Best Online Colleges in Virginia 2024

Badge for BEST ONLINE COLLEGES IN VIRGINIA

Published: Jan 4, 2022
Updated: Jan 18, 2024

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

Liberty University
James Madison University
Old Dominion University
Hampton University
Radford University
University of Mary Washington
Regent University
Norfolk State University
Virginia State University
University of Virginia's College at Wise

Old Dominion University
Hampton University
Liberty University
James Madison University
Virginia State University
Radford University
Regent University
University of Mary Washington
Norfolk State University
Marymount University

Liberty University 99%
Old Dominion University 95%
Radford University 93%
Virginia State University 90%
Norfolk State University 89%
University of Mary Washington 86%
Marymount University 81%
Virginia Wesleyan University 81%
Shenandoah University 80%
James Madison University 78%

Regent University 21 to 1
Liberty University 18 to 1
Norfolk State University 18 to 1
James Madison University 17 to 1
Old Dominion University 16 to 1
University of Virginia's College at Wise 14 to 1
Marymount University 13 to 1
Virginia Wesleyan University 13 to 1
Hampton University 13 to 1
Averett University 12 to 1

Averett University $37,790
Marymount University $37,600
Virginia Wesleyan University $36,910
Shenandoah University $35,170
Mary Baldwin University $32,036
Hampton University $29,162
Liberty University $22,511
Regent University $19,680
University of Mary Washington $8,938
Radford University $8,156

Shenandoah University $22,680
Marymount University $21,420
Regent University $16,028
Hampton University $13,099
Mary Baldwin University $13,000
Averett University $11,790
James Madison University $11,520
Old Dominion University $10,519
Radford University $9,182
Virginia Wesleyan University $8,982

Averett University
Virginia Wesleyan University
Marymount University
Shenandoah University
Mary Baldwin University
University of Virginia's College at Wise
Virginia State University
Norfolk State University
Regent University
University of Mary Washington

Averett University
Virginia Wesleyan University
University of Virginia's College at Wise
Shenandoah University
Mary Baldwin University
Marymount University
Norfolk State University
University of Mary Washington
Regent University
Radford University

Regent University 32%
Hampton University 74%
University of Virginia's College at Wise 76%
Averett University 76%
James Madison University 78%
Shenandoah University 80%
Virginia Wesleyan University 81%
Marymount University 81%
University of Mary Washington 86%
Norfolk State University 89%

Shenandoah University 11 to 1
Averett University 12 to 1
Virginia State University 12 to 1
Radford University 12 to 1
University of Mary Washington 12 to 1
Mary Baldwin University 12 to 1
Marymount University 13 to 1
Virginia Wesleyan University 13 to 1
Hampton University 13 to 1
University of Virginia's College at Wise 14 to 1

Virginia State University $5,540
Norfolk State University $5,752
University of Virginia's College at Wise $6,040
Old Dominion University $7,239
James Madison University $7,684
Radford University $8,156
University of Mary Washington $8,938
Regent University $19,680
Liberty University $22,511
Hampton University $29,162

Liberty University $7,893
Virginia State University $8,375
Norfolk State University $8,820
University of Mary Washington $8,928
Virginia Wesleyan University $8,982
Radford University $9,182
Old Dominion University $10,519
James Madison University $11,520
Averett University $11,790
Mary Baldwin University $13,000

Table of Contents

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 2024

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.

There are a number of accredited online MBA programs in Virginia as well. If you are considering continuing your education beyond a bachelor’s degree, an online MBA degree in Virginia could be a great career move.

How do we determine the best online colleges for undergrads?

Methodology

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 2023

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Best Online Colleges in Virginia 2024

Top 10 Online Colleges in Virginia

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Virginia

What are Virginia’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Colleges in Virginia 2023

Career Outlook for degree at Liberty University

Online Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at James Madison University

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