How Colleges Are Organized Across Virginia

Virginia's colleges range from major research universities to two-year community colleges and small career schools. Our database holds 324 college listings across the Commonwealth, and they do not all follow the same rules. George Mason University in Fairfax, Tidewater Community College in Norfolk and The Esthetic Institute in Vienna each answer to different oversight. Knowing who regulates a school tells you which questions to ask before you apply, enroll or pay a deposit.

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, known as SCHEV, is the coordinating agency for the system. It reviews new degree programs at public institutions, administers state financial aid and certifies many private and out-of-state schools to operate here. SCHEV does not run campuses. Each public university has its own Board of Visitors, appointed by the governor, which approves tuition and fees and hires the president.

Community colleges work differently. The Virginia Community College System, or VCCS, runs 23 colleges under a single State Board for Community Colleges. Tidewater Community College, Piedmont Virginia Community College and Patrick Henry Community College all belong to it. Admission is open, so a high school diploma or equivalent is generally enough to enroll. Credits move easily inside the system, and many four-year schools offer guaranteed admission to students who finish an associate degree with the required grades.

Most listings fall into one of four groups:

Not every listing is a main campus. Averett University is based in Danville, yet our database also lists its non-traditional programs at the Innsbrook campus in Glen Allen. Virginia Tech appears through its Southwest Center in Abingdon and a seafood research and extension center in Hampton. Check whether an address is a full campus, a teaching site or an administrative office before you drive there.

Regional Differences: Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond and the Mountains

Northern Virginia has the densest cluster of higher education in the state. Fairfax County has the most listings of any county in our database. They range from George Mason's main campus at 4400 University Drive to Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing on Leesburg Pike and South Baylo University in Annandale. Many programs here serve working adults with evening classes and short certificates. Arlington County adds Chamberlain College of Nursing on Crystal Drive. Loudoun County, near Dulles Airport, is another area worth checking if you live in the western suburbs.

Hampton Roads is spread across several independent cities. Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton, Chesapeake and Suffolk all have listings. In Virginia Beach County you will find Empire Beauty School on South Independence Boulevard. Norfolk has Tidewater Community College on College Place, and Chesapeake has Centura College on Ventures Way. Water crossings shape travel in this region, and tunnel traffic at rush hour can add real time to a commute. Check the drive before you commit to an evening schedule.

The Richmond area covers the city plus Henrico County and Chesterfield County. Henrico includes the Averett University Innsbrook campus in Glen Allen. Chesterfield includes ECPI University's Richmond South campus on Moorefield Park Drive and Richmond School of Health and Technology in Chester. A school with Richmond in its name may sit in a neighboring county, so confirm the street address first.

Outside the big metro areas, listings are fewer but matter more. The Roanoke County listings include Mary Baldwin's Roanoke Center on North Jefferson Street. Lynchburg has Miller-Motte Technical College, Danville has Averett, and Martinsville has Patrick Henry Community College. Charlottesville's Piedmont Virginia Community College sits on College Drive. Farther west, the Southwest Center in Abingdon serves a mountain region where distances are long. In these areas a community college is often the only nearby option, so ask about dual enrollment for high school students and online sections.

Independent Cities and County Labels in Virginia

Virginia has 95 counties and 38 independent cities. An independent city is legally separate from any county and runs its own local government. Richmond, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Hampton, Chesapeake, Danville, Lynchburg, Alexandria, Suffolk and Charlottesville are all independent cities. Our directory groups listings under county-style labels, so you will see names like Norfolk County or Danville County even though no such counties exist in the usual sense. For practical purposes, read those labels as the city itself.

The split affects local services more than colleges. Parking permits, bus routes and zoning questions near a campus go through the city or county government, depending on where the street lies. Mailing addresses can mislead: a Falls Church address such as 7704 Leesburg Pike can lie in Fairfax County. Use the street address when you map your trip.

Checking Approval and Accreditation Before You Enroll in Virginia

Accreditation affects credit transfer, financial aid eligibility and how employers view your credential. Many Virginia degree-granting colleges are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, while some career schools hold national accreditation instead. Neither label guarantees a good fit. Credits from a nationally accredited school can be harder to transfer to a university, so ask about transfer before you start.

Before you enroll, run through this short checklist:

Health and beauty schools make up a large share of our database. Chamberlain College of Nursing in Arlington, Standard Healthcare Services-College of Nursing in Falls Church, Global Health College in Alexandria, The Esthetic Institute in Vienna and Empire Beauty School in Virginia Beach all fit that pattern. Their programs lead to licensed work, so confirm the state approval for the exact program, not just the school.

Tuition, Residency and Financial Aid for Virginia Students

Public universities charge in-state tuition to students who meet Virginia's domicile rules. In general, you must have lived in Virginia with the intent to stay for at least 12 months before enrolling, and dependent students are judged by their parents' domicile. The admissions or registrar's office at each school makes the decision, so submit your domicile paperwork early. Military families stationed in Hampton Roads or Northern Virginia may qualify under separate rules, so ask the school's veterans office.

Start financial aid with the FAFSA. Virginia also runs state programs, including the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant for residents attending eligible private nonprofit colleges. The G3 program covers tuition at community colleges for eligible lower- and middle-income students in fields such as health care, information technology, public safety, early childhood education and skilled trades. Rules and funding change by year, so confirm current details with the financial aid office.

When you call a school, have your questions ready: total cost for the program, start dates, transfer policy and the credentials you will earn. Many Virginia schools hold weekday information sessions, and some career schools add evening or Saturday options. Bring photo ID and any prior transcripts.

Public colleges and universities in Virginia offer residents access to affordable higher education, professional certifications, and workforce training. The Virginia state legislature oversees funding and policy for public institutions, while individual governing boards manage each campus.

Colleges locations are available in 107 cities across Virginia. They are spread across 77 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Virginia Beach, Richmond, Arlington, reflecting the presence of major university campuses and community college districts serving large student populations.

Prospective students in Virginia should research in-state tuition rates, available degree programs, and financial aid options at public institutions, as these factors vary significantly between community colleges and four-year universities.

Colleges by Counties

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
V
W

Students in Virginia applying to public colleges and universities should complete the FAFSA as early as possible to maximize eligibility for federal and state financial aid. Many Virginia institutions also offer state-specific grant programs with additional eligibility criteria.

Browse Colleges by county across Virginia to find the nearest location.

Planning Your College Visit or Call in Virginia

Each listing in our database includes a phone number, and a call is usually the fastest first step. Admissions offices at public universities keep weekday daytime hours, while career schools often add evening sessions. Ask for the specific campus or teaching site, because a central line may route you to an office in another city. Toll-free numbers, such as those listed for Averett University's Glen Allen campus and Empire Beauty School in Virginia Beach, may reach a central admissions team rather than the local site.

Plan the trip as well. In Northern Virginia, parking on and around campuses can be limited, and the Crystal Drive area in Arlington is served by Metrorail. In Hampton Roads, allow extra time for bridge and tunnel traffic between Norfolk, Hampton and Newport News. In the Shenandoah Valley and the Southwest, including Harrisonburg, Lexington and Abingdon, drives are longer, so confirm office hours and building location before you leave. Listings in Norfolk County are a good starting point if you want to compare Tidewater Community College with nearby career schools.

Bring a photo ID, any prior transcripts, and your tax records if you plan to apply for financial aid. Ask staff for a written cost sheet and an academic calendar. If you plan to transfer later, request the school's articulation agreements in writing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Virginia

No single agency covers every school. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia coordinates public higher education, approves new programs at public institutions and certifies many private and out-of-state schools to operate in the Commonwealth. Each public university answers to its own Board of Visitors, and the Virginia Community College System is governed by the State Board for Community Colleges. Specific programs add other regulators, such as the Virginia Board of Nursing for nursing education and the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology for beauty schools. If you are unsure who is responsible for a school, SCHEV is the best first call.

In general, you need to have been domiciled in Virginia for at least 12 months before the term begins, meaning you live here with the intent to stay. Dependent students are usually classified based on their parents' domicile. Schools such as George Mason University and Christopher Newport University review a domicile form and supporting documents, which may include tax returns, a Virginia driver's license, voter registration and lease or property records. Submit these early, because the decision affects your bill. Military families stationed in Virginia may be covered by separate rules, so ask the school's veterans office before you assume out-of-state rates apply.

VCCS colleges have open admission, so most programs accept students with a high school diploma or equivalent, though nursing and some other health programs have separate application steps and limited seats. Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville and Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville all operate under this system. Credits transfer easily among Virginia community colleges, and many public and private four-year schools have guaranteed admission agreements for students who complete an associate degree with the required GPA. Meet a transfer advisor early and keep your course plan matched to your target university.

Start with three checks. First, confirm with SCHEV that the school is authorized or certified to operate in Virginia. Second, identify the accreditor and verify the school's status on that accreditor's website. Third, for licensed fields, confirm program approval with the relevant board, such as the Virginia Board of Nursing for nursing programs or the Board for Barbers and Cosmetology for beauty and esthetics. Be careful with schools that pressure you to sign before you see a cost sheet, or that promise jobs. Ask for graduation and placement rates in writing and read the enrollment agreement, including the refund policy.

Our database shows the heaviest concentrations in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Arlington, Roanoke, Newport News and Norfolk, with Fairfax County leading all counties. Northern Virginia offers the widest choice of evening and adult programs. Hampton Roads combines a public university in Newport News, community college campuses and several career schools. The Richmond area, including Henrico and Chesterfield, mixes university extension programs and health training. In the mountains and Southside, such as Roanoke, Lynchburg, Danville and Abingdon, choices are fewer, so check program availability early. Pick the area by commute, schedule and the specific program you need.

File the FAFSA first, because most federal and state aid starts there. Virginia programs include the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant for residents at eligible private nonprofit colleges and G3, which covers community college tuition for eligible students in high-demand fields such as health care, information technology, public safety, early childhood education and skilled trades. Details and funding change, so verify them with the school's financial aid office. If you have a complaint, start with the school's own grievance process. For unresolved issues at a school operating in Virginia, SCHEV accepts student complaints. Keep copies of your enrollment agreement, emails and payment receipts.