Welcome to Virginia! Virginia is known as the Old Dominion State as it was the first piece of land inhabited by the colonials from England. From east to west Virginian geography is varied and beautiful. From the Chesapeake bay and beaches of Virginia to the Piedmont region all the way to highest points of the Appalachian mountains, Virginia is truly a state to explore. Whether taking in the history in Fairfax, colonial Williamsburg or Arlington, or winding through the Blue Ridge Mountains or hopping on a train for a short journey to the nation's capitol, Virginia has a lifetime of treasures to explore. Virginia is also home to the College of William and Mary, James Madison, and Virginia Tech amongst other top schools. While one large perk of online education is the ability to connect to your classroom from anywhere, there are a number of exciting reasons students prefer to obtain degrees from their state of residence.
Featured Online Schools
In-state tuition is often applied to public schools offering online programs. Many online programs require some face-to-face time, or more numerous support services at their brick and mortar locations. Intensive study experiences–often on the weekends or in several week long bouts–enable many online students to accelerate their time until graduation. And students looking at online education can drastically expand their educational options if they also look to hybrid degrees (degrees where degrees can be taken partially, or mostly online). Finally, one of the most common stipulations in scholarships is that students be from a certain state or region, often more funds are available to students seeking degrees in-state.
There are a number of public schools offering online courses in Virginia. Our top ranked include Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VA Tech) offering 17 online master's degrees including environmental sciences engineering, education computer engineering, political science and others, George Mason offers 4 bachelor's degrees in applied information technology, health wellness and social services, nursing, and technology and innovation and 9 master's degrees including applied behavior analysis, education leadership and others. Then take Old Dominion University a school offering 48 degree programs online, six of which are doctor's degrees. Other public schools with noteworthy programs online programs include Virginia Commonwealth University, Marshall University, Mountain Empire Community College, Southside Virginia Community College, and Eastern Shore Community College.
Our top-ranked private colleges in Virginia include Liberty University a private university offering comprehensive programming online including 12 associate's, 15 bachelor's, 19 masters, and 17 doctoral degrees totally. That's an impressive 63 degrees with options like an associate's of arts in religion, a bachelor of science in business administration, a master of arts in ethnomusicology, or a doctor of philosophy in counseling just to name a few. In addition to Liberty University other private schools that made our top ranking include Averett University, Bluefield College, Regent University, and Wheeling Jesuit University. Notably, Regent University offers 43 degrees online from an associates all the way through to doctoral programs.
In 2015-16 the average published tuition prices for Virginia four-year universities was $11,819 that's $2,409 over the national average for public schools. University of Virginia costs close to that and is ranked number 24 according to the US News and World Report Rankings! A non-Virginian would pay $40,248 per year meaning in-state participants receive nearly all of their education at UVA for the price of one year out-of-state. In addition, when taking into account the school with the most offerings, that is Liberty University, offering 68 degrees, Liberty tuition is relatively inexpensive for a private institution costing $21,000 for tuition and fees compared to $32,405 for your average private institution's tuitions and fees. Not to mention, saving on room and board means adding another $40,000 to your pocket. There's something to be said of staying in-state.
Virginia Beach offers a classic style beach town with a resort feel and is home to the first landing cross, where English settlers first landed in 1607. Virginia beach is home to the Cape Henry Lighthouse the very first lighthouse built by the federal government in 1792, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science center which is the largest aquarium in America. Virginia Beach is also home to many state parks and wildlife refuges and a nightlife filled with theaters, restaurants and much more. Virginia Beach is also home to Regent University. Regent University is a private university offering 43 online programs including 13 doctoral, 16 master's, seven bachelor's and seven associate's degrees. Love your view of the Chesapeake and the Atlantic? You don't have to leave it when pursuing an online degree from Regent.
Norfolk, Virginia may fist be known as a Navy town (and the oldest Navy port at that) and it is a Navy town that also houses world-class museums, an opera, ballet, symphony and bustling arts community with historic homes, tree-lines streets and local boutiques. This town is quaint and connected by car, train or boat taxi. The West Freemason Area historic district and Ghent historic neighborhood are must-sees. Connect yourself with history while blazing the Cannonball Trail or take in the gothic revivalist architecture in the form of old cathedrals in Ghent. If you love gardens, there's a spot for you at the Hermitage Museum and Gardens as well as Norfolk Botanical Gardens and the Pagoda and Oriental Garden. Norfolk is also home to the growing university Old Dominion University. Old Dominion University is a fantastic choice for online education in that it provides 48 degrees online including six doctoral degrees, 19 master's, and 23 bachelor's degrees.
