Colleges That Change Lives In Virginia
There are a lot of colleges and universities in Virginia, but not all of them offer the same kind of experience. Some institutions are known for their rigorous academics, while others have a more relaxed vibe. Still other schools excel at helping students achieve their personal goals through specialized programs or one-on-one mentoring opportunities. The best way to find the right school for you is to visit campus and speak directly with representatives from each institution that interests you. But if you’re not ready to commit to an in-person visit, there’s another way: look at academic rankings!
Christopher Newport University
Located in Newport News, Virginia, Christopher Newport University is a public university with an annual enrollment of over 15,000 students. CNU is one of the top public universities in the state and has been named to several lists that rank colleges based on their affordability and social impact. The school also makes it easy for students to get involved on campus by offering more than 300 clubs and organizations as well as many opportunities for internships and volunteer work off-campus.
Hollins University
Hollins University, a small, private liberal arts college in Roanoke, Virginia, was founded in 1842. Students will find a strong sense of community among the student body and faculty members at Hollins. In addition to an emphasis on student-to-faculty interaction and collaboration, students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities while also taking advantage of opportunities for research or service learning.
The school boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1; it has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Colleges under $50K with its high quality education at an affordable price point. Hollins University has also been ranked by U.S News & World Report as one of the top colleges in America for several years running due its outstanding academic programs including: Arts & Humanities; Business & Management; Engineering; Health Professions/Nursing; Natural Sciences/Mathematics/Computer Science; Social Sciences & Public Health (National Universities).
Mary Baldwin College
- Mary Baldwin College is a women’s liberal arts college in Staunton, Virginia. The school is named for Mary Baldwin, who founded the institution in 1842 to provide education for Southern women.
- Mary Baldwin College is a member of the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership and has been classified as a “Best Buy” by The Fiske Guide to Colleges since 2010.
- The school was also listed as one of “America’s Top Colleges” by the Princeton Review in 2013 and 2014.
Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College is a private, liberal arts college located in Ashland, Virginia. Founded in 1830 and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Randolph-Macon offers over 60 academic programs for students to choose from. The student body consists of 1,400 undergraduate students and approximately 300 graduate students who are enrolled through a number of master’s degree programs offered at the campus or online.
Students can choose from over 100 student clubs and organizations that offer opportunities for leadership development as well as service learning activities throughout the year on campus or abroad. Additionally, Randolph-Macon has more than 20 athletic teams which compete in NCAA Division III athletics within their conference known as ODAC (Old Dominion Athletic Conference).
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar College is a small liberal arts college located in Sweet Briar, Virginia. It is the only women’s college in Virginia, and among the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the country. You can enroll as a first-year student and transfer to a four-year university after two years at Sweet Briar. The school was founded in 1901 as a two-year teacher’s training program with just nine students; by 1908 it had grown into an accredited junior college with 34 students. Today, more than 900 undergraduate students attend this prestigious institution each year to study English literature or mathematics before transferring to their chosen universities for their bachelor’s degree program. Sweet Briar College has been designated as one of America’s best higher education institutions by U.S News & World Report twice since 2011 when they ranked it 96th out of 1500+ schools listed nationwide (2011). In addition Forbes Magazine lists Sweet Briar College as one of America’s Top Colleges on several occasions including most recently 2015 where they ranked them No 7 for Best Value Schools offering degrees at $40K per year or less.”
The University of Richmond
The University of Richmond was founded in 1830, and it has been educating students for 169 years. The university is located within the city of Richmond, Virginia’s capital and largest city. As a result, its campus is conveniently located near downtown amenities like restaurants and art galleries.
The University of Richmond offers an undergraduate population of 2,908 undergraduate students and 2,951 graduate students across all departments at both its main campus as well as its satellite campuses in Northern Virginia (Washington D.C.), Southern California (Los Angeles) and Boston. This student population includes 2,908 online degree programs available through the university’s School of Professional Studies division which provides degree completion programs for working adults who have already received their bachelor’s degree but wish to earn an advanced or professional degree while continuing their careers outside the traditional classroom setting
These institutions have been identified as “Colleges That Change Lives”.
These schools have been identified as “Colleges That Change Lives.”
Why? Because they are committed to a core set of principles based on the research and insights of Dr. Loren Pope, who founded the Colleges That Change Lives organization in 1989. While no college or university can offer everything to every student, these institutions do have certain characteristics that make them particularly good fits for students from all backgrounds looking for a rigorous academic experience combined with personal attention and support outside of class time.
If you are looking for a college that will prepare you for the future and help you make connections with others who can help you along the way, then these schools are some of the best options in Virginia.