List of colleges and universities in Virginia


This is a list of colleges and universities in the U.S. state of Virginia. The oldest college or university in Virginia is The College of William and Mary, founded in 1693. In 2010, the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine became the newest. The largest institution is Liberty University, with over 110,000 students. The smallest is the graduate-only Institute for the Psychological Sciences.
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia defines four categories of degree-granting institutions of postsecondary education: public institutions, established private institutions in good standing with a nationally recognized accrediting organization, private and out-of-state institutions requiring certification and institutions exempt from state oversight for religious reasons. Also exempt from certification are vocational institutions supervised by other state agencies, and institutions supervised by the federal government. All public institutions and most traditional private institutions are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Other state-certified private non-religious institutions are accredited by a national organization, though a few do not have any accreditation. Some small religious institutions do not have accreditation.

Public and established private institutions

NameLocationControlCarnegie ClassificationAccreditationFoundedEnrollment
American National UniversityMultiplePrivate Masters UniversityACICS18861,072
Appalachian College of PharmacyOakwoodPrivate Special focusACPE2003225
Appalachian School of LawGrundyPrivate Special focusABA1994313
Averett UniversityDanvillePrivate Masters UniversitySACS1859965
Bluefield CollegeBluefieldPrivate
Baccalaureate collegeSACS19221,155
Blue Ridge Community CollegeWeyers CavePublic
Baccalaureate / Associates CollegesSACS19674,099
Bridgewater CollegeBridgewaterPrivate
Baccalaureate / Associates CollegesSACS18801,857
Central Virginia Community CollegeLynchburgPublic
Baccalaureate / Associates CollegesSACS19664,047
Christendom CollegeFront RoyalPrivate
UncategorizedSACS1977493
Christopher Newport UniversityNewport NewsPublicMasters UniversitySACS19604,957
College of William and MaryWilliamsburgPublicResearch universitySACS16938,817
Dabney S. Lancaster Community CollegeClifton ForgePublic
Junior collegeSACS19641,257
Danville Community CollegeDanvillePublic
Junior collegeSACS19363,982
Eastern Mennonite UniversityHarrisonburgPrivate
Baccalaureate collegeSACS19171,444
Eastern Shore Community CollegeMelfaPublic
Junior collegeSACS1971839
Eastern Virginia Medical SchoolNorfolkPrivate Doctoral UniversitySACS1973790
ECPI UniversityMultiplePrivate Baccalaureate collegeSACS196612,764
Emory and Henry CollegeEmoryPrivate
Baccalaureate collegeSACS18361,246
Ferrum CollegeFerrumPrivate
Baccalaureate collegeSACS19131,124
George Mason UniversityFairfaxPublicResearch universitySACS195737,316
George Washington UniversityMultiplePrivate Research universityMSCHE182128,172
Germanna Community CollegeLocust GrovePublic
Junior collegeSACS19707,207
Hampden-Sydney CollegeHampden SydneyPrivate Baccalaureate collegeSACS17751,072
Hampton UniversityHamptonPrivate Masters UniversitySACS18684,321
Hollins UniversityRoanokePrivate Baccalaureate collegeSACS1842805
Institute for the Psychological SciencesArlingtonPrivate
Doctoral UniversitySACS1997145
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeRichmondPublic
Baccalaureate / Associates CollegesSACS197211,861
James Madison UniversityHarrisonburgPublicMasters UniversitySACS190821,787
Jefferson College of Health SciencesRoanokePrivateDoctoral UniversitySACS19821,128
John Tyler Community CollegeChesterPublic
Baccalaureate / Associates CollegesSACS196710,144
Liberty UniversityLynchburgPrivate
Research universitySACS197179,152
Longwood UniversityFarmvillePublicMasters UniversitySACS18394,911
Lord Fairfax Community CollegeMiddletownPublic
Baccalaureate / Associates CollegesSACS19706,996
University of LynchburgLynchburgPrivate
Masters UniversitySACS19033,081
Marine Corps UniversityQuanticoPublic
UncategorizedSACS1989Unknown
Mary Baldwin UniversityStauntonPrivateMasters UniversitySACS18421,902
Marymount UniversityArlingtonPrivate
Masters UniversitySACS19503,418
Mountain Empire Community CollegeBig Stone GapPublic
Junior collegeSACS19722,718
National CollegeMultiplePrivateJunior collegeACICS188614,625
New River Community CollegeDublinPublic
Junior collegeSACS19594,419
Norfolk State UniversityNorfolkPublicMasters UniversitySACS19355,616
Northern Virginia Community CollegeAnnandalePublic
Junior collegeSACS196451,487
Old Dominion UniversityNorfolkPublicResearch universitySACS193024,176
Patrick Henry Community CollegeMartinsvillePublic
Junior collegeSACS19622,900
Paul D. Camp Community CollegeFranklinPublic
Junior collegeSACS19701,288
Piedmont Virginia Community CollegeCharlottesvillePublic
Junior collegeSACS19725,445
Radford UniversityRadfordPublicMasters UniversitySACS19109,335
Randolph-Macon CollegeAshlandPrivateBaccalaureate collegeSACS18301,488
Randolph CollegeLynchburgPrivateBaccalaureate collegeSACS1891626
Rappahannock Community CollegeGlenns, WarsawPublic
Junior collegeSACS19693,082
Regent UniversityVirginia BeachPrivate
Doctoral UniversitiesSACS197710,456
Richard Bland CollegePetersburgPublic
Junior collegeSACS19602,475
Roanoke CollegeSalemPrivate
Baccalaureate collegeSACS18422,017
Sentara College of Health SciencesChesapeakePrivate Baccalaureate collegeABHES1892475
Shenandoah UniversityWinchesterPrivate
Masters UniversitySACS18753,817
Southside Virginia Community CollegeKeysvillePublic
Junior collegeSACS19705,352
Southwest Virginia Community CollegeRichlandsPublic
Junior collegeSACS19682,373
Stratford UniversityAlexandria, Falls Church, Glen Allen, Newport News, Virginia Beach, Woodbridge, Baltimore, New Delhi, OnlinePrivate Masters UniversityACICS19762,849
Sweet Briar CollegeSweet BriarPrivate Baccalaureate / Associates CollegesSACS1901337
Thomas Nelson Community CollegeHamptonPublic
Junior collegeSACS19687,685
Tidewater Community CollegeChesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia BeachPublic
Junior collegeSACS196820,941
Union Presbyterian SeminaryRichmondPrivate
Special focusATS1896146
University of Management and TechnologyArlingtonPrivate Baccalaureate collegeDETC1998251
University of Mary WashingtonFredericksburgPublicMasters universitySACS19084,727
University of RichmondRichmondPrivate Baccalaureate collegeSACS18304,002
University of the PotomacWashington DC, Vienna, VA, onlinePrivate Doctoral UniversitySACS19891652
University of VirginiaCharlottesvillePublicResearch universitySACS181924,639
University of Virginia's College at WiseWisePublic
Baccalaureate collegeSACS19542,065
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondPublicResearch universitySACS183831,076
Virginia Highlands Community CollegeAbingdonPublic
Junior collegeSACS19692,387
Virginia International UniversityFairfaxPrivate Masters UniversityACICS1998282
Virginia Military InstituteLexingtonPublicBaccalaureate collegeSACS18391,685
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University BlacksburgPublicResearch universitySACS187234,850
Virginia–Maryland Regional College of Veterinary MedicineBlacksburgPublic
Masters UniversitySACS1978700
Virginia State UniversityPetersburgPublicMasters UniversitySACS18824,385
Virginia Union UniversityRichmondPrivate
Baccalaureate collegeSACS18651,561
Virginia University of Science & TechnologyMcLeanPrivate Masters UniversityUnaccredited2016Unknown
Virginia Wesleyan CollegeNorfolkPrivate
Baccalaureate collegeSACS19611,437
Virginia Western Community CollegeRoanokePublic
Junior collegeSACS19666,827
Washington and Lee UniversityLexingtonPrivate Baccalaureate collegeSACS17492,223
Wytheville Community CollegeWythevillePublic
Junior collegeSACS19632,514

