Online Degree Programs In Virginia (VA)

Virginia needs more workers with a college credential. “Of all the jobs created since the Great Recession, 99% of them went to individuals with more than a high school diploma,” said Peter Blake, Director of the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV). “The Commonwealth needs a well-educated workforce to succeed in the world economy. Virginians need to keep their skills sharp to succeed in work and life… For all these reasons, the Virginia Plan [established by SCHEV in 2015] sets a goal for Virginia to become the best-educated state by 2030.”

This drive has already achieved some measure of success: In the 2016-17 school year Virginia’s colleges and universities awarded the highest number of bachelor’s degrees in their history. Most of these degrees were in STEM-H fields — science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health.

Many of Virginia’s two- and four-year colleges and universities offer blended or fully online programs that are aligned to the needs of today’s job market. Enrolling in a degree program online allows individuals who want to compete for higher-paying jobs in Virginia to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree without having to give up a job, family or social obligations.

While 90.9 percent of adults in Virginia had a high school diploma in 2005, today Virginia’s fast-growing economy requires more workers with an education beyond high school. Even though a little over 47 percent of its workforce now possesses a college degree, the demand for educated workers in Virginia is expected to grow at a rapid rate.

When compared to neighboring states, Virginia ranks first in the percentage of working-age adults with a degree or credential, according to the Lumina Foundation. Yet the State Council for Higher Education still aims to increase the percentage of Virginians with a degree from the 2015 level of 51 percent to 70 percent by 2030. Findings from Georgetown University indicate that in Virginia by 2020:

  • 67 percent of jobs will require postsecondary education
  • 30 percent of jobs will require some college, an associate degree or a postsecondary vocational certificate
  • 23 percent of jobs will require a bachelor’s degree
  • 13 percent of jobs will require a master’s degree or better

Not only is the job market hungry for those with a postsecondary credential, aspiring degree holders may also find that they have increased access to some important benefits. According to the State Council for Higher Education, people who hold an “associate degree or greater are 38 percent more likely to have employer-sponsored healthcare than those with a high school diploma.”

A report from the American Institutes of Research shows that Virginians who hold a bachelor’s degree tend to earn on average, 67 percent more than high school graduates (two percent higher than the national average of 65 percent). When compared to those holding an associate degree or having some college experience, earning a bachelor’s degree can help you earn about 40 percent more, on average.

In order to be considered for our ranking, all Virginia colleges had to first meet five criteria. Using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, we then evaluated each school based on factors like graduation rate, percentage of students working after graduation, flexibility, student services and job placement services (Read more about our methodology below.)

1
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA
https://WWW.VT.EDU
Average in-state tuition
$11,420
No. of online programs
20
% of students in distance education
28%
Avg. amount of Aid
$8,630
Admissions Rate
65%
Graduation Rate
84%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
2
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
https://www.liberty.edu
Average in-state tuition
$15,837
No. of online programs
137
% of students in distance education
90%
Avg. amount of Aid
$7,509
Admissions Rate
56%
Graduation Rate
50%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
3
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA
https://www.odu.edu
Average in-state tuition
$7,029
No. of online programs
49
% of students in distance education
51%
Avg. amount of Aid
$7,488
Admissions Rate
87%
Graduation Rate
52%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
4
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
https://www.jmu.edu/
Average in-state tuition
$6,935
No. of online programs
6
% of students in distance education
8%
Avg. amount of Aid
$6,998
Admissions Rate
71%
Graduation Rate
84%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
5
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
https://www2.gmu.edu/0
Average in-state tuition
$9,060
No. of online programs
34
% of students in distance education
34%
Avg. amount of Aid
$7,175
Admissions Rate
81%
Graduation Rate
70%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
6
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
https://www.vcu.edu/0
Average in-state tuition
$12,177
No. of online programs
29
% of students in distance education
30%
Avg. amount of Aid
$9,790
Admissions Rate
86%
Graduation Rate
67%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
7
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA
https://www.regent.edu
Average in-state tuition
$16,980
No. of online programs
81
% of students in distance education
91%
Avg. amount of Aid
$7,230
Admissions Rate
82%
Graduation Rate
59%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
8
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, VA
https://www.nsu.edu
Average in-state tuition
$5,752
No. of online programs
6
% of students in distance education
62%
Avg. amount of Aid
$11,643
Admissions Rate
90%
Graduation Rate
37%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
9
Hampton University
Hampton, VA
https://www.hamptonu.edu
Average in-state tuition
$23,762
No. of online programs
27
% of students in distance education
7%
Avg. amount of Aid
$11,682
Admissions Rate
44%
Graduation Rate
58%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
10
Jefferson College of Health Sciences
Roanoke, VA
https://www.jchs.edu
Average in-state tuition
$26,416
No. of online programs
7
% of students in distance education
72%
Avg. amount of Aid
$10,588
Admissions Rate
30%
Graduation Rate
44%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
No
11
Radford University
Radford, VA
Average in-state tuition
$7,922
No. of online programs
12
% of students in distance education
36%
Avg. amount of Aid
$8,264
Admissions Rate
74.5780665207
Graduation Rate
59
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
12
University of Virginia-Main Campus
Charlottesville, VA
Average in-state tuition
$14,509
No. of online programs
27
% of students in distance education
10%
Avg. amount of Aid
$19,211
Admissions Rate
26.4321445861
Graduation Rate
94
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
13
University of Richmond
University of Richmond, VA
Average in-state tuition
$52,610
No. of online programs
0
% of students in distance education
1%
Avg. amount of Aid
$34,644
Admissions Rate
30.171688268
Graduation Rate
87
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
14
Bluefield College
Bluefield, VA
Average in-state tuition
$24,520
No. of online programs
11
% of students in distance education
72%
Avg. amount of Aid
$12,905
Admissions Rate
95.363079615
Graduation Rate
29
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
15
Mary Baldwin University
Staunton, VA
Average in-state tuition
$30,690
No. of online programs
22
% of students in distance education
54%
Avg. amount of Aid
$17,067
Admissions Rate
99.9058232617
Graduation Rate
47
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
16
Longwood University
Farmville, VA
Average in-state tuition
$7,940
No. of online programs
1
% of students in distance education
9%
Avg. amount of Aid
$8,502
Admissions Rate
89.1321193336
Graduation Rate
69
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
17
Shenandoah University
Winchester, VA
Average in-state tuition
$31,280
No. of online programs
3
% of students in distance education
28%
Avg. amount of Aid
$14,831
Admissions Rate
70.2921348315
Graduation Rate
58
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
No
18
Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, VA
Average in-state tuition
$36,760
No. of online programs
2
% of students in distance education
26%
Avg. amount of Aid
$19,982
Admissions Rate
59.1967871486
Graduation Rate
60
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
No
19
Averett University
Danville, VA
Average in-state tuition
$34,400
No. of online programs
0
% of students in distance education
24%
Avg. amount of Aid
$21,876
Admissions Rate
60.6071302506
Graduation Rate
42
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
20
Southwest Virginia Community College
Cedar Bluff, VA
Average in-state tuition
$4,620
No. of online programs
6
% of students in distance education
63%
Avg. amount of Aid
$4,547
Admissions Rate
N/A
Graduation Rate
N/A
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

As Virginia continues to grow economically, the job market will reflect its expanding needs. Explore these top online degree programs according to the latest data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. While considering a degree program, it is important to check for accreditation to make sure you are enrolling in a program that meets quality standards of education.

Program Name
No. of online programs
Business Administration and Management, General
33
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
17
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration
13
Health/Health Care Administration/Management
13
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
12
General Studies
11
Accounting
11
Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other
10
Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance
9
Information Technology
9

The wide scope of employment opportunities likely to be available to college-educated job applicants is one very good reason to earn an online degree in Virginia. But another great reason is that the degree programs offered by accredited schools in the state are required to meet Virginia’s exemplary high standards of quality for postsecondary education.

One of the objectives of the Virginia Plan for Higher Education, introduced in 2015, is to ensure the quality of Virginia’s higher education meets student and business expectations. As part of that effort, and also to promote the value of higher education, Virginia has joined a countrywide effort to improve the method of measuring education quality in these core areas:

  • Written communication
  • Quantitative reasoning
  • Critical thinking

Along with the Virginia Board for Workforce Development, the state is working with national partners, education providers, economic developers as well as industrial and business heads to help identify skills needs and align them with degree programs. In collaboration with their partners, Virginia seeks to promote quality education by measuring the relevance of programs to high-demand occupations across the state.

The state also has regional accrediting bodies — all of which require accredited institutions to adhere to acceptable levels of quality. Virginia’s regional accrediting bodies include the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Schools and Colleges, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Bonus opportunity: “Virginia is leading the nation’s higher education systems through its statewide approach to participation in the innovative Service Year Alliance program. This nationwide program provides students with an opportunity to work in a service year job with a nonprofit organization or in the public sector. According to the Lumina Foundation, “many of Virginia’s colleges and universities have implemented strategies to make a service year a part of what it means to participate in higher education.” Prospective students should check with their target schools to understand how those schools participate in the SYA program.

Virginia students have plenty to choose from when it comes to earning a degree online. From small, community colleges to large, public universities, many schools have chosen to embrace e-learning with open arms and implement multiple online options for their students. Online students can expect to face the same rigorous studies as traditional college students, although the method of delivery is decidedly different. According to online educator and expert Heather E. Henson of the Henson group, the main difference online students will encounter is the mode of communication.

“While some courses will include lecture recordings, much like the student would find in a large lecture style university course, quality online courses will integrate the best of the Internet and social media to facilitate an engaging experience for the student,” she says. “The hope is that the best online courses will convey to the student, not that the instructor is the gatekeeper for all the knowledge related to a topic, but that the student already has access to the information, they just need to know where and how to look for it. This sets the groundwork for lifelong learning that will benefit the student in our quickly changing society.”

Before students decide to pursue online degrees in Virginia, they should make sure they have the proper support and materials to succeed. Having the necessary technology to participate in online courses is a good place to start, says Henson, yet it is equally important to have the skills to use that technology. Furthermore, it is crucial for students to make sure all of their decisions are informed ones.

“Essentially, the online student has to be their own advocate,” she adds. “It is important for a student considering taking an online course or their entire program online to consider the type of experience they want and ask enough questions to make sure that is what they will get.”

A wide range of industries in Virginia are doing well. From computer chips, blue crabs, and tobacco to communication technology and tomatoes, Virginia’s diverse employment sectors, ranging from technology and tourism to agriculture, dairy and even wine-making, are an appealing combination of traditional trades and developing ones, giving college graduates a variety of career options to choose from. While manufacturing is still a dominant sector, retail, healthcare, scientific, technical and professional services are growing fast due to a rapidly changing economy which is technology-driven.

Occupation
Number of Workers
Median Salary
Office and Administrative Support Occupations485,170$37,650
Sales and Related Occupations385,790$28,190
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations330,280$22,290
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations299,650$31,500
Business and Financial Operations Occupations283,820$78,780
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations247,050$51,400
Computer and Mathematical Occupations215,480$99,170
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations214,200$66,200
Management Occupations186,600$126,180
Production Occupations180,930$35,720
Construction and Extraction Occupations167,520$43,600
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations158,590$48,650
Healthcare Support Occupations137,930$27,490
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations124,470$26,470
Cashiers115,790$21,890
Protective Service Occupations106,920$42,750
Retail Salespersons103,600$24,210
Fast Food and Counter Workers102,410$20,220
Personal Care and Service Occupations90,560$25,040
Architecture and Engineering Occupations77,800$85,550

Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov.

Top Metropolitan Areas in Virginia

Here’s what industries are big in the state’s major metropolitan areas:

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria: It is the largest metro area in the state employing around 3.34 million people and growing. Arlington is set for a big change as Amazon announced its plans to set up its second headquarters with over 25,000 full-time, highly-paid employees in the area in November 2018. The industries in the area with the highest number of employees are professional, scientific, and technical services and public administration which are also the highest paying with public administration taking the lead when it comes to wages.

Richmond: It is the second largest metropolitan area and the capital region of the state offering a number of lifestyle and employment advantages. Home to companies like DuPont, Pfizer, Capital One and Genworth Financial, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that its job growth is on the rise. The education and health services sector showed the largest employment gain from June 2018 to June 2019 followed by the professional and business services. Its plethora of restaurants, bars and cosmopolitan style is one of the reasons why Forbes named it one of the 10 coolest U.S. cities to visit in 2018.

Roanoke: This area may be right for outdoorsy individuals who want to live an up and coming met area. Tucked away in the mountains, this met area has an unemployment rate of 3.1 percent which is below the state average of 3.2 percent. The most common jobs held in this region were in office and administrative support positions followed by sales and management. An attractive area for young millennials, its top employers come from diverse streams like healthcare-based Carilion Clinic, Wells Fargo Bank and Walmart.

When it comes to college education, affordability is a major concern for many students who want to achieve their higher education goals but just don’t have enough financial resources to do so. While the average student debt in Virginia is similar to the national average, in 2015-16, the median student loan debt remained under $30,000 for a bachelor’s degree and $15,000 for an associate degree. However, about 38 percent of students earning a bachelor’s degree in Virginia graduated without student loan debt; over 55 percent of associate degree holders have no college debt, according to the SCHEV.

Students meeting certain qualifying criteria may find help to fund their online education in Virginia through scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs offered by federal, state, institutional and private financial aid programs. Those pursuing distance learning in Virginia may qualify for a number of different aid programs, including Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grants, and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants. Virginia college students may also apply for one of the many scholarships available in the state. The following list provides a sample of those scholarships, although students should conduct their own research to learn about additional scholarships and grants that may be available:

Prospective students should also check with any schools they’re considering to see if scholarships are available and learn more about how to apply.

Scholarship Listing

Source: Scholarship directory data is copyrighted material which is reproduced on this website by permission of CollegeXpress, a division of Carnegie Dartlet. Copyright © 2020 by CollegeXpress.

Most colleges in Virginia require students to show that they are college ready by taking the following tests before they can be enrolled. Almost all students are required to take these tests, particularly if you are applying to a community college:

  • Virginia Placement Test (VPT) for Math
  • Virginia Placement Test (VPT) for English

Depending on the college and university guidelines, students may have to submit their SAT and/or ACT scores in addition to taking the VPTs for math and English. You may be required to take the English as a Second Language (ESL) Placement Test if English is not your native language. Exams like IB, CLEP, AP or other entry exams may be required depending on the program or institute applied to.

Methodology

To be included in our ranking of the best colleges for online degree programs, all colleges had to meet the following five criteria:

  1. Be an accredited U.S. institution
  2. Offer either 2- or 4-year degree programs
  3. Have at least 1 percent of students taking at least some of their classes via distance education
  4. Be active in the 2015-16 school year
  5. Report data for all 15 specific ranking variables included in our methodology

We then ranked the remaining 2,169 colleges and universities and scored each on a 100-point scale on these specific. Our data points include:

  • The in-state tuition and fees for full-time undergraduates, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal, state, local, institutional or other sources of grant aid, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • The average amount of federal, state, local, institutional or other sources of grant aid awarded to undergraduate students, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • Full-time Retention rate, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • Percent of students participating fully or partially in distance education to total enrollment, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • Graduation rate within six years, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • No. of degree programs offered via distance education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • Percent of students working and not enrolled 6 years after entry, College Scorecard, 2013-14
  • Open admissions policy for all or most entering first-time undergraduate-level students, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
  • Flexibility and student services, based on whether the school offers the following services, National Center for Education Statistics, 2015-16
    • Dual credit
    • Credit for life experience
    • Advanced Placement credit
    • Academic and career counseling
    • Job placement services for graduates
    • Offers credit for military training

