Here are the Best Colleges & Universities in Virginia Beach

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Here are the Best Colleges & Universities in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is an independent resort city in Virginia and has miles of beachfront where Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. A large portion of the Resort City’s economy comes from tourism, but Virginia Beach is also the headquarters to a number of national and international corporations, advanced manufacturing, and locally owned businesses. Furthermore, Virginia Beach is home to one of the largest military and veteran populations in the nation. There are only a few universities and colleges in the actual independent city of Virginia Beach, but there are several more in the area surrounding the City.

No books or self-study books can replace a quality education from college and university. In institutions, students can conduct in-depth research on the chosen discipline under the guidance of an experienced teacher. It is the best way to acquire theoretical knowledge and learn how to apply it in practice. There are many colleges and universities in Virginia Beach ready to transform students into productive workforce. To serve the diverse demographic of VA Beach the metropolitan area hosts public and private colleges and universities offering upto 4-year programmes and 2-year associate degrees. This article looks into the best colleges and universities in Virginia Beach.

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The Best Universities in Virginia Beach

South University – Virginia Beach

Image by South University from Wikimedia

South University is an academic institution dedicated to providing educational opportunities for the intellectual, social and professional development of a diverse student population. Located near Virginia Beach Town Center, the university provides a warm, supportive learning environment that will encourage you to engage with a community of faculty and staff ready to help you achieve your educational goals, on campus and online. South University’s approach to higher education and the resulting flexible academic experiences provide students with the intellectual insight necessary to create the foundation for personal and professional fulfilment. They take pride in the experience of small classes offering hands-on experience. This is important as it helps shape the students’ skills and competence in their chosen fields.

Believing that qualified individuals should have the privilege of formal academic training, South University welcomes those who seek educational challenges. To this end, the University allows individuals both on campus and online to identify goals and the means to achieve them. With this philosophy in mind, students learn by interacting with a community of faculty, staff, and administration dedicated to South University’s academic purpose. They also have programmes that help shape your character through community involvement, volunteerism and the pursuit of life-long learning. The university’s goal is to provide a comprehensive education that not only instils a philosophy that values learning and professionalism but also contributes to the advancement of the community.

Practical Information

Address: 301 Bendix Rd Suite 100, Virginia Beach, VA 23452

Call: +1 757-493-6900

Tuition: $24,000*

Website: southuniversity.edu

Atlantic University

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As a spiritually centred and mindfully focused institution, Atlantic University’s mission is to provide an environment where all learners personally integrate the concepts and theories of the body, mind and spirit connection. Founded by Edgar Cayce and a dedicated group of supporters in Virginia Beach, VA, Atlantic University is an institution focused on the integration of body, mind, and spirit as an important means of personal transformation and achieving higher human potential. The focus is to direct students to not only achieve higher human potential but also work to better understand their interconnected relationship to all life and to be of service to others.

As a spiritually-centred institution of higher learning, students are encouraged to experience personal transformation and share their experiences socially and globally. It is a private not-for-profit university founded by Edgar Cayce, also known as the “sleeping prophet” since he was a clairvoyant who resolved queries on subjects as diverse as healing, reincarnation, wars and future events while in a trance. Through the deployment of modern technologies, the university offers two distinct master’s degrees, two post-graduate certificates and two noncredit, continuing education opportunities. This special-focus graduate school is intrinsically linked to the Association for Research and Alignment (ARE).

Practical Information:

Address: 215 67th St, Virginia Beach, VA 23451

Founder: Edgar Cayce

Call: +1 757-631-8101

Tuition: $6,510 pa (Undergraduate)

Website: atlanticuniv.edu

Regent University

Robertson Hall at Regent Univesity. Image by DebateLord from Wikimedia

Regent University is a private Christian university in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The university was founded by Pat Robertson in 1977 as Christian Broadcasting Network University and changed its name to Regent University in 1990. Regent offers traditional on-campus programs as well as distance education. The university has a total enrollment of 10,561* students. Among these, 4,541 are undergraduate students. Regent University offers undergraduate and graduate programs in over 135 areas of study for all levels of degrees, from associate to doctoral. Its programs span areas ranging from business, communication, the arts, cybersecurity, technology and psychology. Regent University is ranked the No.1 Best Accredited Online College in the United States (Study.com, 2020), the No.1 Safest College Campus in Virginia (YourLocalSecurity, 2021) and the No.1 Best Online Bachelor’s Program in Virginia for ten years in a row (U.S. News and World Report, 2022).

Practical Information

Address: Regent University Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23464

Call: +1 757-352-4127

Tuition: $25,000*

Acceptance Rate: 41%

Website: regent.edu

Virginia Wesleyan University

Greer Environmental Sciences Center. Image by Stayse from Wikimedia

Virginia Wesleyan University is Coastal Virginia’s premier private university of the liberal arts and sciences that was founded in 1961. Founded by the Virginia Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, the college has a number of United Methodist Church members on its board of trustees. Situated on a 300-acre park-like campus in Virginia Beach, the University annually enrols approximately 1,600 students in undergraduate, graduate and online programs 70% of whom live on campus in a welcoming and supportive community environment. It utilizes a 4-1-4-based academic calendar. There are more than 60 study programmes for students to choose from overall, with business, biology, education, recreation & leisure studies, communication and criminal justice as the most popular.  

Students thrive in small classes, which average 15 students, and are mentored by accomplished, scholarly faculty who also serve as mentors. With the University’s close proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. You’ll find yourself in the midst of a thriving urban area with many opportunities for fun and adventure. You’ll be strategically positioned to participate in externships and internships with Fortune 500 companies, state and national government agencies and arts facilities. A notable alumni is Keller Williams, a musician and instrumentalist whose influence spans jazz, folk, traditional bluegrass, reggae to electronica music.

Practical InFormation:

Address: 5817 Wesleyan Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23455

Call:  +1 757-455-3200

Tuition:  $37*K pa

Acceptance Rate: 86%

Website: vwu.edu

ECPI University Virginia Beach

Image by CoderK from Wikimedia

ECPI University is one the best for-profit university in the Virginia Beach area that offers accelerated undergraduate and graduates degrees. It is a proprietary institution that was founded in 1966 and has a total undergraduate enrollment of 12,139* (fall 2021), and the setting is Urban. They’ve been delivering quality education over the past 50 years with course options across 42 Associate, Bachelor’s and  Master’s Programs that have the flexibility to accommodate any busy schedule or lifestyle. At ECPI University their unique, interactive learning approach allows students to stay engaged and learn whether they’re on campus, online or a little bit of both.

The Uni utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. The school prides itself on our career-focused method of education which forges solid business partnerships with local industry-leading businesses. These companies sit on our Academic Advisory Board to provide invaluable feedback on our curricula and occasionally serve as guest lecturers. ECPI University is present in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Texas on-campus and online private college providing technology, engineering, business, health sciences, and culinary degree and diploma educational programs; graduate employment services and IT certification training.

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Practical Information:

Address: 5555 Greenwich Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Call: +1 757-517-3903

Tuition:  17*K pa

Acceptance Rate: 86%

Website: ecpi.edu

The Best Colleges in Virginia Beach

Virginia Tech

Image by Virginia Tech from Wikimedia

Virginia Tech is also a public research institution and maintains the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, which offers graduate programs and professional development options. The Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center, formerly known as Hampton Roads Agricultural Experiment Station (Upto 1992) conducts research and extension programs that benefit the horticulture industry in Virginia. Originally its focus was on vegetable production, but with the decline of the commercial vegetable industry, research activities were redirected in 1967 towards the nursery and landscape industries. The urbanization of the Hampton Roads area generated economic opportunities for the Tidewater agricultural community to shift their efforts to nursery production.

The Virginia Beach County Extension office of Virginia Cooperative Extension is your local connection to Virginia’s land-grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University. Through educational programs based on research and developed with input from local stakeholders. They provide education through programs in Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Sciences, 4-H Youth Development, and Community Viability. Current research areas include nursery production, landscape maintenance, turfgrass, small fruit production, and urban stormwater management.

Practical Information

Address: 700 Tech Center Parkway, Suite 305 Newport News, VA 23606

Call: (757) 964-8855

Email: HamptonRoadsCenters@vt.edu

Tidewater Community College – Virginia Beach Campus

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Founded in 1968 as a part of the Virginia Community College System, Tidewater Community College (TCC) serves South Hampton Roads and has served both students and employers in the area for over 50 years. TCC has 4 campuses; Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach and 7 regional centres. The college has 13 nationally accredited academic programs with an enrollment of more than 34,000 students and Virginia Beach is its largest campus. Tidewater Community College has grown from 1 campus into a regional educational and economic force.

The Virginia Beach Campus is the college’s largest, with 13 buildings, including the Advanced Technology Center, which is shared with Virginia Beach Public School students, the Joint-Use Library, a collaboration with the City of Virginia Beach and the Regional Health Professions Center. The college is the largest provider of higher education and workforce services in Hampton Roads. 60% of Tidewater Community College graduates leave with no student debt.

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Practical Information

Address: 1700 College Crescent, Virginia Beach, VA 23453

Call: +1 757-822-1111

Tuition: $7,312*

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Website: come-to-tcc

The Art Institute of Virginia Beach

Image by the art Institutes from Wikimedia

AI – Virginia Beach is a for-profit college located in Virginia Beach in the Norfolk Area. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 192 undergraduate students. It is one of The Art Institutes, a system of not-for-profit private schools throughout the United States. The AI – Virginia popular majors include Multimedia, Culinary Arts and Food Service, and Restaurant and Food Services Management. At The Art Institutes, financial aid is available to those who qualify. The relevant departments will help you understand everything you need to know to help fund your creative education. The Art Institutes system of schools offers full and partial scholarships to new and current students. The Art Grant gives you the chance to earn a tuition grant of up to $17,340 for bachelor’s degree programs (an average of up to 18%) and up to $5,845, (up to 13%), for associate’s degree programs.

Practical Information

Address: 4500 Main St Suite 200, Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Call: +1 877-437-4428

Tuition: $22*K

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Website: artinstitutes.edu

Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach

Founded in 1854, Bryant & Stratton College is a private for-profit institution that has built its reputation and success on a commitment to excellence and high standards. The Bryant & Stratton College Virginia Beach campus offers a personalized, career-focused professional education close to downtown Virginia Beach just close to the ocean.  The school utilizes a semester-based academic year. The student-faculty ratio is 13-to-1. The highest degree offered at Bryant & Stratton College-Virginia Beach is an associate degree. The school has an open admissions policy and offers credit for life experiences.

The campus is also a short drive from downtown Norfolk, meaning the students searching for college degree programs in Norfolk are just as close to a friendly, committed faculty and staff in Virginia Beach. Students can earn degrees and certificates in 7 different fields. Popular programs include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Health Professions and Related Programs, and Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services. They are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

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Practical Information

Address: 301 Centre Pointe Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23462, United States

Phone: +1 757-499-7900

Tuition: $18*K

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Website: bryantstratton.edu

Centura College-Virginia Beach

Centura College was first opened in  1983 as the Electronic Institute of Technology, in Norfolk, Virginia. Over the years, training options and campus locations expanded, resulting in the campuses uniting under the new name of Tidewater Tech. In 1991, Tidewater Tech opened its fourth location in Hampton Roads just off Greenbrier Parkway in Chesapeake. In 2008, the school’s name was changed again, this time to Centura College. Students can earn degrees and certificates in 4 different fields. Popular programs are, Health Professions and Related Programs, Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, and Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services.

Centura College Virginia Beach offers degrees in business, massage therapy, computer network management and medical assistant. Their medical assistant program specializes in management so does the business degree. They have an option that allows those who already have college credits to complete their bachelor’s degree. The goal is to prepare graduates for an entry-level position in today’s workforce or to advance the career of graduates who already have experience in an occupation.

Practical Information

Address: Address: 2697 Dean Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23452

Phone: +1 757-340-2121

Tuition: $25*K

Acceptance Rate: 100%

Website: centuracollege.edu