Colleges in Richmond, Virginia
14 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 14 colleges and universities in Richmond, Virginia (7 Private for-profit, 4 Private nonprofit, 3 Public). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 14 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $23,461 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 44.8%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 75% of applicants.
The median net price in Richmond runs about $4,395 higher than the Virginia statewide median of $19,066.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Richmond, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$23,461
After aid
Median grad rate
44.8%
6-year
Median admission rate
75%
Median enrollment
454
Undergrad
All colleges in Richmond
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA | VA | Public, 4-year | $23,433 | 63.2% | 93% | 20,753 | Complete | |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College Richmond, VA | VA | Public, 2-year | $5,168 | 32.2% | Not available | 5,586 | Partial | |
| Virginia Union University Richmond, VA | VA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | $13,235 | 34.2% | 98% | 1,203 | Complete | |
| Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing Richmond, VA | VA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 591 | Partial | |
| Fortis College-Richmond Richmond, VA | VA | Private for-profit, 2-year | $24,635 | 50.3% | Not available | 502 | Partial | |
| Galen Health Institutes-Richmond Richmond, VA | VA | Private for-profit, 2-year | $23,843 | Not available | Not available | 454 | Partial | |
| Lotus Professional College Richmond, VA | VA | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 171 | Missing | |
| Henrico County-Saint Marys Hospital School of Practical Nursing Richmond, VA | VA | Public, <2-year | Not available | Not available | 70% | 79 | Partial | |
| Empire Beauty School-Richmond Richmond, VA | VA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $23,488 | 39.3% | Not available | 77 | Partial | |
| Bon Secours St Mary's Hospital School of Medical Imaging Richmond, VA | VA | Private nonprofit, 2-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | 35 | Partial | |
| Virginia Barber School Richmond, VA | VA | Private for-profit, <2-year | Not available | 100.0% | Not available | 7 | Partial | |
| Union Presbyterian Seminary Richmond, VA | VA | Private nonprofit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Missing | |
| ECPI University-Richmond South Richmond, VA | VA | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 75% | Not available | Partial | |
| ECPI University-Richmond West Richmond, VA | VA | Private for-profit, 4-year | Not available | Not available | 75% | Not available | Partial |
By institution type
Private for-profit (7)
Private for-profit colleges in Richmond operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Fortis College-RichmondNet price: $24,635Grad: 50.3%
- Galen Health Institutes-RichmondNet price: $23,843Grad: Not available
- Lotus Professional CollegeNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Empire Beauty School-RichmondNet price: $23,488Grad: 39.3%
- Virginia Barber SchoolNet price: Not availableGrad: 100.0%
- ECPI University-Richmond SouthNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- ECPI University-Richmond WestNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Private nonprofit (4)
Private nonprofit colleges in Richmond are mission-driven institutions — often religiously affiliated or research-focused — that reinvest tuition into academics and aid rather than distributing profit.
- Virginia Union UniversityNet price: $13,235Grad: 34.2%
- Bon Secours Memorial College of NursingNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Bon Secours St Mary's Hospital School of Medical ImagingNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
- Union Presbyterian SeminaryNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Public (3)
Public colleges in Richmond are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- Virginia Commonwealth UniversityNet price: $23,433Grad: 63.2%
- J Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeNet price: $5,168Grad: 32.2%
- Henrico County-Saint Marys Hospital School of Practical NursingNet price: Not availableGrad: Not available
Top programs in Richmond
Most-completed programs across Richmond colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Health professions14.1% of degrees
- Business11.5% of degrees
- Visual & performing arts10.0% of degrees
- Psychology8.1% of degrees
- Social sciences6.8% of degrees
- Biological sciences5.8% of degrees
- Education5.4% of degrees
- Computer science5.4% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Richmond
Q.How many colleges are in Richmond, Virginia?
There are 14 colleges and universities in Richmond, Virginia that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 7 Private for-profit, 4 Private nonprofit, 3 Public.
Q.What is the largest college in Richmond?
By undergraduate enrollment, Virginia Commonwealth University is the largest institution in Richmond with roughly 20,753 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Richmond?
Based on average net price after aid, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is the most affordable institution in Richmond at $5,168 per year.
Q.Which Richmond college has the highest graduation rate?
Virginia Barber School reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Richmond institutions at 100.0%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Richmond?
The median net price across all 14 colleges in Richmond is $23,461 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Richmond?
Across Richmond colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Health professions, Business, Visual & performing arts.
Q.Are there community colleges in Richmond?
Yes — Richmond includes 3 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in Virginia
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Richmond that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.