Colleges and Universities in Virginia: 14 Major Institutions

Virginia hosts a diverse mix of public research universities, liberal arts colleges, and historically Black institutions. Key schools include:

Public Research Universities

• University of Virginia (Charlottesville) – Flagship, UNESCO World Heritage campus
• Virginia Tech (Blacksburg) – Engineering, agriculture, Corps of Cadets
• College of William & Mary (Williamsburg) – 2nd oldest in US, public Ivy
• George Mason University (Fairfax) – Largest enrollment, D.C. metro access
• James Madison University (Harrisonburg) – Strong undergraduate focus
• Old Dominion University (Norfolk) – Coastal, maritime, modeling/simulation
• Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond) – Arts, medicine, urban research

Other Public Universities

• Christopher Newport University (Newport News) – Liberal arts focus
• Radford University (Radford) – Health sciences, education
• Longwood University (Farmville) – Teacher prep, civic engagement

Private & HBCUs

• Shenandoah University (Winchester) – Conservatory, health professions
• Virginia Union University (Richmond) – HBCU, theology, business
• Hampton University (Hampton) – HBCU, STEM, Proton Therapy Institute
• Norfolk State University (Norfolk) – HBCU, cybersecurity, materials science

Plus Community Colleges

23 colleges in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) provide workforce training and transfer pathways statewide.