Best Online Colleges in Virginia 2023

Best Online Colleges in Virginia 2023

By James Barham

Published: Jan 4, 2022
Updated: Mar 13, 2023

Find the best online colleges in Virginia ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs.

Top 10 Online Colleges in Virginia

Hampton University

43%

Old Dominion University

42%

Liberty University

40%

James Madison University

37%

Virginia State University

36%

Radford University

35%

University of Mary Washington

33%

Regent University

32%

Norfolk State University

30%

Marymount University

26%

Liberty University

99%

Old Dominion University

96%

Virginia State University

96%

Radford University

95%

Norfolk State University

89%

Mary Baldwin University

87%

James Madison University

86%

Virginia Wesleyan University

86%

Marymount University

84%

University of Virginia's College at Wise

83%

Regent University

19 to 1

Old Dominion University

18 to 1

Liberty University

17 to 1

James Madison University

17 to 1

Norfolk State University

16 to 1

Hampton University

15 to 1

Marymount University

14 to 1

Radford University

14 to 1

University of Mary Washington

13 to 1

Averett University

12 to 1

Averett University

$37,050

Virginia Wesleyan University

$36,910

Marymount University

$36,050

Shenandoah University

$34,490

Mary Baldwin University

$31,140

Hampton University

$29,312

Liberty University

$22,713

Regent University

$18,820

University of Mary Washington

$8,678

Radford University

$7,922

Shenandoah University

$22,080

Marymount University

$20,520

Regent University

$15,590

Hampton University

$13,099

Mary Baldwin University

$13,000

Averett University

$11,790

James Madison University

$11,184

Old Dominion University

$10,207

Virginia Wesleyan University

$8,982

Radford University

$8,915

Averett University

15%

Virginia Wesleyan University

20%

University of Virginia's College at Wise

20%

Mary Baldwin University

22%

Shenandoah University

23%

Marymount University

26%

Norfolk State University

30%

Regent University

32%

University of Mary Washington

33%

Radford University

35%

Regent University

41%

Averett University

48%

Shenandoah University

74%

Hampton University

80%

University of Mary Washington

82%

University of Virginia's College at Wise

83%

Marymount University

84%

Virginia Wesleyan University

86%

James Madison University

86%

Mary Baldwin University

87%

Shenandoah University

10 to 1

University of Virginia's College at Wise

11 to 1

Mary Baldwin University

11 to 1

Averett University

12 to 1

Virginia State University

12 to 1

Virginia Wesleyan University

12 to 1

University of Mary Washington

13 to 1

Marymount University

14 to 1

Radford University

14 to 1

Hampton University

15 to 1

Virginia State University

$5,540

Norfolk State University

$5,752

University of Virginia's College at Wise

$5,864

Old Dominion University

$7,029

James Madison University

$7,460

Radford University

$7,922

University of Mary Washington

$8,678

Regent University

$18,820

Liberty University

$22,713

Hampton University

$29,312

Liberty University

$7,847

Virginia State University

$8,375

University of Mary Washington

$8,676

Norfolk State University

$8,820

Radford University

$8,915

Virginia Wesleyan University

$8,982

Old Dominion University

$10,207

James Madison University

$11,184

Averett University

$11,790

Mary Baldwin University

$13,000

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Virginia

Liberty University, a private Christian school in Lynchburg, is the largest school in Virginia, serving over 60,000 students. The largest public university, Virginia Tech, has a student population of about half that but offers many in-person degree programs as well as eight master’s programs and 19 certificate programs online. Students who attend Virginia Tech can pursue fields like engineering, criminal justice, education, and business.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

The majority of Virginia’s universities and colleges could be considered small schools, serving populations of less than 5,000 students. Included on this list are public schools, like Christopher Newport University in Newport News, and private schools, like Hampton University, a historically black university in Hampton. Though most of its higher education institutes charge tuition fees above the national average, Virginia offers several loan forgiveness programs for qualifying attorneys and medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmaceutical professionals.

Virginia is perhaps most famous for its rich history - but the state is also home to many unique museums and famous landmarks. For example, those who love the classics can visit the Edgar Allen Poe Museum in Richmond. Those who harbor romantic dreams of espionage and intrigue might visit the CIA Museum in McLean. And, if you like your attractions random, you could check out Virginia’s 300-yard-long natural tunnel or its 29-ton spinning granite ball. While you’re here, you might consider attending one of the 78 colleges located in the state.

Learn more about Virginia’s higher education opportunities by checking out the state’s many colleges and universities.

What are Virginia’s Colleges & Universities?

Virginia’s Best Overall

Online education has grown dramatically in quality, credibility, and popularity over the last two decades. Today, more than a quarter of all college students are taking at least one online course. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 5 million college students who are pursuing their undergraduate degree fully online. And the number of online college and graduate students continues to grow as online technology and instructional methods improve.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to remote learning has proven an essential part of the educational ecosystem. Schools that offer primarily online degree programs saw an increase of 7% enrollment just between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The number of traditional institutions offering online courses and degrees is growing as well. This all paints a promising picture for the future of online education. But it also produces a dizzying array of options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Online Colleges 2022

Asynchronous learning means classes don’t meet at set times. This is the most flexible online learning experience, making when you cover your course material up to you. Most asynchronous online courses will still have deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments and tests. Some asynchronous classes may still ask for an occasional meeting, such as initial meet-and-greets, and in some cases there may be scheduled test times. The idea of asynchronous learning is to allow the student to manage their schedules as needed.

Synchronous learning means you will have scheduled meeting times for your online classes. Synchronous learning gives online students the flexibility of location while also giving students a chance to engage with each other and their professors. For many online students, the structured class schedules and ability to see and hear from peers in real-time helps create the learning experience they want.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Best Online Colleges in Virginia — Download Badge

How do we determine the best online colleges for undergrads?

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Best Online Colleges in Virginia 2022