Higher Education

Higher Education in Hampton Roads

The Hampton Roads region has 33 local universities, colleges, and trade schools that train and prepare our future workforce. These institutions cover a wide knowledge base, ranging from William & Mary, one of the top public schools in the country, to the Apprentice School, which trains hundreds of shipbuilders each year. In total, over 100,000 students are enrolled in our local postsecondary education system, learning and developing competitive skill sets to help them excel in our key industry sectors.

13,000+ annual college graduates*

*From Traditional Colleges and Universities Listed in the Table Below*

33 local post-secondary institutions

Colleges and Universities

Christopher Newport University – Christopher Newport University is a four-year public university which enrolls approximately 5,000 students annually. CNU places a strong focus on developing students through dedicated academic rigor in a traditional college campus experience. Emphasizing leadership and civic engagement, academic programs specialize in natural and behavioral sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, and real-world experience-driven business through the Luter School of Business.

Eastern Virginia Medical School – Eastern Virginia Medical School is recognized for its specializations in pediatrics, geriatrics, diabetes, and cancer research. Nationally, EVMS is most widely known for being the first U.S. institution to produce a viable fetus through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Each year more than 1,300 graduate and first professional students enroll to begin their careers as health professionals by gaining quality education and clinical training.

ECPI University – ECPI University offers master’s, bachelor’s, and associate’s degrees, as well as diplomas in technology, health science, nursing, business, and culinary arts. There are three local campuses in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Newport News, as well as an online program. With a student population of more than 10,000, they are one of the largest technical schools in the region.

Hampton University – Hampton University, a private institution, is one of the country’s oldest historically black colleges; founded in 1868. This historic university has a student population of approximately 3,300 students and offers a total of 97 study programs, with a concentration in liberal arts and education.

Norfolk State University – Norfolk State University, a comprehensive urban public institution, is one of the 101 historically black colleges in the United States. Today, NSU is prominent in the fields of psychology and business, offering 30 undergraduate and 18 master’s programs.

Old Dominion University – Old Dominion University, a public research institution, holds the largest 4-year university student population in Hampton Roads. Each year, ODU enrolls 20,000+ students across 120 undergraduate and 130 graduate programs. The university boasts eight discipline-specific colleges and 14 research centers with strengths in fields such as coastal resilience, modeling and simulation, bioelectrics, cybersecurity, port logistics, maritime and supply chain, and engineering.

The National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) – The NIA is a non-profit research and graduate education institute founded by a consortium of large universities to conduct cutting-edge aerospace and atmospheric research, develop new technologies and train the next generation of scientists and engineers. NIA serves as a strategic partner with NASA Langley Research Center.

Regent University – Regent University is a private, Christian institution noted as one of the nation’s leading academic centers for Christian thought and action. Regent offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in more than 135 program areas and supports 10,000+ students annually. The University’s school of law is particularly prominent, as is their growing cybersecurity discipline, anchored by a state-of-the-art “cyber range” which can be used by local companies looking to put their IT security to the test.

Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Campus at Tech Center – The Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Centers creates opportunities for long-term economic and individual success via continuing education and professional development. They offer an array of educational services to meet the needs of working professionals in the Hampton Roads region of the Commonwealth. Conveniently located in Newport News (with a second location in Virginia Beach), curriculums include professional development and continuing education opportunities, graduate level courses and customized opportunities for corporations and organizations.

Virginia Wesleyan University – Virginia Wesleyan University is the region’s smallest institute, with a student base of around 1,300 people. Right in the heart of Virginia Beach, they offer 35 majors and 12 pre-professional tracks, with a concentration of graduates in business, science, psychology, criminal justice, and communications. Now partnering with Sentara College of Health and Sciences, they also are currently adding nursing to its academic program along with several other programs in the medical field.

William & Mary – William & Mary, America’s second oldest university, is among the best public colleges and universities in the country, consistently ranking in the top 50 of lists such as US News and Forbes. Known for liberal arts, they offer a total of 80 graduate and undergraduate degrees with specializations in law, history, english, and teaching. Due to its close proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways, it also offers a distinguished program in marine science.

Community Colleges

Paul D. Camp Community College – Paul D. Camp Community College serves the Franklin, Suffolk, and Smithfield area by providing 61 educational and workforce training programs in areas such as health sciences, industrial technology and trades, and computing. They recently opened a new Regional Warehouse and Distribution Facility containing real-life simulators to enhance the learning experience and promote workforce readiness.

Tidewater Community College – Tidewater Community College is a network of four physical locations and an online program that serves thousands of students annually. Providing 150+ programs, TCC offers degrees, certifications, and apprenticeship programs that build and support the local workforce. TCC also caters to students in various ways – by awarding over half of their undergraduates grants or scholarships and offering classes in ESL.

Virginia Peninsula Community College – Virginia Peninsula Community College located in the northern part of Hampton Roads, has thousands of full and part-time students, catering to the majority of the Virginia Peninsula. It offers a variety of short-term certificates, associate’s degrees, workforce development programs, and college transfer degrees in some of the fastest growing career fields such as healthcare, tourism, and cybersecurity.

Major Technical Schools

Advanced Technology Institute – Located in Virginia Beach, the Advanced Technology Institute provides hands-on training and certificates in trade vocations such as automotive tech, heavy vehicle commercial driving, HVAC / refrigeration, and maritime welding.

Aviation Institute of Maintenance – The Aviation Institute of Maintenance provides quality maintenance career training through various mechanical programs, with a focus on aircraft and welding.

The Apprentice School – The Apprentice School provides training and workforce development for shipbuilding and repair, offering 19 distinct disciplines of study. Partnered with Newport News Shipyard, they are a direct talent pipeline to the maritime industry.

The Art Institute – The Art Institute is a non-profit art centric institution in Virginia Beach, offering diplomas and bachelors degrees in creative fields such as culinary arts, fashion, photography, graphic design, and animation.

Tidewater Tech – Tidewater Tech is a technical school located in Norfolk VA, providing training and certificates in programs such as automotive tech, building maintenance and repair, combination welding, and HVAC. Tidewater Tech is very military friendly, providing benefits and other financial programs to both active duty and retired service member