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.
Quick Facts
- There are 39 colleges and universities with teacher degree programs in Virginia.1
- 5 colleges and universities offer an associate’s degree in education.*1
- 21 colleges and universities offer a bachelor’s degree in education.*1
- 31 colleges and universities offer a master’s or advanced degree in education.*1
- 12 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values in 2019.2
- 9 schools ranked in US News Best Graduate Education Programs in 2019.3
- 7 schools ranked in US News Best Online Graduate Education Programs in 2019.4
- 28 not-for-profit teacher programs are accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP.
*For not-for-profit colleges and universities with teacher degree programs.
Top-Ranked Schools with Education Programs in Virginia
Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*
- Washington and Lee University (#9)
- University of Richmond (#33)
- University of Virginia (#52)
- College of William and Mary (#73)
- Christendom College (#75)
- Liberty University (#139)
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (#160)
- James Madison University (#221)
- Christopher Newport University (#73 in-state, #77 out-of-state)
- Hollins University (#278)
- University of Mary Washington (#290)
- George Mason University (#300)
*Institution-wide ranking.
US News Best Graduate Education Programs 2019
- University of Virginia (#17)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (#20)
- College of William and Mary (#39 tie)
- George Mason University (#59 tie)
- Old Dominion University (#93 tie)
- Virginia Tech (#104 tie)
- Liberty University (#195-258)
- Regent University (#195-258)
- Shenandoah University (#195-258)
US News Best Online Graduate Education Programs 2019
- Virginia Commonwealth University (#3 tie)
- University of Virginia (#9 tie)
- George Mason University (#42 tie)
- Regent University (#61 tie)
- Old Dominion University (#105 tie)
- Liberty University (#189 tie)
- Radford University (#222)
Teacher Preparation Programs Accredited by the NCATE, TEAC, or CAEP
- Bluefield College
- College of William and Mary
- Christopher Newport University
- 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.
Comparison of 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 2017-2018 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 “-“.
State-Approved School | CAEP Accred.?5 | NCTQ Undergrad Elementary Prog. % (2016)**6 | NCTQ Undergrad Secondary Prog. % (2017)**6 | Teacher Prep Prog. Enrollment7 | Teacher Prep Prog. Completers7 | Licensing Exams Pass Rate7 | Net Price***1 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Averett University | No | — | 13% | 22 | 22 | 98% | $22,592 |
Bluefield College | Yes | — | — | 13 | 13 | 100% | $20,227 |
Bridgewater College | No | 74% | 40% | 75 | 42 | 95% | $19,957 |
Christopher Newport University | No | — | — | 66 | 66 | 99% | $22,770 |
College of William and Mary | Yes | — | — | 104 | 69 | 98% | $17,415 |
Eastern Mennonite University | Yes | 70% | 20% | 50 | 12 | 100% | $23,952 |
Emory and Henry College | Yes | — | — | 18 | 39 | 100% | $20,257 |
Ferrum College | No | — | — | 6 | 18 | 98% | $23,184 |
George Mason University | Yes | — | — | 1,076 | 337 | 100% | $18,629 |
Hampton University | Yes | — | — | 10 | 19 | 100% | $26,031 |
Hollins University | Yes | — | — | 40 | 14 | 99% | $19,520 |
James Madison University | Yes | — | — | 971 | 295 | 100% | $16,154 |
Longwood University | Yes | 92% | 71% | 682 | 158 | 99% | $18,227 |
Mary Baldwin University | Yes | — | — | 196 | 68 | 100% | $18,339 |
Marymount University | Yes | 41% | — | 13 | 49 | 98% | $25,387 |
Norfolk State University | Yes | 29% | — | 665 | 24 | 100% | $14,429 |
Old Dominion University | Yes | — | — | 947 | 245 | 100% | $15,213 |
Radford University | Yes | — | — | 56 | 167 | 99% | $13,573 |
Randolph College | Yes | — | — | 52 | 14 | 98% | $26,086 |
Randolph-Macon College | Yes | — | — | 26 | 11 | 100% | $26,575 |
Regent University | Yes | 95% | — | 115 | 49 | 99% | $17,820 |
Roanoke College | Yes | 41% | 46% | 108 | 21 | 99% | $29,573 |
Shenandoah University | Yes | 70% | 37% | 77 | 61 | 100% | $29,248 |
Sweet Briar College | No | — | — | 4 | 10 | 100% | $22,050 |
University of Lynchburg | No | 54% | — | 11 | 31 | 96% | $24,202 |
University of Mary Washington | No | — | — | 468 | 62 | 99% | $20,182 |
University of Richmond | Yes | 81% | — | 113 | 39 | 94% | $24,575 |
University of Virginia | Yes | — | — | 253 | 142 | 98% | $16,594 |
University of Virginia’s College at Wise | Yes | — | 40% | 68 | 29 | 68% | $11,418 |
Virginia Commonwealth University | Yes | — | — | 347 | 206 | 99% | $20,741 |
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Yes | — | — | 81 | 77 | 100% | $18,700 |
Virginia State University | Yes | — | — | 56 | 21 | 100% | $16,247 |
Virginia Union University | Yes | — | — | 75 | 1 | — | $20,469 |
Virginia Wesleyan College | No | 45% | 11% | 30 | 7 | 97% | $26,231 |
Washington and Lee University | Yes | — | — | 7 | 8 | — | $25,029 |
*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
University of Virginia: The Curry School of Education at University of Virginia is home to approximately 1,500 students seeking degrees in over 20 areas of study. The college offers degrees at the undergrad and graduate levels. The most popular degree granted by the College is the Masters of Education (M.Ed.), which was awarded over 230 times in 2011 alone. Curry School of Education has four distinct research and learning centers including the highly acclaimed Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning. According to the US News & World Report 2013 rankings, the School has several departments that rank highly such as Special Education (5), Secondary Education (8), Elementary Education (10), and Administration and Supervision (12). Graduates of Curry are known for their diligence in research, lifelong learning attitude, and awareness of keen issues that affect the educational landscape.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.
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
College of William & Mary
Sadler Center, 200 Stadium Dr
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 221-4000
https://www.wm.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
https://www2.gmu.edu/

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

John Tyler Community College*
13101 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Chester, VA 23831-5316
(804) 796-4000
www.jtcc.edu
Liberty University
1971 University Blvd
Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 582-2000
https://www.liberty.edu/




Longwood University
201 High St
Farmville, VA 23909
(434) 395-2000
http://www.longwood.edu/

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

Mary Baldwin University
101 E Frederick St
Staunton, VA 24401
(540) 887-7019
https://marybaldwin.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
http://www.nsu.edu/

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

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

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
http://www.virginia.edu/


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
https://vt.edu/admissions/undergraduate.html

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. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-kiplinger-s-best-values-in-public-colleges/
3. 2019 US News Best Graduate Education Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/edu-rankings
4. 2019 US News Best Online Graduate Education Schools: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/rankings
5. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): http://caepnet.org/provider-search
6. National Council on Teacher Quality 2014-2016 Teacher Preparation Program Review: https://www.nctq.org/review/home
7. US Department of Education 2018 Title II Reports: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx