But before we look at the best online colleges in Virginia, let’s start with the state of higher education and online education in particular in Virginia today.
A Brief Overview of Higher Education in Virginia
In 2013, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that Virginia had 132 degree-granting institutions, broken down as follows: 40 public schools, 38 nonprofits and 54 for-profits. The total number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in the ’12-’13 school year at these schools was: 35,521 at public schools, 14,695 at private nonprofits and 4,533 at private for-profits.
Overall, Virginia ranks fourth in graduation rates nationwide, with 49.1% of students finishing their degrees in four years, as reported in 2013. A 2012 report conducted by CollegeMeasures.org found that following graduation, “36% of bachelor’s degree graduates are earning a full-time wage and another 13% are enrolled in other higher education programs in Virginia institutions.” The report also went on to say that bachelor’s degree holders in the state make, on average, 67% more than professionals in the state who who only hold a high school diploma or GED.
Tuition-wise, the College Board found that, in the ’15-’16 school year, the average in-state tuition and fees for four-year public schools was $11,820, while the out-of-state average was $30,400.
As for the state’s financial aid efforts, the National Association of State Student Grant & Aid Programs (NASSGAP) reported that Virginia awarded $162.2 million in need-based grants and $90.2 million in non-need grants for the ’13-’14 school year. Grants make up 14.2% of the state’s total fiscal support for higher education. Virginia also awarded out $214.9 million in tuition waivers over the same period.
Altogether, Virginia students have a slew of schools to choose from, varied financial support services and incredibly strong graduation rates and job placement stats. The state is well positioned for the next decade in higher education.
The State of Online Higher Education in Virginia
The NCES estimates that at least 18.6% of students enrolled in Virginia’s Title IV institutions are in fully online programs. Of those, 67.3% were reported to be undergraduates and 45.2% were found to be living in Virginia, indicating the state does an excellent job of attracting out-of-state distance students.
Two organizations at the forefront of online higher education efforts in Virginia are the Electronic Campus of Virginia (ECVA) and Virginia’s Community Colleges (VCCS). ECVA is essentially an alliance of 10 public and private institutions in the state that focuses on sharing online education strategies in the hopes of bolstering each school’s offerings. The schools themselves are some of Virginia’s most premier, including UVA, VT, GMU, JMU and William and Mary. The ECVA also serves as a launching point for what it calls “cross-institutional initiatives,” which are essentially opportunities for students to pursue courses and programs remotely at other schools that fall under the ECVA banner. These efforts make it one of the nation’s stand out school-to-school organizations.
The VCCS, meanwhile, functions much like the ECVA but only at the community college level. The organization monitors distance enrollment opportunities at all of its member community colleges, both full programs and individual courses. Students at 24 of Virginia’s community colleges can readily inquire about and pursue distance courses at their fellow VCCS schools. For prospective students, the VCCS site serves as an excellent directory of available programs and courses throughout the community college system of Virginia.
Virginia is also a member of the Southern Regional Education Board’s Electronic Campus. An initiative that lets students sift through an impressive directory of online programs throughout the southeast U.S. SREB also has strong aid initiatives. Services like the Academic Common Market/Electronic Campus and the Regional Contract Program for Health Professions let students fully enroll in a selection of out-of-state programs while paying in-state rates. While the program selection is small and the admissions criteria strict, for qualified students these are incredible opportunities.
Best Online Colleges in Virginia
Below, you will find our rankings of the best online four-year programs in Virginia. Our profiles look at how schools approach online education and then list out their services for distance students and their popular, fully online degrees. After reviewing the best online schools in VA, explore our state resources, like a database of every college and university in Virginia or our index of popular in-state scholarships.
| 1 | University of Virginia | Charlottesville | $$$$$ |
| 2 | George Mason University | Fairfax | $$$$$ |
| 3 | Liberty University | Lynchburg | $$$$$ |
| 4 | Old Dominion University | Norfolk | $$$$$ |
| 5 | Averett University - Non-Traditional Programs | Danville | $$$$$ |
| 6 | Hampton University | Hampton | $$$$$ |
| 7 | Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond | $$$$$ |
| 8 | Regent University | Virginia Beach | $$$$$ |
| 9 | Averett University | Danville | $$$$$ |
| 10 | Bluefield College | Bluefield | $$$$$ |
| 11 | Virginia State University | Petersburg | $$$$$ |
Most Affordable Online Colleges in Virginia
Below you’ll find the best online colleges in VA, sorted by affordability.
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Source: http://docphy.com/business-industry/higher-education/online-colleges-virginia.html
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