Hampden-Sydney College is a private liberal arts college for men in Hampden Sydney, Virginia. Founded in 1775, it is the oldest college in the South and the tenth oldest college in the United States. The school was founded by Samuel Stanhope Smith, a Presbyterian minister, with the intention of providing an education to young men […]

Hampton University was founded in April of 1868 by a group of African-American ministers and teachers who wanted to create a school for the newly freed slaves. The university was originally named Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute and was located in Hampton, Virginia. The school opened its doors to students on October 7, 1868 with […]

George Mason University was founded in 1957 as the Northern Virginia University Center of the College of William and Mary. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, it was originally envisioned as a branch campus to serve the growing population of Northern Virginia. In 1972, it was granted university status and renamed George Mason University after the Founding […]

Ferrum College was founded in 1913, by Dr. James L. Davis, a local minister and teacher in the small town of Ferrum, Virginia. Dr. Davis had a vision to provide educational opportunities for the rural communities of Franklin County and the surrounding areas. After much hard work, he was able to secure funding from a […]

Emory and Henry College was established in 1836 as the Emory and Henry Academy by the Methodist Church. It was founded in honor of Bishop John Emory and his colleague, Bishop Nathanial Henry. The college was originally located in Abingdon, Virginia, but its campus moved to nearby Emory in 1854. Since then, the college has […]

Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) was founded in 1917 by the Virginia Mennonite Conference as a two-year college to provide higher education for young people of the Mennonite faith. The school quickly grew and became a four-year college in 1961. During this same period, EMU began to expand its academic programs, adding new courses and degrees […]

ECPI College of Technology was founded in 1966 in Norfolk, Virginia. The school was originally known as Electronic Computer Programming Institute and offered courses in electronics and computer programming. In the 1970s, the school expanded its offerings to include associate degree programs in Electronics Engineering Technology, Computer Systems Technology, and Business Administration. In the 1980s, […]

The College of William and Mary is the second oldest college in the United States, founded in 1693 by a royal charter from King William III and Queen Mary II. The college has a long history of academic excellence, having produced three U.S. presidents, countless Supreme Court justices, and Nobel Prize winners. It is also […]

Christendom College is a Catholic college located in Front Royal, Virginia. Founded in 1977, Christendom College was established to provide quality education rooted in the Catholic faith. With a mission to educate students in the spirit of St. Thomas Aquinas, the college offers a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum that emphasizes the great books of Western […]

Christopher Newport University (CNU) was founded in 1960 as the Christopher Newport College of the College of William and Mary. Located in Newport News, Virginia, it was initially established as a two-year college with a mission to serve the educational needs of the lower Peninsula region. CNU was the first college in Virginia to be […]

Bridgewater College was founded in 1880 by the Rev. George W. Grandstaff, a minister of the Church of the Brethren. The college was originally located in Spring Creek, Virginia and a small building served as its first classroom. The college was established to provide educational opportunities to students of all backgrounds and religious denominations. In […]

Bluefield College was founded in 1922 by the Bluefield Ministerial Association. The college was established as a Christian liberal arts institution and has been dedicated to providing students with a quality education ever since. The college has grown from its initial enrollment of 30 students to over 1,400 students today. In the past, Bluefield College […]

Averett University has a long and distinguished history. Founded in 1859, Averett was the first college established in Southside Virginia. It was originally founded as Union Female College and was the first school to admit women for higher education in the area. The college’s name changed several times over the years, but it eventually became […]