Virginia Teacher Colleges and Degrees Online Guide

All aspiring teachers in Virginia are required to complete a state teacher preparation program from an accredited school in order to be eligible for employment in the state’s school system. This guide to teaching schools in Virginia provides key information about the several colleges and universities in the state that offer degree programs. In order to find a school that meets your individual needs, take a look at our table of top-rated teaching programs and list of accredited teacher preparation programs as well as the student reviews found below. For anyone looking to obtain a teaching degree in Virginia, this informative school guide is a great place to start on your new career path.

Schools with Teaching Programs

• There are 37 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Virginia.¹
• 4 colleges and universities offer an associate’s degree in education.¹
• 20 colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in education.¹
• 28 colleges and universities offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.¹

Institutional Facts for Schools with Teaching Programs

• Highest graduation rate*: University of Virginia 94%.¹
• Highest transfer-out rate*: Ferrum College 53%.¹
• Highest net price per year*: Roanoke College $29,999.¹
• Lowest net price per year*: University of Virginia’s College at Wise $10,132.¹
• Annual undergraduate tuition range for teaching degree programs in Virginia*: $11,874-$28,306.²
• 6 schools were in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2017: James Madison University (#62 in-state, #61 out-of-state), George Mason University (#90 in-state, #100 out-of-state), Virginia Tech (#36 in-state, #35 out-of-state), Christopher Newport University (#73 in-state, #77 out-of-state), College of William and Mary (#4 in-state, #6 out-of-state), University of Virginia (#2 in-state, #2 out-of-state).
• 6 schools ranked in US News Best Graduate Education Programs in 2017: University of Virginia (#18), Virginia Commonwealth University (#41), College of William and Mary (#46), George Mason University (#62), Virginia Tech (#85), Old Dominion University (#112).
• 7 schools ranked in US News Best Online Graduate Education Programs in 2017: Regent University (#56), Old Dominion University (#77), George Mason University (#123), Virginia Commonwealth University (#136), University of Virginia (#144), James Madison University (#174-tie), Liberty University (#174-tie).
• 27 teacher programs are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP (see below).*

*For not-for-profit four-year colleges and universities with teacher degree programs.

Top-Rated Teacher Preparation Programs

We have designed the following table to help you compare teacher preparation programs in Virginia according to various factors. All of the schools included are not-for-profit institutions approved by the Virginia Department of Education for the preparation of teachers. Completing a state-approved teacher preparation program is an important step towards earning licensure.

While accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is not a requirement for licensure, it is included in the following table as CAEP provides a highly-regarded accreditation that is accepted in many states. We have also included rankings from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a research and policy group that scores teacher preparation programs at the national level using key standards chosen to measure students’ preparation for success in teaching. For further information on the NCTQ’s program rankings, please see the notes below the table.

You will also find data on teacher preparation program enrollment, completion, and licensing exam pass rates by institution for the 2014-2015 academic year in this table. These data points are collected from annual US Department of Education records under Title II (Teacher Quality) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which provides for reporting that holds institutions and state departments of education accountable for increasing academic achievement through improvements in teacher quality.

Programs that are not ranked, or for which data is not available, in a given category are denoted as “-“.

*The NCTQ rated undergraduate elementary teaching programs in 2016 and undergraduate secondary teaching programs in 2017 by national percentile based on their overall scores on the NCTQ’s standards for teacher education. Schools that do not provide data on all key standards or that fall below the top 50% of schools nationally are not included by the NCTQ in their ratings. Visit the NCTQ website for more information on its standards and methodologies.
**Net price is per year for undergraduate tuition as calculated by the National Center for Education Statistics based on the cost of attendance (tuition, books, room and board, and related expenses) for students who qualify for in-state tuition and fees, less the average financial aid award (including grants and scholarships).

Profiles of Well-Known Schools

Virginia Tech: The School of Education at Virginia Tech offers several degree and career pathways that can lead to rewarding and fruitful careers in education at all levels. Students will find the atmosphere accommodating, challenging, and enlightening. The curriculum within the degree programs at the school combines best practices in education as well as dynamic coursework that challenges the status quo and pushes boundaries. This provides students with a historical framework as well as the ability to think outside of the norm to help students learn and achieve whether it’s in an elementary classroom, high school classroom or college lecture hall. Students can choose from many bachelor’s and graduate degree programs depending on their goals.

