Online Services | Commonwealth Sites | Help | Governor

Skip Navigation  |  Intranet  |  Contact SCHEV    
About SCHEV
> Overview
> Staff
> Calendar
> Careers
> Directions
> Newsroom
Council Information
> Members
> Contact Council
> Meetings & Agendas
> Presentations
> Policy Discussions
> Advisory Committees
Students & Parents
> Overview
> List of Colleges
> Publications
> GEAR UP
> Degree Inventory
> Transfer Tool
> Graduate Programs
> Adult Education Programs
> Complaint Process
Financial Aid
> Overview
> Undergraduate
> Graduate
> Academic Common Market
> Domicile Information
> Blog
Legislative Issues
> Overview
> Hot List
> Long List
> Legislative Liaisons
> Code of Virginia
Higher Education Restructuring
Higher Education Resources
> Overview
> Outstanding Faculty Awards
> P.O.P.E
> Challenge Grant
> No Child Left Behind
> Boards of Visitors
> State Education Agencies
Research & Statistics
SCHEV Reports
Forms & Guidelines
Preparandose para la universidad

Overview of Higher Education System in Virginia

Virginia Colleges & Universities

15 public four-year institutions

  • Christopher Newport University
  • College of William and Mary
  • George Mason University
  • James Madison University
  • Longwood University
  • Norfolk State University
  • Old Dominion University
  • Radford University
  • University of Mary Washington
  • University of Virginia
  • UVa’s College at Wise
  • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Virginia Military Institute
  • Virginia State University
  • Virginia Tech

Other Virginia Institutions

  • 23 community colleges on 40 campuses
  • 1 junior/transfer-oriented college
  • 67 out-of-state institutions operate in Virginia
  • 70 private, non-profit institutions operate in Virginia (this number includes exempt schools)
  • 49 private, for-profit institutions operate in Virginia
  • 153 vocational institutions operate in Virginia

Students at VA Public Institutions

  • About 86% of the students at public institutions are from Virginia
  • At four-year institutions, it’s about 78%
  • At the community colleges, it’s about 95%
  • About 56% of students attend school full-time
  • At the four-year institutions, it’s about 77%
  • At the community colleges, it’s about 32%
  • About 86% of the students are undergraduates
  • At the four years, it’s about 75%

Virginia Degrees

About 54,000 degrees are awarded annually by Virginia’s public institutions.

  • 12,400 Associate’s degrees
  • 30,000 Bachelor’s degrees
  • 11,000 Master’s degrees
  • 1,400 Doctoral degrees
  • 1,400 Professional degrees

Virginia Higher Education Budget

Over $3 billion is spent on higher education in Virginia each year.

  • About $1.57 billion is provided through the state’s General Fund
  • Approximately $2.0 billion is provided through tuition and fees collected by the institutions
  • Close to $1.2 billion is provided through federal and private sources

Key Players in Virginia Higher Education

  • Governor
  • General Assembly
  • Attorney General
  • Secretary of Education
  • Boards of Visitors
  • State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV)

Governor's Role

  • Appoints all members to institutions’ Boards of Visitors and the members of SCHEV
  • Prepares and submits a biennial budget
  • Signs or vetoes all legislation, including the budget bill
  • Issues Executive Orders

General Assembly's Role

  • Adopts a biennial budget
  • Introduces, debates, and votes on legislation
  • Establishes joint subcommittees and commissions to study issues
  • Requests studies and reports

Attorney General's Role

  • Serves as general counsel to the educational institutions and SCHEV
  • Reviews all contracts
  • Approves all real estate transactions
  • Provides training on a host of legal issues (FOIA, conflict of interest, proper use of state equipment, etc.)

Secretary of Education

  • Appointed by Governor and approved by the General Assembly
  • Advises the Governor on education policy issues
  • Oversees all education and cultural-related executive branch agencies, including the DoE, SCHEV, VCCS, public colleges and universities, state museums, and Library of Virginia
  • Receives and reviews operating and capital budget requests from the institutions and agencies

Boards of Visitors

  • Provide oversight and leadership at their respective institutions.
  • Set broad policy goals and priorities for their institutions.
  • Select a President to manage the day-to-day operations.
  • Evaluate the President to ensure compliance with statutory mandates and board goals, priorities, and directives.
  • Establish rules and regulations for the admission of students and graduation requirements.
  • Establish rules and regulations for the conduct of students.
  • Establish rules and regulations for the employment of professors, teachers, instructors, and all other employees and provide for their dismissal for failure to abide by such rules and regulations.
  • Review and approve budget requests to the Governor and General Assembly for state appropriations.
  • Ensure academic integrity at the institution, including, reviewing the curriculum and faculty productivity.
  • Set tuition and fee charges
  • Lease, sell, or convey any and all real estate with the approval of the Governor.
  • Provide oversight of institutionally affiliated foundations.
  • Ensure institution is accountable for the effective and efficient use of Virginia taxpayer dollars provided to it.