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 143,000 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 (SACSCOC). 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
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! Name
! Location(s)
! Control
! Carnegie Classification
! Accreditation
! Founded
! data-sort-type=number | Enrollment (fall 2024)
<!-- Footnotes for enrollment break numeric sorting unless placed in different column. -->
|-
|American National University
|Danville
|Private (not for profit)
|Masters university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1859
| style="text-align:center;"|1,476
|-
|Blue Ridge Community College
|Weyers Cave
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Associate/Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1967
| style="text-align:center;"|3,790
|-
|Bluefield University
|Bluefield
|Private<br /><small>(Baptist)</small>
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1922
| style="text-align:center;"|959
|-
|Bridgewater College
|Bridgewater
|Private<br /><small>(Brethren)</small>
|Associate/Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1880
| style="text-align:center;"|1,448
|-
|Brightpoint Community College
|Chester
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Associate/Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1967
| style="text-align:center;"|9,380
|-
|Central Virginia Community College
|Lynchburg
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Associate/Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1966
| style="text-align:center;"|3,481
|-
|Christendom College
|Front Royal
|Private<br /><small>(Catholic)</small>
|Uncategorized
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1977
| style="text-align:center;"|615
|-
|Christopher Newport University
|Newport News
|Public
|Masters university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1960
| style="text-align:center;"|4,454
|-
|College of William & Mary
|Williamsburg
|Public
|Research university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1693
| style="text-align:center;"|9,818
|-
|Danville Community College
|Danville
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1936
| style="text-align:center;"|2,465
|-
|Divine Mercy University
|Sterling
|Private<br /><small>(Catholic)</small>
|Doctoral university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1999
| style="text-align:center;"|463
|-
|Eastern Mennonite University
|Harrisonburg
|Private<br /><small>(Mennonite)</small>
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1917
| style="text-align:center;"|1,154
|-
|Eastern Shore Community College
|Melfa
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1971
| style="text-align:center;"|859
|-
|Eastern Virginia Medical School
|Norfolk
|Private (not for profit)
|Doctoral university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1973
| style="text-align:center;"|1,216
|-
|ECPI University
|Multiple
|Private (for profit)
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1966
| style="text-align:center;"|12,572
|-
|Emory & Henry University
|Emory
|Private<br /><small>(Methodist)</small>
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1836
| style="text-align:center;"|1,311
|-
|Ferrum College
|Ferrum
|Private<br /><small>(Methodist)</small>
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1913
| style="text-align:center;"|763
|-
|George Mason University
|Fairfax
|Public
|Research university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1957
| style="text-align:center;"|39,766
|-
|Germanna Community College
|Locust Grove
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1970
| style="text-align:center;"|8,544
|-
|Hampden-Sydney College
|Hampden Sydney
|Private (not for profit)
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1775
| style="text-align:center;"|946
|-
|Hampton University
|Hampton
|Private (not for profit)
|Masters university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1868
| style="text-align:center;"|4,244
|-
|Hollins University
|Roanoke
|Private (not for profit)
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1842
| style="text-align:center;"|761
|-
|Institute for the Psychological Sciences
|Arlington
|Private<br /><small>(Catholic)</small>
|Doctoral university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1997
| style="text-align:center;"|160
|-
|J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
|Richmond
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Associate/Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1972
| style="text-align:center;"|8,681
|-
|James Madison University
|Harrisonburg
|Public
|Research university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1908
| style="text-align:center;"|22,740
|-
|Jefferson College of Health Sciences
|Roanoke
|Private
|Doctoral university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1982
