Institutions of higher education formed, chartered, or established in the Commonwealth of Virginia that have maintained a main campus under the same ownership for 10 years and have remained fully accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education are exempt from the requirements of certification or approval by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). The exemption entitles these institutions to conduct academic affairs or business without seeking or obtaining SCHEV approval. The resulting scope of the institutional autonomy includes:
| Private Institution | Website | Accredited by | City | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian School of Law | www.asl.edu | ABA | Grundy, VA | Nonprofit |
| Averett University - Danville | www.averett.edu | SACS | Danville, VA | Nonprofit |
| Bluefield College | www.bluefield.edu | SACS | Bluefield, VA | Nonprofit |
| Bridgewater College | www.bridgewater.edu | SACS | Bridgewater, VA | Nonprofit |
| Centura College - Alexandria | www.centuracollege.edu | ACCSC | Manassas, VA | Nonprofit |
| Centura College - Chesapeake | www.centuracollege.edu | ACCSC | Chesapeake, VA | Nonprofit |
| Centura College - Newport News | www.centuracollege.edu | ACCSC | Newport News, VA | Nonprofit |
| Centura College - Norfolk | www.centuracollege.edu | ACCSC | Norfolks, VA | Nonprofit |
| Centura College - Richmond | www.centuracollege.edu | ACCSC | North Chesterfield, VA | Nonprofit |
| Centura College - Richmond West | www.centuracollege.edu | ACCSC | Richmond, VA | Nonprofit |
| Centura College - Virginia Beach | www.centuracollege.edu | ACCSC | Virginia Beach, VA | Nonprofit |
| Christendom College | www.christendom.edu | SACS | Front Royal, VA | Nonprofit |
| Eastern Mennonite University | www.emu.edu | SACS | Harrisonburg, VA | Nonprofit |
| ECPI University | www.ecpi.edu | SACS | See website for locations | Proprietary |
| Emory and Henry College | www.ehc.edu | SACS | Emory, VA | Nonprofit |
| Ferrum College | www.ferrum.edu | SACS | Ferrum, VA | Nonprofit |
| George Washington University | nearyou.gwo.edu | MSCHE | See website for locations | Nonprofit |
| Hampden-Sydney College | www.hsc.edu | SACS | Hampden-Sydney, VA | Nonprofit |
| Hampton University | www.hamptonu.edu | SACS | Hampton, VA | Nonprofit |
| Hampton University - Virginia Beach | www.hamptonu.edu/cofvb | SACS | Virginia Beach, VA | Nonprofit |
| Hampton University - Roanoke Higher Education Center | www.hamptonu.edu/con_ed/ | SACS | Roanoke, VA | Nonprofit |
| Hollins University | www.hollins.edu | SACS | Roanoke, VA | Nonprofit |
| Institute for the Psychological Sciences | www.ipsciences.edu | SACS | Arlington, VA | Nonprofit |
| Jefferson College of Health Sciences | www.jchs.edu | SACS | Roanoke, VA | Nonprofit |
| Liberty University | www.liberty.edu | SACS | Lynchburg, VA | Nonprofit |
| Lynchburg College | www.lynchburg.edu | SACS | Lynchburg, VA | Nonprofit |
| Mary Baldwin College - Staunton | www.mbc.edu | SACS | Staunton, VA | Nonprofit |
| Marymount University | www.marymount.edu | SACS | Arlington, VA | Nonprofit |
| National College - Bluefield | www.ncbt.edu | ACICS | See website for locations | Proprietary |
| Randolph-Macon College | www.rmc.edu | SACS | Ashland, VA | Nonprofit |
| Randolph College | www.randolphcollege.edu | SACS | Lynchburg, VA | Nonprofit |
| Regent University | www.regent.edu | SACS | See website for locations | Nonprofit |
| Roanoke College | www.roanoke.edu | SACS | Salem, VA | Nonprofit |
| Saint Paul's College | www.saintpauls.edu | SACS | Lawrenceville, VA | Nonprofit |
| Shenandoah University - Winchester | www.su.edu | SACS | Winchester, VA | Nonprofit |
| Skyline College | www.skyline.edu | ACCSC | Roanoke, VA | Proprietary |
| Stratford University | www.stratford.edu | ACICS | See website for locations | Proprietary |
| Sweet Briar College | www.sbc.edu | SACS | Woodbridge, VA | Nonprofit |
| Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education | www.union-psce.edu | ATS | Richmond, VA | Nonprofit |
| University of Management and Technology | www.umtweb.edu | DETC | Arlington, VA | Proprietary |
| University of Richmond | www.richmond.edu | SACS | Richmond, VA | Nonprofit |
| Virginia Intermont College | www.vic.edu | SACS | Bristol, VA | Nonprofit |
| Virginia Union University | www.vuu.edu | SACS | Richmond, VA | Nonprofit |
| Virginia Wesleyan College | www.vwc.edu | SACS | Norfolk, VA | Nonprofit |
| Washington and Lee University | www.wlu.edu | SACS | Lexington, VA | Nonprofit |