Private and out-of-state institutions

SchoolLocationControlTypeAccreditationFoundedEnrollment
ACT CollegeArlingtonPrivate UncategorizedABHES1983401
Advanced Institute of TechnologyVirginia BeachPrivate UncategorizedACCSC19921040
American Digital UniversitySterlingPrivate UncategorizednoneUnknownUnknown
American Public University SystemManassasPrivate Masters UniversityHLC1991Unknown
Appalachian College of PharmacyOakwoodPrivate Special focusSACS, ACPE2003207
Aviation Institute of MaintenanceMultiplePrivate Associate's collegeACCSC1969509
Bethel CollegeHamptonPrivate Uncategorizednone188776
Bon Secours Memorial College of NursingRichmondPrivate UncategorizedACICS1961300
Boston University Metropolitan CollegeArlingtonPrivate
Research universityNEASC1965Unknown
Bryant & Stratton CollegeMultiplePrivate Baccalaureate collegeMSCHE18541852
Cambridge CollegeChesapeakePrivate Masters UniversityNEASC19712,234
Catholic Distance UniversityHamiltonPrivate
UncategorizedDETC1983203
Catholic University of AmericaArlingtonPrivate
Research universityMSCHE18875,956
Central Michigan UniversityMultiplePublicResearch universityHLC189221,705
Central Texas CollegeFort LeePublicAssociate's collegeSACS196516,073
Centura CollegeMultiplePrivate Career CollegeACCSC19831927
Chamberlain College of NursingArlingtonPrivate Special focusHLC1889Unknown
Columbia CollegeFairfaxPrivate Associate's collegeCOE1999310
DeVry UniversityMultiplePrivate Masters UniversityHLC19311868
Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic MedicineBlacksburgPrivate Special focusCOCA2002759
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityNorfolkPrivateMasters UniversitySACS19266,613
Everest CollegeMultiplePrivate Associate's collegeACICS20072,251
Florida Institute of TechnologyMultiplePrivate UncategorizedSACS19586,291
Fortis CollegeMultiplePrivate Associate's collegeACICS2008942
Georgetown UniversityArlingtonPrivate Research universityMSCHE178919,204
Global Health CollegeAlexandriaPrivate Associate's collegenone2004276
HyperLearning Technologies, Inc.Virginia BeachPrivate Uncategorizednone1995Unknown
IGlobal UniversityViennaPrivate UnknownACCSC2008Unknown
International College of WashingtonAnnandalePrivate Uncategorizednone1966Unknown
Johns Hopkins UniversityArlingtonPrivate Research universityMSCHE187626,152
Kaplan CollegeChesapeakePrivate Associate's collegeACICS1938574
Kings Park University School of Acupuncture and Oriental MedicineCedar BluffPrivate UncategorizednoneUnknownUnknown
Life Pacific CollegeChristiansburgPrivate
Special focusWASC-ACCJC1923619
Lindsey Wilson College School of Professional CounselingRichlandsPrivate
UncategorizedSACS1903Unknown
Medtech InstituteFalls ChurchPrivate UncategorizedCOE1939531
Mercyhurst CollegeMcLeanPrivate
Masters UniversityMSCHE19262,705
Missouri State UniversityFairfaxPublicMasters UniversityHLC190623,697
The National Graduate SchoolArlingtonPrivate UncategorizedNEASC1909Unknown
National Massage Therapy InstituteFalls ChurchPrivateUncategorizedABHES1998Unknown
Nova Southeastern UniversityRoanokePrivateResearch universitySACS196420,435
Patrick Henry CollegePurcellvillePrivate Baccalaureate collegeTRACS2000325
Potomac CollegeHerndonPrivate Baccalaureate collegeMSCHE190140
Reformed Theological SeminaryMcLeanPrivate
Faith-related InstitutionATS1966Unknown
Saint Leo UniversityMultiplePrivate
Masters UniversitySACS18895,232
Saint Michael College of Allied HealthAlexandriaPrivate Uncategorizednone1971193
Sanford-Brown CollegeViennaPrivate Baccalaureate collegeACICS1920744
Skyline CollegeRoanokePrivate Associate's collegeACCSC1969355
South Baylo UniversityAnnandalePrivate Uncategorizednone1977410
South UniversityMultiplePrivate Baccalaureate collegeSACS1867536
Southern Illinois University CarbondaleVirginia BeachPublicResearch universityHLCUnknownUnknown
Southern Virginia UniversityBuena VistaPrivate Baccalaureate collegeSACS18671,035
Southside Regional Medical Center Professional SchoolsPetersburgPrivate UncategorizedJRCERT1895131
Strayer UniversityMultiplePrivate Masters UniversityMSCHE189212,918
University of FairfaxViennaPrivate UncategorizedDETC2002Unknown
University of Maryland University CollegeFort BelvoirPublicResearch universityMSCHE1807Unknown
University of North AmericaViennaPrivate UncategorizedACICS2008310
University of PhoenixMultiplePrivateSpecial focusHLCUnknown1172
Valley Forge Christian CollegeWoodbridgePrivate
Baccalaureate collegeMSCHEUnknownUnknown
Virginia CollegeRichmondPrivate UncategorizedACICS1983Unknown
Virginia School of MassageCharlottesvillePrivate UncategorizedACCSC1995Unknown
Virginia School of Nursing & Medical InstituteSpringfieldPrivate Uncategorizednone1901Unknown
Virginia Tech Carilion School of MedicineRoanokePublic/
Private		Uncategorizednone2010Unknown
Virginia University of LynchburgLynchburgPrivate Special focusTRACS1886555
Virginia University of Oriental MedicineFairfaxPrivate Uncategorizednone2004Unknown
Washington Baptist UniversityAnnandalePrivate
UncategorizednoneUnknownUnknown
Webster UniversityFort BelvoirPrivate UncategorizedHLC1915Unknown
Westwood College Of TechnologyMultiplePrivate Baccalaureate / Associate's collegeACICS19531043
World CollegeVirginia BeachPrivate UncategorizedDETC1992Unknown
William Samson UniversityAlexandriaPrivate Doctoral university-2012Unknown

Primarily religious institutions

SchoolLocationControlTypeAccreditationFoundedEnrollment
Baptist Theological Seminary at RichmondRichmondPrivate Special focusATS199163
Washington Bible College and Capital Bible Seminary SpringfieldPrivate Uncategorizednone1958Unknown
Cordoba UniversityAshburnPrivate
UncategorizednoneUnknownUnknown
Hartland CollegeRapidanPrivate Uncategorizednone1983Unknown
John Leland Center for Theological StudiesFalls ChurchPrivate Uncategorizednone1998Unknown
Virginia Theological SeminaryAlexandriaPrivate Uncategorizednone1818216
William Samson UniversityAlexandriaPrivate Doctoral university-2012Unknown
Union Presbyterian SeminaryRichmondPrivate Special focusATS2012146

Defunct institutions

SchoolLocationFoundedClosed
Elizabeth CollegeSalem18261922
Medtech CollegeFairfax19392016
Saint Paul's CollegeLawrenceville18882013
Stratford CollegeDanville18541974
Sullins CollegeBristol18681976
University of Northern VirginiaAnnandale19982014
Virginia Intermont CollegeBristol18842014
The Art Institute of WashingtonArlington20002018
Argosy University - Washington D.C. AreaArlington2019
Richmond School of Health and TechnologyMultiple1997
Southeast Culinary & Hospitality CollegeBristolunknown
American College of Commerce and TechnologyFalls Church2010