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A downtown view of Richmond, VAPhoto: Bruce Emmerling · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Richmond

Richmond is home to six colleges, with about 31,000 students on campus

Virginia Commonwealth University (25,603 students on campus) and the University of Richmond (3,630) are inside the city. About 10% of Richmond’s residents are enrolled in college, above Virginia (7%).

Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginia Union UniversityUniversity of Richmond

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 Richmond. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
12
44,194 students on campus
Nearest college
1.8 mi
Virginia Commonwealth University
Residents in college
10%
Above VA (7%)
Nearest community college
7.3 mi
J Sargeant Reynolds · $5,280 tuition
Nearest public university
1.8 mi
Virginia Commonwealth University · $16,945 in-state
Median household income
$65K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Richmond

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

Three colleges within 4.7 milesVirginia Commonwealth University admits 93% of applicants; Virginia Union University admits 98%; University of Richmond admits 22%. Together they have 30,386 students on campus.In-state price at Virginia Commonwealth UniversityLiving in Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University charges $16,945 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $40,109. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 7.3 miles awayJ Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond: tuition and fees $5,280 a year for Virginia residents.Students are 10% of residentsAbove Virginia (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Richmond

Nine private colleges within 13.8 miles, one public college within 1.8 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miVirginia Commonwealth UniversityBrightpointJ Sargeant ReynoldsRichmond
University or collegeCommunity college
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 25,603 on campus · In Richmond93%admitted$23knet price63%graduate$58kearningsVirginia Union UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,153 on campus · In Richmond98%admitted$13knet price34%graduate$38kearningsGalen Health Institutes-RichmondUniversity or college · For-profit · 374 on campus · In Richmond$24knet price$61kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.Fortis College-RichmondUniversity or college · For-profit · 399 on campus · In Richmond$25knet price50%graduate$33kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Union Presbyterian SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 163 on campus · In RichmondGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of RichmondUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,630 on campus · In Richmond22%admitted$31knet price85%graduate$76kearningsLotus Professional CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 161 on campus · 7 mi · RichmondJ Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,512 on campus · 7.3 mi · Richmond$5knet price32%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $5,280 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Bon Secours Memorial College of NursingUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 477 on campus · 8.3 mi · Richmond$77kearningsSouth University-RichmondUniversity or college · For-profit · 286 on campus · 10.5 mi · Glen Allen$30knet price42%graduate$34kearningsEarnings are reported for all 10 campuses that file with it.Brightpoint Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,289 on campus · 13.3 mi · 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 · 13.8 mi · CHESTER$24knet price63%graduate$33kearnings

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 $48–75k, where Richmond’s median household income ($64,587) falls.

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College7.3 mi · Richmond · sticker $12,428 · tuition $5,280$5,377a year
Brightpoint Community College13.3 mi · Chester · sticker $12,196 · tuition $5,082$6,376a year
Virginia Union UniversityIn Richmond · sticker $29,075$14,420a year
University of RichmondIn Richmond · sticker $80,961$15,553a year
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityIn Richmond · sticker $38,954$20,925a year
Fortis College-RichmondIn Richmond · sticker $31,646$23,718a year
Galen Health Institutes-RichmondIn Richmond · sticker $31,963$28,656a year
Chester Career College13.8 mi · CHESTER · sticker $29,745$29,208a year
South University-Richmond10.5 mi · Glen Allen · sticker $36,577—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 Richmond: 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 →Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginia Union UniversityFortis College-RichmondUniversity of RichmondJ Sargeant ReynoldsBrightpoint
Virginia Commonwealth University63% graduate$58k earnings$22k typical debt
Brightpoint Community College38% graduate$41k earnings$10k typical debt
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College32% graduate$40k earnings$10k typical debt
University of Richmond85% graduate$76k earnings$21k typical debt
Virginia Union University34% graduate$38k earnings$29k typical debt
Fortis College-Richmond50% graduate$33k earnings*$10k typical debt
South University-Richmond42% graduate$34k earnings*$26k 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. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Fortis College-Richmond (3); South University-Richmond (10).

Majors

What students study in Richmond

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Richmond’s 5 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 16%Visual & performing arts 11%Psychology 9%Health professions 9%Biology 7%Computer science 7%Everything else 41%

Biggest programs

Psychology, GeneralVirginia Commonwealth University · 490 graduates a year
$51k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasVirginia Commonwealth University · 342 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralVirginia Commonwealth University · 339 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Design and Applied ArtsVirginia Commonwealth University · 322 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity of Richmond · 253 graduates a year
$104k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsVirginia Commonwealth University · 236 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, GeneralVirginia Commonwealth University · 218 graduates a year
$68k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingVirginia Commonwealth University · 210 graduates a year
$87k4 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 Richmond

Is Richmond a college town?

No. About 10 of every 100 Richmond residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Virginia (7). The largest campus in the city, Virginia Commonwealth University, has 25,603 students on campus.

What colleges are in Richmond?

Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Richmond, Virginia Union University, Fortis College-Richmond and 2 more are inside the city. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is 7.3 miles away in Richmond.

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

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond, 7.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,280 a year for Virginia residents; the federal net price, $5,168, counts housing and food at full cost.

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

Tuition and fees are $16,945 a year in-state and $40,109 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $17,512 (under $30,000 income) to $32,739 (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 Richmond. 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 →