Teacher Preparation Programs Accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP

• Bluefield College
• College of William and Mary
• Eastern Mennonite University
• Emory & Henry College
• George Mason University
• Hampton University
• Hollins University
• James Madison University
• Liberty University
• Longwood University
• Mary Baldwin College
• Marymount University
• Norfolk State University
• Old Dominion University
• Radford University
• Randolph College
• Randolph-Macon College
• Regent University
• Roanoke College
• Shenandoah University
• University of Richmond
• University of Virginia
• University of Virginia’s College at Wise
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• Virginia State University
• Virginia Union University
• Washington & Lee University

Read more about the CAEP, NCATE, and TEAC accrediting bodies.

School Programs for Becoming a Teacher in Virginia

Request free information from the following schools to learn more about your options for choosing a teacher degree program. We recommend you: Request information from one or more of these schools

Schools with Teaching Degree Programs in Virginia

Averett University
420 W Main St
Danville, VA 24541
(434) 791-5600
www.averett.edu

Bluefield College
3000 College Dr
Bluefield, VA 24605
(276) 326-3682
www.bluefield.edu

Bridgewater College
402 E College St
Bridgewater, VA 22812-1599
(540) 828-8000
www.bridgewater.edu

Christopher Newport University
1 University Pl
Newport News, VA 23606
(757) 594-7000
www.cnu.edu

Eastern Mennonite University
1200 Park Rd
Harrisonburg, VA 22802-2462
(540) 432-4000
www.emu.edu

Emory and Henry College
1 Garnand Drive
Emory, VA 24327-0947
(276) 944-4121
www.ehc.edu

George Mason University
4400 University Dr
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444
(703) 993-1000
www.gmu.edu

Student Review: “The special education teacher program at George Mason was convenient for individuals to take evening classes if they were already employed as a teacher. The curriculum was outdated and did not focus on real life situations that teachers face in the classroom. Very little attention was paid to the process of writing and developing individual education programs (IEP). Some of the professors had never taught in a K-12 setting and seemed old and inept with regards to technology. The supplemental texts were okay. The cohort program was nice, as you got to work with the same students, and develop relationships with fellow students.” -Student at George Mason University

Hampton University
Hampton, VA 23668-0099
(757) 727-5000
www.hamptonu.edu

Hollins University
7916 Williamson Rd NW
Roanoke, VA 24020
(540) 362-6000
www.hollins.edu

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College*
1651 E Parham Rd
Richmond, VA 23228
(804) 371-3000

James Madison University
800 South Main Street
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
(540) 568-6211
www.jmu.edu

John Tyler Community College*
13101 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Chester, VA 23831-5316
(804) 796-4000

Liberty University
1971 University Blvd
Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 582-2000
www.liberty.edu

Student Review: “Liberty University is certainly a great university overall, but their teaching program was exceptional. The courses required to take to pass the program were very informative and created the tools that I needed to set a foundation for a career of teaching. The professors were some of the best in the country but always had time for their students. The size of the class allowed them to know each student personally. It was truly the guidance of these professors that made the program so great. My classmates were also all very approachable, and we oftentimes taught each other valuable lessons.” -Jessica B., student at Liberty University

Lynchburg College
1501 Lakeside Dr
Lynchburg, VA 24501-3199
(434) 544-8100
www.lynchburg.edu

Marymount University
2807 N Glebe Rd
Arlington, VA 22207-4299
(703) 522-5600
www.marymount.edu

Norfolk State University
700 Park Ave
Norfolk, VA 23504-8000
(757) 823-8600
www.nsu.edu

Student Review: “Any school is what you make it out to be. In my experience, the professors here are lenient graders. This can be looked at as a good or as a bad thing. However, if you choose not to apply yourself, you are shooting yourself in the foot whether you chose to go to work or go to graduate school upon graduation. The food choices are excellent. There is everything from Tropical Smoothie Cafe to a place where you can get grilled subs made to your specifications on campus. The main cafeteria is also excellent. It is all you can eat though so unless you want to gain weight, be careful. The food is good but at times it can be a little heavy on the oil and butter. To their credit though, healthier choices are offered. The campus itself is safe and the campus police make their presence known. There are a lot of extracurricular programs and free dances and social opportunities for students. You will not be bored. My biggest piece of advice is to just apply yourself. This is the lowest cost four year school in the area, so by going here you have the opportunity to graduate with far less debt than the average college graduate (at least if you are an in-state student). Do not waste this opportunity. School is what you make of it. You have access to the same books and the same World Wide Web as someone going to MIT. Don’t limit yourself and take advantage of everything the school has to offer from free cultural activities to the Career Center.” -Krystal B., student at Norfolk State University

Northern Virginia Community College*
4001 Wakefield Chapel Rd
Annandale, VA 22003-3796
(703) 323-3000
www.nvcc.edu