| style="text-align:center;"|Unknown
|-
|Laurel Ridge Community College
|Middletown
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Associate/Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1970
| style="text-align:center;"|5,902
|-
|Liberty University
|Lynchburg
|Private<br /><small>(Baptist)</small>
|Research university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1971
| style="text-align:center;"|104,327
|-
|Longwood University
|Farmville
|Public
|Masters university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1839
| style="text-align:center;"|4,612
|-
|Marine Corps University
|Quantico
|Public<br /><small>(United States Marine Corps)</small>
|Special focus
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1989
| style="text-align:center;"|269
|-
|Mary Baldwin University
|Staunton
|Private<br /><small>(Presbyterian)</small>
|Masters university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1842
| style="text-align:center;"|1,772
|-
|Marymount University
|Arlington
|Private<br /><small>(Catholic)</small>
||Masters university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1950
| style="text-align:center;"|4,060
|-
|Mountain Empire Community College
|Big Stone Gap
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1972
| style="text-align:center;"|2,116
|-
|Mountain Gateway Community College
|Clifton Forge
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1964
| style="text-align:center;"|989
|-
|New River Community College
|Dublin
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1959
| style="text-align:center;"|4,254
|-
|Norfolk State University
|Norfolk
|Public
|Masters university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1935
| style="text-align:center;"|6,053
|-
|Northern Virginia Community College
|Annandale
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1964
| style="text-align:center;"|56,457
|-
|Old Dominion University
|Norfolk
|Public
|Research university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1930
| style="text-align:center;"|23,743
|-
|Patrick Henry College
|Purcellville
|Private (not for profit)
|Baccalaureate college
|TRACS
| style="text-align:center;" |2000
| style="text-align:center;" |425
|-
|Patrick & Henry Community College
|Martinsville
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1962
| style="text-align:center;"|1,908
|-
|Paul D. Camp Community College
|Franklin
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1970
| style="text-align:center;"|1,219
|-
|Piedmont Virginia Community College
|Charlottesville
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1972
| style="text-align:center;"|5,263
|-
|Radford University
|Radford
|Public
|Masters university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1910
| style="text-align:center;"|7,812
|-
|Randolph College
|Lynchburg
|Private (not for profit)
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1891
| style="text-align:center;"|816
|-
|Randolph–Macon College
|Ashland
|Private<br /><small>(Methodist)</small>
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1830
| style="text-align:center;"|1,687
|-
|Rappahannock Community College
|Glenns, Warsaw
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1969
| style="text-align:center;"|2,962
|-
|Regent University
|Virginia Beach
|Private<br /><small>(Christian)</small>
|Doctoral university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1977
| style="text-align:center;"|10,657
|-
|Richard Bland College
|Petersburg
|Public<br /><small>(Junior college associated with the College of William and Mary)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1960
| style="text-align:center;"|2,788
|-
|Roanoke College
|Salem
|Private<br /><small>(Lutheran)</small>
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1842
| style="text-align:center;"|1,804
|-
|Sentara College of Health Sciences
|Chesapeake
|Private (not for profit)
|Baccalaureate college
|ABHES
| style="text-align:center;"|1892
| style="text-align:center;"|312
|-
|Shenandoah University
|Winchester
|Private<br /><small>(Methodist)</small>
|Masters university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1875
| style="text-align:center;"|4,454
|-
|Southern Virginia University
|Buena Vista
|Private (not for profit)
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1867
| style="text-align:center;"|936
|-
|Southside Virginia Community College
|Alberta, Keysville
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1970
| style="text-align:center;"|3,306
|-
|Southwest Virginia Community College
|Richlands
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1968
| style="text-align:center;"|2,364
|-
|Sweet Briar College
|Sweet Briar
|Private (not for profit)
|Associate/Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1901
| style="text-align:center;"|444
|-
|Tidewater Community College
|Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1968
| style="text-align:center;"|16,884
|-
|Union Presbyterian Seminary
|Richmond
|Private<br /><small>(Presbyterian)</small>
|Special focus
|ATS
| style="text-align:center;"|1896
| style="text-align:center;"|159
|-
|University of Lynchburg
|Lynchburg
|Private<br /><small>(Disciples)</small>
|Masters university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1903
| style="text-align:center;"|2,316
|-
|University of Management and Technology
|Arlington
|Private (for profit)
|Baccalaureate college
|DETC
| style="text-align:center;"|1998
| style="text-align:center;"|979
|-
|University of Mary Washington
|Fredericksburg
|Public
|Masters university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1908
| style="text-align:center;"|3,826
|-
|University of the Potomac
|Falls Church
|Private (for profit)
|Special focus
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1989
| style="text-align:center;"|551
|-
|University of Richmond
|Richmond
|Private (not for profit)
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1830
| style="text-align:center;"|3,722
|-
|University of Virginia
|Charlottesville
|Public
|Research university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1819
| style="text-align:center;"|26,409
|-
|University of Virginia's College at Wise
|Wise
|Public<br /><small>(University of Virginia)</small>
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1954
| style="text-align:center;"|2,167
|-
|Virginia Commonwealth University
|Richmond
|Public
|Research university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1838
| style="text-align:center;"|28,464
|-
|Virginia Highlands Community College
|Abingdon
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1969
| style="text-align:center;"|2,082
|-
|Virginia–Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
|Blacksburg
|Public<br /><small>(Jointly by Virginia Tech & University of Maryland)</small>
|Masters university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1978
| style="text-align:center;"|480
|-
|Virginia Military Institute
|Lexington
|Public
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1839
| style="text-align:center;"|1,527
|-
|Virginia Peninsula Community College
|Hampton
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1968
| style="text-align:center;"|6,410
|-
|Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
|Blacksburg
|Public
|Research university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1872
| style="text-align:center;"|38,857
|-
|Virginia State University
|Petersburg
|Public
|Masters university
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1882
| style="text-align:center;"|5,605
|-
|Virginia Union University
|Richmond
|Private<br /><small>(Baptist)</small>
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1865
| style="text-align:center;"|1,646
|-
|Virginia University of Lynchburg
|Lynchburg
|Private<br /><small>(Christian)</small>
|Doctoral university
|TRACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1886
| style="text-align:center;"|581
|-
|Virginia University of Science & Technology
|McLean
|Private (for profit)
|Masters university
|Unaccredited
| style="text-align:center;"|2016
| style="text-align:center;"|Unknown
|-
|Virginia Wesleyan University
|Norfolk
|Private<br /><small>(Methodist)</small>
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1961
| style="text-align:center;"|1,853
|-
|Virginia Western Community College
|Roanoke
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1966
| style="text-align:center;"|6,332
|-
|Washington and Lee University
|Lexington
|Private (not for profit)
|Baccalaureate college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1749
| style="text-align:center;"|2,241
|-
|Wytheville Community College
|Wytheville
|Public<br /><small>(Virginia Community College System)</small>
|Junior college
|SACS
| style="text-align:center;"|1963
| style="text-align:center;"|2,107
|}
Private and out-of-state institutions
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! School
! Location(s)
! Accreditation
! Founded
! data-sort-type=number | Enrollment
<!-- Footnotes for enrollment break numeric sorting unless placed in different column. -->
|-
|ACT College
|Arlington
|Private (not for profit)
|Uncategorized
|ABHES
| style="text-align:center;"|1983
| style="text-align:center;"|401
|-
|Advanced Institute of Technology
|Virginia Beach
|Private (for profit)
|Uncategorized
|ACCSC
| style="text-align:center;"|1992
| style="text-align:center;"|415
|-
|American Digital University
|Sterling
|Private (for profit)
|Uncategorized
|none
| style="text-align:center;" |Unknown
| style="text-align:center;" |Unknown
|-
|American Public University System
|Manassas
|Private (for profit)
|Masters university
|HLC
| style="text-align:center;" |1991
| style="text-align:center;" |Unknown
|-
|Aviation Institute of Maintenance
|Multiple
|Hampton
|Private (not for profit)
|Uncategorized
|none
| style="text-align:center;" |1887
| style="text-align:center;" |76
|-
|Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing
|Richmond
|Private (not for profit)
|Uncategorized
|ACICS
| style="text-align:center;" |1961
| style="text-align:center;" |626
|-
|Bryant & Stratton College
|Multiple
|Fairfax
|Private (for profit)
|Associate's college
|COE
| style="text-align:center;" |1999
| style="text-align:center;" |151
|-
|DeVry University
|Multiple
|Alexandria
|Private (for profit)
|Associate's college
|none
| style="text-align:center;" |2004
| style="text-align:center;" |
|-
|Johns Hopkins University
|Arlington
|Private (not for profit)
|Research university
|MSCHE
| style="text-align:center;" |1876
| style="text-align:center;" |26,152
|-
|Life Pacific University
|Christiansburg
|Private<br /><small>(Pentecostal)</small>
|Special focus
|WASC-ACCJC
| style="text-align:center;" |1923
| style="text-align:center;" |
|-
|Missouri State University
|Fairfax
|Public
|Masters university
|HLC
| style="text-align:center;" |1906
| style="text-align:center;" |23,697
|-
|Reformed Theological Seminary
|McLean
|Private<br /><small>(Christian)</small>
|Faith-related institution
|ATS
| style="text-align:center;" |1966
| style="text-align:center;" |Unknown
|-
|Saint Leo University
|Multiple
|Alexandria
|Private (for profit)
|Uncategorized
|none
| style="text-align:center;" |1971
| style="text-align:center;" |193
|-
|South Baylo University
|Annandale
|Private (not for profit)
|Uncategorized
|none
| style="text-align:center;" |1977
| style="text-align:center;" |410
|-
|South University
|Petersburg
|Private (for profit)
|Uncategorized
|JRCERT
| style="text-align:center;"|1895
| style="text-align:center;"|151
|-
|Strayer University
|Multiple
|Vienna
|Private (for profit)
|Uncategorized
|ACICS
| style="text-align:center;"|2008
| style="text-align:center;"|310
|-
|Virginia School of Nursing & Medical Institute
|Springfield
|Private (not for profit)
|Uncategorized
|none
| style="text-align:center;"|1901
| style="text-align:center;"|Unknown
|-
|Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
|Roanoke
|Public/<br />private
|Uncategorized
|none
| style="text-align:center;"|2010
| style="text-align:center;"|Unknown
|-
|Virginia University of Oriental Medicine
|Fairfax
|Private (not for profit)
|Uncategorized
|none
| style="text-align:center;"|2004
| style="text-align:center;"|Unknown
|-
|Washington University of Virginia
|Annandale
|Private<br /><small>(Baptist)</small>
|Uncategorized
|none
| style="text-align:center;"|Unknown
| style="text-align:center;"|Unknown
|-
|Washington University of Science and Technology, formerly IGlobal University
|Alexandria
|Private (for profit)
|Masters university
|ACCSC
| style="text-align:center;" |2008
| style="text-align:center;" |1,096
|-
|William Samson University
|Alexandria
|Private (not for profit)
|Doctoral university
|None
| style="text-align:center;"|2012
| style="text-align:center;"|Unknown
|-
|}
Primarily religious institutions
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! School
! Location(s)
|Spotsylvania
|Private (not for profit)<br /><small>(Christianic)</small>
|Uncategorized
|AICCS
| style="text-align:center;"|1969
| style="text-align:center;"|Unknown
|-
|Hartland College
|Rapidan
|Private (not for profit)
|Uncategorized
|none
| style="text-align:center;"|1983
| style="text-align:center;"|90 (2015)
|-
|John Leland Center for Theological Studies
|Falls Church
|Private (not for profit)
|Uncategorized
|none
| style="text-align:center;"|1998
| style="text-align:center;"|Unknown
|-
|Union Presbyterian Seminary
|Richmond
|Private (not for profit)
|Special focus
|ATS
| style="text-align:center;"|2012
| style="text-align:center;"|146
|-
|Virginia Theological Seminary
|Alexandria
|Private (not for profit)
|Uncategorized
|ATS
| style="text-align:center;"|1818
| style="text-align:center;"|216
|-
|Washington Bible College and Capital Bible Seminary (Springfield Extension)
|Springfield
|Private (not for profit)
|Uncategorized
|none
| style="text-align:center;"|1958
| style="text-align:center;"|Unknown
|-
|William Samson University
|Alexandria
|Private (not for profit)
|Doctoral university
|None
| style="text-align:center;"|2012
| style="text-align:center;"|Unknown
|-
|}
Defunct institutions
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! School
! Location(s)
|Multiple
|Bristol
|2005
|-
| Virginia School of Massage
|Charlottesville
|1995
|2018
|-
|}
See also
- Higher education in the United States
- Higher education accreditation in the United States
- List of college athletic programs in Virginia
- List of American institutions of higher education
- List of recognized higher education accreditation organizations
- List of colleges and universities
- List of colleges and universities by country
References
Specific
General