Chesapeake Virginia as you may have guessed is located near the Chesapeake Bay and as such is an outdoor recreation paradise. Chesapeake, Virginia is known for golf, fishing, biking hiking, kayaking and all sorts of outdoor exploring. On top of the fantastic natural beauty like so many parts of Virginia, Chesapeake is seeped in American history. Colonial settlers arrived circa 1620, and as such there are many historic towns that were built in this area. Many historic battles were fought here, and this area is ripe with war reenacting and the like. Check out the Virginia Civil War Trails and the museums that accompany it. The city of Chesapeake is nestled below Portsmouth and Norfolk and South West of Virginia Beach conveniently close to schools like Regent University a private school offering over 40 online programs and Old Dominion University which offers nearly 50 programs. Between the two of them, there's a comprehensive breadth of online information right from the comfort of your home.
Richmond, Virginia is the capital city of Virginia and rich with history. The city is filled as you may imagine with museums, monuments, and the arts that reflect this city's profound history. Richmond is home to Patrick Henry's "give me liberty or give me death," and Richmond served as the capital of the confederate during the American Civil War. Now Richmond boasts a new revolution, that is of crafty beverages, a rich creative food culture, and fantastic festivals like the Richmond Folk Festival, International Poe Festival, the Maker Festival amongst others. The city of Richmond is a bustling town with a lot to offer. With new restaurants, art spaces and parks it's no wonder an online program from within the state makes sense. There are a number of online opportunities at Virginia Commonwealth University including two bachelor's, 13 master's and six doctoral programs or check out any of the online associate's degrees at J Sergeant Reynolds Community College.
Virginia Beach
Population: 450,980 Cost of Living: 98.6% Top Industries: public administration, accommodation, food service, construction Local Online Degrees: 43
Norfolk
Population: 246,139 Cost of Living: 98.1% Top Industries: public administration, retail, construction, accommodation and food services Local Online Degrees: 48
Chesapeake
Population: 230,571 Cost of Living: 97.9% Top Industries: manufacturing, public admnistration, retail, construction Local Online Degrees: 0
Richmond
Population: 214,114 Cost of Living: 94.8% Top Industries: accommocation and food services, health care and social assistance, professional, scientific and technical services Local Online Degrees: 26
New Port News
Population: 182,965 Cost of Living: 97.1% Top Industries: manufacturing, retail trade, construction, public adminstration Local Online Degrees: 0
Alexandria
Population: 148,892 Cost of Living: 139.4% Top Industries: professional, scientific and technical services, public administration, accomodation and food services Local Online Degrees: 0
Hampton
Population: 136,699 Cost of Living: 97.9% Top Industries: manufacturing, retail trade, public administration, construction Local Online Degrees: 0
Roanoke
Population: 98,465 Cost of Living: 87.3% Top Industries: manufacturing, accommodation and food service, retail trade, healthcare and social assistance Local Online Degrees: 0
Portsmouth
Population: 96,004 Cost of Living: 97.3% Top Industries: public administration, manufacturing, construction, accommodation and food services Local Online Degrees: 0
The Best Online Colleges in Virginia
Monitoring the accreditation of a university you are interested in attending is incredibly important. Accreditation ensures your credits can transfer that you can receive Federal financial aid, and most importantly that certain standards of educational quality are during your schooling. The highest accreditation standard for most programs in the United States is provided by regional accreditation agencies. The regional accrediting agency for Virginia is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, one of six regional accrediting agencies responsible for accrediting schools in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Making sure that a University you're hoping to attend is regionally accredited — or accredited by a real and respected accrediting agency — is one of the most important choices you can make in ensuring the quality of your education.
Three Steps for Securing Financial Aid
Submit your FAFSA.
Check to see if additional forms are needed at your university of choice.
Search and apply for private scholarships.
Through the previous three steps most students find themselves offered some sort of federal grant, work study, private grant, scholarship, or stipend.
Great Virginia Higher Education Resources
For a vast range of niche scholarship opportunities head here.
If you're heading to the University of Virginia and looking to cover those extra fees. UVA has got you covered here.
Many online offerings come through the 23 Virginia Community Colleges System. For more information about scholarship information at Virginia CC's, check out their site here.
Heading to UVa? Congratulations! Now hear from your peer about everything from the most engaging classes to foods for student survival here.
Need to get accepted? Look! Virginia Tech is number 2 for the 50 best colleges with higher acceptance rates.
Looking for the best business school in your state? You're in luck, Virginia has several, check them out here
Heading into DC and don't want to bring a car? Here's how…
Virginia is for Lovers and especially if you love wildlife. Find out more about the outdoors in VA here.
In Virginia you're part of one of the most historic mountain ranges in the country find your perfect trail here.
Virginia is considered to be the Old Dominion State for a reason. Find out more about Virginia's history and go experience it for your self. Find more info here.
What's a "Saltwater Cowboy"? Find the answer to this and many other fun facts about Virginia here.
Did you know that according to Tripadvisor, Chincoteague island is listed as number 8 of the top 10 Islands in the US. Find out more about this beautiful island here.