Student Review: “I liked my time at Northern Virginia Community College. It was very challenging at times but I felt like I learned a lot. The Composition and English classes were a breeze for me but I had a very hard time with Biology. It wasn’t that the subject was very hard but had more to do with the professor. I felt he was not very professional. One thing I will say is that it’s pretty easy to get all A’s at Northern Virginia Community College. All you have to do is show up to most classes and you will get a great grade. Some professors like to give the students a harder time though so it’s not all easy. Over all I felt like my time at NOVA was well spent and I earned my degree and it really helped prepare me for a career in the teaching field.” -Noah V., student at Northern Virginia Community College

Old Dominion University
5115 Hampton Blvd
Norfolk, VA 23529
(757) 683-3000
www.odu.edu

Student Review: “The Old Dominion University program was excellent. I always felt that the teachers really cared how I was doing and if I was staying interested in their classes. The program included a student teaching portion and the university helped to place me into an elementary school with an excellent teacher. If I had to do it all over again, I would still choose Old Dominion University because I just felt so at home here. With great professors and welcoming classrooms, you just can’t go wrong choosing this school. ODU was my first choice in colleges and I’m very happy that it worked out to my benefit.” -Eugene M., student at Old Dominion University

Patrick Henry Community College*
645 Patriot Ave
Martinsville, VA 24112-5311
(276) 656-0311
www.ph.vccs.edu

Radford University
East Main St
Radford, VA 24141-0672
(540) 831-5000
www.radford.edu

Regent University
1000 Regent University Dr
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
(757) 352-4127
www.regent.edu

Shenandoah University
1460 University Dr
Winchester, VA 22601-5195
(540) 665-4500
www.su.edu

Sweet Briar College
134 Chapel Dr
Sweet Briar, VA 24595-9998
(434) 381-6100
www.sbc.edu

University of Mary Washington
1301 College Ave
Fredericksburg, VA 22401-5300
(540) 654-1000
www.umw.edu

University of Richmond
28 Westhampton Way
Richmond, VA 23173
(804) 289-8000
www.richmond.edu

University of Virginia
1721 University Ave
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 924-0311
www.virginia.edu

Student Review: “I participated in a combined BA/MT program where I did a Bachelor’s in Psychology as well as a Master’s in Teaching. The curriculum was great and we had many of the same teachers over the course of the program. As well, the same cohort of teachers was together and so I felt we were really able to learn and grow together. As opposed to the typical ‘student teaching’ experience only at the end of a teaching program, we had many of these experiences! Every semester we were placed in a different teaching placement experience with different responsibilities. My placements ranged from early intervention in the community (birth to age 3), special education preschool classroom, after school tutoring program, and work in a typical elementary school (1st-grade classroom). I’ve been teaching now for 4 years and feel like the program really prepared me for real life teaching!” -Lauren E., student at University of Virginia

Virginia Commonwealth University
910 W Franklin St
Richmond, VA 23284-2512
(804) 828-0100
www.vcu.edu

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
Blacksburg, VA 24061-0131
(540) 231-6000
www.admiss.vt.edu

Student Review: “There were many aspects of my education that I loved. My general courses were taught by helpful professors who knew the material and how to convey it. I took several courses that weren’t required just because the professors were so good. The teaching aspects of my program were mixed. My internship was with a very helpful teacher, but I was the only one in my program assigned to a primary school (k-2) rather than an elementary school (k-5,) so my experience was limited. My main education professor was vague in his assignments and disorganized in his instruction. Overall, I think I got a great education, but wish I had some more relevant experience.” -Jackie D., student at Virginia Tech

Virginia State University
One Hayden Dr
Petersburg, VA 23806
(804) 524-5000
www.vsu.edu

Virginia Union University
1500 N Lombardy St
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 257-5600
www.vuu.edu

Virginia Wesleyan College
1584 Wesleyan Dr
Norfolk, VA 23502-5599
(757) 455-3200
www.vwc.edu

An asterisk (*) denotes a two-year or certificate program in education. While a two-year degree will not qualify graduates for teacher certification, it can be a good starting point for a teaching career. To learn more about what you can do with this degree, see our guide to associate’s degrees in education.

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Niche College Search: https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-for-education/s/virginia/?type=private&type=public
3. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: http://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-public-colleges/
4. 2017 US News Best Graduate Education Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
5. 2017 US News Best Online Graduate Education Schools: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
6. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
7. National Council on Teacher Quality 2014-2016 Teacher Preparation Program Review: http://www.nctq.org/teacherPrep/2016/findings/home.do
8. US Department of Education 2016 Title II Reports: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx