity alongside earnings.

Post-graduation outcomes tie cost to return. Graduates of Virginia colleges earn a mean of $45,520 ten years after enrollment, based on U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal aid applicants through the College Scorecard data file. Because earnings depend heavily on field of study and local labor markets, state-level averages should be read alongside each school’s program mix. The table sorts every institution with reported IPEDS enrollment so prospective students can compare acceptance rates, enrollment scale, and median earnings side by side rather than relying on third-party rankings.

All Schools in Virginia

School Name City Type Enrollment Acceptance Rate 10yr Earnings
Liberty University Lynchburg Private Nonprofit 50,012 99.0% $44,813
Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public 33,048 $53,557
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public 30,923 54.8% $81,698
George Mason University Fairfax Public 27,752 87.5% $76,343
James Madison University Harrisonburg Public 20,888 71.5% $69,954
Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public 20,753 92.6% $58,128
University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville Public 17,597 16.8% $86,863
Old Dominion University Norfolk Public 17,514 90.4% $54,914
ECPI University Virginia Beach Private For-Profit 12,090 74.5% $42,837
Tidewater Community College Norfolk Public 12,082 $38,349
William & Mary Williamsburg Public 7,055 34.1% $73,490
Radford University Radford Public 6,038 89.5% $53,739
Brightpoint Community College Chester Public 5,792 $41,223
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond Public 5,586 $39,529
Germanna Community College Locust Grove Public 5,508 $39,644
Norfolk State University Norfolk Public 5,392 87.8% $44,666
Virginia State University Petersburg Public 5,074 88.6% $45,543
Regent University Virginia Beach Private Nonprofit 4,729 38.1% $44,498
Christopher Newport University Newport News Public 4,365 86.0% $60,509
Virginia Peninsula Community College Hampton Public 3,941 $37,996
Virginia Western Community College Roanoke Public 3,898 $38,787
Hampton University Hampton Private Nonprofit 3,727 62.3% $59,159
University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg Public 3,566 79.8% $60,613
Laurel Ridge Community College Middletown Public 3,195 $41,000
Piedmont Virginia Community College Charlottesville Public 3,045 $40,752
Longwood University Farmville Public 3,015 90.2% $52,347
University of Richmond University of Richmond Private Nonprofit 2,980 22.2% $76,178
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave Public 2,730 $42,644
Central Virginia Community College Lynchburg Public 2,249 $36,627
Shenandoah University Winchester Private Nonprofit 2,116 77.0% $58,433
New River Community College Dublin Public 1,965 $40,025
Washington and Lee University Lexington Private Nonprofit 1,881 14.0% $94,810
Marymount University Arlington Private Nonprofit 1,810 93.2% $67,516
Southside Virginia Community College Alberta Public 1,807 $32,371
Roanoke College Salem Private Nonprofit 1,767 83.1% $58,047
Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach Virginia Beach Private Nonprofit 1,709 $32,568
Strayer University-Virginia Arlington Private For-Profit 1,668 $40,092
Southwest Virginia Community College Cedar Bluff Public 1,651 $34,221
Randolph-Macon College Ashland Private Nonprofit 1,639 86.6% $58,448
University of Lynchburg Lynchburg Private Nonprofit 1,577 43.0% $56,380
Virginia Military Institute Lexington Public 1,527 71.3% $77,369
Bridgewater College Bridgewater Private Nonprofit 1,400 91.7% $53,453
Rappahannock Community College Glenns Public 1,367 $36,121
Patrick & Henry Community College Martinsville Public 1,350 $33,323
Virginia Highlands Community College Abingdon Public 1,349 $32,681
Danville Community College Danville Public 1,306 $31,664
Mountain Empire Community College Big Stone Gap Public 1,282 $32,622
Virginia Wesleyan University Virginia Beach Private Nonprofit 1,256 72.9% $50,074
Wytheville Community College Wytheville Public 1,255 $34,303
Averett University Danville Private Nonprofit 1,231 56.6% $51,516
Virginia Union University Richmond Private Nonprofit 1,203 98.0% $38,275
University of Virginia's College at Wise Wise Public 1,101 28.5% $45,325
Mary Baldwin University Staunton Private Nonprofit 1,090 $44,427
Emory & Henry University Emory Private Nonprofit 1,078 83.7% $47,385
Hampden-Sydney College Hampden-Sydney Private Nonprofit 946 40.9% $67,640
Southern Virginia University Buena Vista Private Nonprofit 936 96.4% $50,002
Richard Bland College South Prince George Public 894 89.3% $41,452
Eastern Mennonite University Harrisonburg Private Nonprofit 754 100.0% $54,869
Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing Falls Church Private For-Profit 730 27.9%
Ferrum College Ferrum Private Nonprofit 699 89.0% $44,296
Hollins University Roanoke Private Nonprofit 665 68.0% $40,075
Randolph College Lynchburg Private Nonprofit 658 93.7% $53,409
American National University Salem Private For-Profit 630 $26,370
Bluefield University Bluefield Private Nonprofit 614 59.3% $48,896
Paul D Camp Community College Franklin Public 613 $36,031
Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing Richmond Private Nonprofit 591 $77,014
Chamberlain University-Virginia Vienna Private For-Profit 557 90.0% $92,405
Fortis College-Richmond Richmond Private For-Profit 502 $32,754
Eastern Shore Community College Melfa Public 495 $32,418
Galen Health Institutes-Richmond Richmond Private For-Profit 454 $61,480
Sweet Briar College Sweet Briar Private Nonprofit 443 75.5% $51,943
Mountain Gateway Community College Clifton Forge Public 425 $34,293
Advanced Technology Institute Virginia Beach Private For-Profit 415 53.5% $46,342
Washington University of Science and Technology Alexandria Private For-Profit 400 7.3%
Fortis College-Norfolk Norfolk Private For-Profit 399 $32,754
Tidewater Tech-Trades Norfolk Private For-Profit 367 $31,657
Riverside College of Health Careers Newport News Private Nonprofit 350 12.9% $66,072
Arizona College of Nursing-Falls Church Falls Church Private For-Profit 348 100.0% $34,657
Galen Health Institutes-Roanoke Roanoke Private For-Profit 315 $61,480
University of Management and Technology Arlington Private For-Profit 294 $68,530
The Chrysm Institute of Esthetics Virginia Beach Private For-Profit 271
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Norfolk Norfolk Private For-Profit 270 $44,173
Sentara College of Health Sciences Chesapeake Private Nonprofit 242 $77,821
South University-Virginia Beach Virginia Beach Private For-Profit 240 $34,421
South University-Richmond Glen Allen Private For-Profit 232 $34,421
Centra College Lynchburg Private Nonprofit 219 100.0% $60,122
Centura College-Newport News Newport News Private For-Profit 203 $25,930
Centura College-Chesapeake Chesapeake Private For-Profit 191 $25,930
Eastern Virginia Career College Fredericksburg Private For-Profit 177 96.0% $37,304
Sylvain Melloul International Hair Academy Lynchburg Private For-Profit 175 $17,106
Lotus Professional College Richmond Private For-Profit 171
Paul Mitchell the School-Roanoke Roanoke Private For-Profit 169 $19,217
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Lafayette-Arlington Arlington Private For-Profit 166 $23,904
Centura College-Norfolk Norfolk Private For-Profit 163 $25,930
Empire Beauty School-Virginia Beach Virginia Beach Private For-Profit 163 $24,407
University of the Potomac-VA Campus FALLS CHURCH Private For-Profit 157 $34,961
Rudy & Kelly Academy A Paul Mitchell Partner School Virginia Beach Private For-Profit 155 $24,176
Southside College of Health Sciences Colonial Heights Private Nonprofit 151 $71,380
Columbia College Vienna Private For-Profit 151 $22,160
Arizona College of Nursing - Chesapeake Chesapeake Private For-Profit 149 100.0% $34,657
Tidewater Tech-East Little Creek Norfolk Private For-Profit 133 $31,657
Virginia University of Lynchburg Lynchburg Private Nonprofit 125 $28,396
Empire Beauty School-Midlothian Midlothian Private For-Profit 125 $23,921
Medical Solutions Academy Danville Private For-Profit 108
Northern Virginia School of Therapeutic Massage Falls Church Private For-Profit 101 $44,892
Empire Beauty School-Newport News Newport News Private For-Profit 92 $23,921
Henrico County-Saint Marys Hospital School of Practical Nursing Richmond Public 79 70.4% $56,618
Chester Career College CHESTER Private For-Profit 79 $32,650
Empire Beauty School-Richmond Richmond Private For-Profit 77 $23,921
Another Level Barbering and Cosmetology School Petersburg Private For-Profit 70
The Esthetic Institute Vienna Private For-Profit 66
Jazz Barber and Hairstyling Academy Petersburg Private For-Profit 46
Bon Secours St Mary's Hospital School of Medical Imaging Richmond Private Nonprofit 35 $65,432
Culpeper Cosmetology Training Center Culpeper Public 34
Sovah School of Health Professions Danville Private For-Profit 30 $69,924
Virginia Beach City Public Schools School of Practical Nursing Virginia Beach Public 29
Central School of Practical Nursing Norfolk Public 24 $59,399
Staunton School of Cosmetology Staunton Private For-Profit 24 $22,660
Avi Career Training Great Falls Private For-Profit 22 $28,615
Cayce/Reilly School of Massage Virginia Beach Private Nonprofit 19 $19,338
Luckes Beauty Academy LLC Newport News Private For-Profit 17
Tomorrow's Image Barber And Beauty Academy of Virginia Newport News Private For-Profit 15
DeVry University-Virginia Arlington Private For-Profit 13 $45,987
Virginia Barber School Richmond Private For-Profit 7
Virginia Beach Theological Seminary Virginia Beach Private Nonprofit 1
Centura College-Virginia Beach Virginia Beach Private For-Profit 0 $25,930
Eastern Virginia Medical School Norfolk Public $54,914
Union Presbyterian Seminary Richmond Private Nonprofit
Appalachian School of Law Grundy Private Nonprofit
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Blacksburg Private Nonprofit
Appalachian College of Pharmacy Oakwood Private Nonprofit
Virginia University of Integrative Medicine Vienna Private Nonprofit
Life Pacific University-Virginia Christiansburg Private Nonprofit $43,299
Pardee RAND Graduate School - Virginia Arlington Private Nonprofit
Bluefield College - Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Blacksburg Private Nonprofit $48,896
Bryant & Stratton College-Richmond North Chesterfield Private Nonprofit $32,568
Bryant & Stratton College-Hampton Hampton Private Nonprofit $32,568
Strayer University-Alexandria Campus Alexandria Private For-Profit $40,092
Strayer University-Newport News Campus Newport News Private For-Profit $40,092
Strayer University-Virginia Beach Campus Virginia Beach Private For-Profit $40,092
ECPI University-Newport News Newport News Private For-Profit $42,837
ECPI University-Culinary Institute of Virginia Norfolk Private For-Profit $42,837
ECPI University-Virginia Beach Health Sciences Virginia Beach Private For-Profit $42,837
ECPI University-Innsbrook Glen Allen Private For-Profit $42,837
ECPI University-Richmond West Richmond Private For-Profit $42,837
ECPI University - Roanoke Roanoke Private For-Profit $42,837
Chrysm Institute of Esthetics (The) - Hampton Hampton Private For-Profit

About This Data

School data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS institutional characteristics files. Enrollment, admissions, and earnings figures are the most recently available. Earnings represent median income 10 years after enrollment for students who received federal financial aid, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal student aid applicants.