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Chester Station ReplicaPhoto: James Shelton32 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Chester

Chester is home to Brightpoint Community College

Brightpoint Community College (6,289 students on campus) is inside the town. About 4% of Chester’s residents are enrolled in college, below Virginia (7%).

Brightpoint Community College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Chester. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
7
41,068 students on campus
Nearest college
1.5 mi
Brightpoint
Residents in college
4%
Below VA (7%)
Nearest community college
1.5 mi
Brightpoint · $5,082 tuition
Nearest public university
8.1 mi
Virginia State · $10,043 in-state
Median household income
$95K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Chester

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A community college in ChesterBrightpoint Community College has 6,289 students on campus in Chester, 38% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at Virginia StateLiving in Virginia, Virginia State University charges $10,043 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $22,650. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 4% of residentsBelow Virginia (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Chester

Three private colleges within 14.6 miles, two public colleges within 13.7 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miVirginia Commonwealth UniversityBrightpointVirginia StateChester
University or collegeCommunity college
Brightpoint Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,289 on campus · In Chester$5knet price38%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $5,082 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Chester Career CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 147 on campus · 3.3 mi · CHESTER$24knet price63%graduate$33kearningsVirginia State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 5,107 on campus · 8.1 mi · Petersburg89%admitted$16knet price39%graduate$46kearningsGalen Health Institutes-RichmondUniversity or college · For-profit · 374 on campus · 11.8 mi · Richmond$24knet price$61kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.Richard Bland CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,395 on campus · 13.6 mi · South Prince George89%admitted$13knet price9%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $9,090 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Virginia Commonwealth UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 25,603 on campus · 13.7 mi · Richmond93%admitted$23knet price63%graduate$58kearningsVirginia Union UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,153 on campus · 14.6 mi · Richmond98%admitted$13knet price34%graduate$38kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Chester’s median household income ($95,104) falls.

Brightpoint Community CollegeIn Chester · sticker $12,196 · tuition $5,082$8,764a year
Richard Bland College13.6 mi · South Prince George · sticker $24,206 · tuition $9,090$16,905a year
Virginia Union University14.6 mi · Richmond · sticker $29,075$21,362a year
Virginia State University8.1 mi · Petersburg · sticker $27,661$22,223a year
Galen Health Institutes-Richmond11.8 mi · Richmond · sticker $31,963$24,387a year
Virginia Commonwealth University13.7 mi · Richmond · sticker $38,954$24,691a year
Chester Career College3.3 mi · CHESTER · sticker $29,745—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Chester: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →BrightpointChester Career CollegeVirginia StateRichard Bland CollegeVirginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginia Union University
Virginia Commonwealth University63% graduate$58k earnings$22k typical debt
Brightpoint Community College38% graduate$41k earnings$10k typical debt
Virginia State University39% graduate$46k earnings$26k typical debt
Richard Bland College9% graduate$41k earnings$11k typical debt
Virginia Union University34% graduate$38k earnings$29k typical debt
Chester Career College63% graduate$33k earnings$20k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Chester

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Brightpoint Community College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 33%Health professions 16%Engineering tech 11%Computer science 6%Business 6%Precision production 3%Everything else 24%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities138 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations91 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing89 graduates a year
$80k4 yrs out
Visual and Performing Arts, Other45 graduates a year
$32k4 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General39 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Engineering, General34 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Chester

Is Chester a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Chester residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Virginia (7). The largest campus in the town, Brightpoint Community College, has 6,289 students on campus.

What colleges are in Chester?

Brightpoint Community College is inside the town.

What is the closest community college to Chester, and what does it cost?

Brightpoint Community College in Chester, 1.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,082 a year for Virginia residents; the federal net price, $5,490, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Virginia State University cost if we live in Virginia?

Tuition and fees are $10,043 a year in-state and $22,650 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $13,220 (under $30,000 income) to $25,508 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Chester. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →