Virginia Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide
All aspiring teachers in Virginia must complete a state teacher preparation program from an accredited school to be eligible to teach in Virginia’s public schools. To find a school that meets your individual needs, review our table of accredited, state-approved teacher preparation programs and curated lists of affordable and top-rated teaching programs.
Table of Contents
- VA Teacher Preparation Program Comparison
- 15 Affordable VA Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- Top-Ranked Virginia Education Programs
- Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs
- US News Best Graduate Education Programs
- Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
Comparison of Virginia Schools With Teacher Preparation Programs
The table below compares 54 Virginia teacher preparation programs across key factors. All listed institutions are not-for-profit and approved by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Completing a state-approved program is a key step toward licensure. While Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation is not required for licensure, we include it because CAEP is a respected credential accepted in many states.
Data includes enrollment, completion, and pass rates for traditional and alternative programs, based on the 2024 Title II Report (2022-2023 school year). Traditional programs are usually part of a bachelor’s degree, while alternative certification programs target career changers and may lead to a certificate or master’s degree. Many schools offer both—review our Virginia traditional certification guide and our Virginia alternative certification guide for more. Net price reflects the average annual cost for in-state undergraduates–tuition, books, room and board–minus grants and scholarships.
| State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?1 | Trad. Teacher Program Enrollment2 | Trad. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers 2 | Trad. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment 2 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers 2 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate2 | Net Price3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Averett University | No | 75 | 23 | 88% | — | — | — | $23,855 |
| Bluefield University | Yes | 14 | 8 | 79% | — | — | — | $22,038 |
| Bridgewater College | Yes | 112 | 30 | 94% | — | — | — | $20,318 |
| Christopher Newport University | Yes | 85 | 47 | 88% | — | — | — | $25,393 |
| College of William & Mary | Yes | 113 | 48 | 98% | — | — | — | $18,588 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Yes | 36 | 11 | 85% | — | — | — | $22,766 |
| Emory & Henry University | Yes | 29 | 26 | 88% | — | — | — | $17,715 |
| Ferrum College | No | 12 | 12 | 72% | — | — | — | $23,344 |
| George Mason University | Yes | 1098 | 330 | 99% | — | — | — | $18,285 |
| Hampton University | Yes | 3 | 3 | 88% | — | — | — | $28,952 |
| Hollins University | Yes | 28 | 5 | 73% | — | — | — | $19,315 |
| James Madison University | Yes | 1271 | 400 | 95% | — | — | — | $18,592 |
| Liberty University | Yes | 1075 | 758 | 100% | — | — | — | $28,762 |
| Longwood University | Yes | 629 | 120 | 98% | — | — | — | $21,446 |
| Mary Baldwin University | Yes | 168 | 32 | 98% | — | — | — | $18,741 |
| Marymount University | Yes | 23 | 18 | 92% | — | — | — | $24,224 |
| Norfolk State University | Yes | 23 | 20 | 100% | — | — | — | $15,657 |
| Old Dominion University | Yes | 1168 | 235 | 96% | 41 | 22 | 100% | $17,162 |
| Radford University | Yes | 166 | 81 | 95% | — | — | — | $15,747 |
| Randolph College | Yes | 14 | 7 | 83% | — | — | — | $25,419 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Yes | 21 | 14 | 100% | — | — | — | $26,061 |
| Regent University | Yes | 187 | 25 | 89% | 92 | 67 | 100% | $14,785 |
| Roanoke College | Yes | 41 | 24 | 82% | — | — | — | $27,975 |
| Shenandoah University | Yes | 100 | 26 | 92% | 115 | 66 | 100% | $31,089 |
| Sweet Briar College | No | 10 | 6 | 80% | — | — | — | $26,554 |
| University of Lynchburg | No | 67 | 32 | 84% | — | — | — | $24,386 |
| University of Mary Washington | Yes | 360 | 94 | 88% | — | — | — | $22,569 |
| University of Richmond | Yes | 80 | 24 | 95% | — | — | — | $25,700 |
| University of Virginia | Yes | 317 | 125 | 93% | — | — | — | $19,043 |
| University of Virginia’s College at Wise | Yes | 64 | 27 | 90% | — | — | — | $9,418 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Yes | 741 | 168 | 96% | 8 | 8 | N.Av. | $20,566 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Yes | 71 | 62 | 100% | — | — | — | $20,247 |
| Virginia State University | Yes | 16 | 13 | 100% | — | — | — | $18,332 |
| Virginia Union University | Yes | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | $18,722 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | No | 38 | 17 | 100% | — | — | — | $23,512 |
| Washington and Lee University | Yes | 26 | 11 | 91% | — | — | — | $18,588 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Virginia
Our list of the most affordable bachelor’s in education programs is based on the net price per year for undergraduate tuition. Net price is the average cost of attendance after grants and scholarships are applied. These 15 most affordable schools have a net price under $17,000.
- University of Virginia’s College at Wise ($9,418)
- Regent University ($14,785)
- Norfolk State University ($15,657)
- Radford University ($15,747)
- Old Dominion University ($17,162)
- Emory and Henry College ($17,715)
- George Mason University ($18,285)
- Virginia State University ($18,332)
- Washington and Lee University ($18,588)
- College of William & Mary ($18,588)
- James Madison University ($18,592)
- Virginia Union University ($18,722)
- Mary Baldwin University ($18,741)
- University of Virginia ($19,043)
- Hollins University ($19,315)3
Top-Ranked Schools With Education Programs in Virginia
Best Bachelor’s in Education Programs in Virginia
Our list of the top 15 bachelor’s in education programs is based on the traditional pathway pass rate data from the 2024 Title II Reports.
- Liberty University (100%)
- Norfolk State University (100%)
- Randolph-Macon College (100%)
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (100%)
- Virginia State University (100%)
- Virginia Wesleyan University (100%)
- George Mason University (99%)
- College of William & Mary (98%)
- Longwood University (98%)
- Mary Baldwin University (98%)
- Old Dominion University (96%)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (96%)
- James Madison University (95%)
- Radford University (95%)
- University of Richmond (95%)2
US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Education Programs 2025
- University of Virginia (#6 tie)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (#24 tie)
- College of William & Mary (#49 tie)
- George Mason University (#90 tie)
- Old Dominion University (#90 tie)
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (#90 tie)
- Liberty University (#213 tie)
- Regent University (#217 tie)
- Shenandoah University (#234-258)4
Schools With Associate Degrees in Education
While a bachelor’s degree is the minimum educational level required to qualify for state certification, an associate degree can be the first step toward a career in education. It can qualify graduates for careers in non-licensed roles in early childhood education, after-school care, and related areas. The credits earned from an accredited associate degree program can also typically be transferred toward a bachelor’s degree. The five Virginia schools below offer associate degrees in education.1 Schools with an asterisk (*) also offer four-year teaching programs and/or alternative route to certification programs.
- Brightpoint Community College
- Eastern Mennonite University*
- Liberty University*
- Patrick & Henry Community College
- Piedmont Virginia Community College
References:
1. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
2. US Department of Education 2024 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
3. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
4. US News & World Report Best Graduate Education Schools 2025: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings