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Short Pump Town Center at dusk - 7Photo: Ser_Amantio_di_Nicolao · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Short Pump

Short Pump is home to South University-Richmond

South University-Richmond (286 students on campus) is inside the town. About 6% of Short Pump’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Virginia (7%).

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 Short Pump. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
11
39,281 students on campus
Nearest college
1.3 mi
South University-Richmond
Residents in college
6%
About the same as VA (7%)
Nearest community college
8.1 mi
J Sargeant Reynolds · $5,280 tuition
Nearest public university
11.8 mi
Virginia Commonwealth University · $16,945 in-state
Median household income
$139K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Short Pump

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

A university in Short PumpSouth University-Richmond has 286 students on campus in Short Pump, 42% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 8.1 miles awayJ Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond: tuition and fees $5,280 a year for Virginia residents.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.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Virginia (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Short Pump

Nine private colleges within 11.5 miles, one public college within 11.8 miles, and J Sargeant Reynolds Community College 8.1 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miVirginia Commonwealth UniversityJ Sargeant ReynoldsUniversity of RichmondShort Pump
University or collegeCommunity college
South University-RichmondUniversity or college · For-profit · 286 on campus · In Short Pump$30knet price42%graduate$34kearningsEarnings are reported for all 10 campuses that file with it.Lotus Professional CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 161 on campus · 4.9 mi · RichmondUniversity of RichmondUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,630 on campus · 7 mi · University of Richmond22%admitted$31knet price85%graduate$76kearningsJ Sargeant Reynolds Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,512 on campus · 8.1 mi · Richmond$5knet price32%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $5,280 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Fortis College-RichmondUniversity or college · For-profit · 399 on campus · 8.9 mi · Richmond$25knet price50%graduate$33kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Bon Secours Memorial College of NursingUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 477 on campus · 10.2 mi · Richmond$77kearningsRandolph-Macon CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,523 on campus · 10.6 mi · Ashland87%admitted$28knet price70%graduate$58kearningsUnion Presbyterian SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 163 on campus · 10.8 mi · RichmondGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Virginia Union UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,153 on campus · 11.3 mi · Richmond98%admitted$13knet price34%graduate$38kearningsGalen Health Institutes-RichmondUniversity or college · For-profit · 374 on campus · 11.5 mi · Richmond$24knet price$61kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.Virginia Commonwealth UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 25,603 on campus · 11.8 mi · Richmond93%admitted$23knet price63%graduate$58kearnings

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 Over $110k, where Short Pump’s median household income ($138,845) falls.

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College8.1 mi · Richmond · sticker $12,428 · tuition $5,280$12,016a year
Virginia Union University11.3 mi · Richmond · sticker $29,075$18,301a year
Galen Health Institutes-Richmond11.5 mi · Richmond · sticker $31,963$20,320a year
Fortis College-Richmond8.9 mi · Richmond · sticker $31,646$30,346a year
Randolph-Macon College10.6 mi · Ashland · sticker $63,985$32,226a year
Virginia Commonwealth University11.8 mi · Richmond · sticker $38,954$32,739a year
South University-RichmondIn Short Pump · sticker $36,577$33,277a year
University of Richmond7 mi · University of Richmond · sticker $80,961$49,892a 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 Short Pump: 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 →University of RichmondJ Sargeant ReynoldsFortis College-RichmondRandolph-Macon CollegeVirginia Union UniversityVirginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Commonwealth University63% graduate$58k earnings$22k typical debt
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College32% graduate$40k earnings$10k typical debt
University of Richmond85% graduate$76k earnings$21k typical debt
Randolph-Macon College70% graduate$58k earnings$27k 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

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: South University-Richmond (10); Fortis College-Richmond (3).

Majors

What students study in Short Pump

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at South University-Richmond, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 90%Psychology 5%Computer science 2%Public safety 2%Business 2%Everything else 0%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing26 graduates a year
$91k4 yrs out
Psychology, General3 graduates a year
$40k4 yrs out
Public Health2 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations2 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections1 graduates a year
$46k4 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 Short Pump

Is Short Pump a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Short Pump residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Virginia (7). The largest campus in the town, South University-Richmond, has 286 students on campus.

What colleges are in Short Pump?

South University-Richmond is inside the town. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is 8.1 miles away in Richmond.

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

J Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond, 8.1 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 Short Pump. 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 →