Sources:

  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/
  • A Statewide Approach to Service Year—the Virginia Model, A Stronger Nation, the Lumina Foundation, April 18, 2017, https://www.luminafoundation.org/news-and-views/a-statewide-approach-to-service-year-the-virginia-model
  • A Stronger Nation, Lumina Foundation, http://strongernation.luminafoundation.org/report/2018/#nation, accessed February 2018
  • Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2016-17, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/
  • Overview: The Virginia Plan for Higher Education, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, http://www.schev.edu/index/statewide-strategic-plan/overview, accessed January 2018
  • Release: 2016-17 marks a record for bachelor’s degrees and STEM-H credentials in Virginia, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, January 5, 2017, http://www.schev.edu/index/agency-info/media-center/news-releases/schev-news/2018/01/05/release-2016-17-marks-a-record-for-bachelor-s-degrees-and-stem-h-credentials-in-virginia
  • Student Debt Graduates of 2015-16: A First Look, State Council for Higher Education for Virgnia, http://research.schev.edu/apps/info/Articles.Student-Debt-1516-Graduates-A-First-Look.ashx?NS=Articles, accessed February 2018
  • The Best Educated State? Virginia Business, http://www.virginiabusiness.com/news/article/the-best-educated-state, accessed January 2018
  • The Virginia Plan for Higher Education, Annual Report for 2016 to the General Assembly of Virginia, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, January 2017,http://www.schev.edu/docs/default-source/virginia-plan/Reports-and-Updates/annualreport2016final.pdf
  • Virginia Performs, Commonwealth of Virginia, http://vaperforms.virginia.gov/indicators/economy/workforceQuality.php, accessed January 2018
  • Virginia’s Changing Economy, StatChat, University of Virginia Demographics Research Group, http://statchatva.org/2014/08/01/virginias-changing-economy/
  • Amazon chooses New York City, Northern Virginia for HQ2, CNBC, 2018, https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/13/amazon-announces-hq2-location/
  • Amazon had it right: Virginia is America’s Top State for Business in 2019, CNBC, 2019, https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/09/virginia-is-americas-top-state-for-business-in-2019/
  • Greater Richmond, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, https://www.vedp.org/region/greater-richmond, accessed August 2019
  • Projected to 2024: Virginia Job Outlook, Virginia Employment Commission Economic Information & Analytics Division, https://www.vec.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2024-Jobs-Outlook.pdf, accessed August 2019
  • Richmond Area Employment — June 2019, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2019, https://www.bls.gov/regions/mid-atlantic/news-release/areaemployment_richmond.htm
  • Roanoke, VA, Economy at a Glance, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.va_roanoke_msa.htm, accessed August 2019
  • The 10 Coolest U.S. Cities to Visit in 2018, Forbes, 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/annabel/2018/02/26/the-10-coolest-u-s-cities-to-visit-in-2018/#640aa48f663b
  • The Small Appalachian City That’s Thriving, CityLab, 2017, https://www.citylab.com/solutions/2017/12/roanoke-virginia-downtown-housing-revitalization/547589/
  • Virginia 2019 Economic Outlook, Special Commentary, Economics Group, Wells Fargo Securities, 2019, https://www08.wellsfargomedia.com/assets/pdf/commercial/insights/economics/regional-reports/va-economic-outlook-20190221.pdf
  • Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, Data USA, 2017, https://datausa.io/profile/geo/washington-arlington-alexandria-dc-va-md-wv-metro-area/#economy
  • Workforce: Leading Employers, Roanoke Regional Partnership, https://roanoke.org/data/workforce/leading-employers/, accessed August 2019
Methodologies and Sources