Virginia

Graph of the Month (2015)

The Graph of the Month is an initiative launched January 2013 by the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia. The monthly graph and fact will highlight Virginia's private colleges. Our hope is that this data will provide helpful information about Virginia's non-profit private colleges. If you would like to be added to our distribution list or have any questions, please email graphofthemonth@cicv.org.

Graph of the Month: December 2015

Virginia Private Colleges Continue Their Commitment to Provide Quality Education to a Diverse Student Population

Virginia's private colleges have a commitment to increasing diversity on campus.  Over the past decade, the number of Hispanic undergraduate students enrolled at Virginia private colleges has increased 223%.

Source: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) E22 Trends in Race Ethnicity Report

Graph of the Month: November 2015

Virginia Private Colleges Increase College Access and Affordability for Veterans

CICV institutions actively participate in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program. The Yellow Ribbon Program is the post 9/11 GI Bill lowering the actual tuition and fees per academic year at a private institution. Private institutions that participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program agree to make additional financial aid available for the Veteran's education.

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2015-2016 Data)

Graph of the Month: October 2015

Virginia Private Colleges Offer a Significant Value to the Commonwealth

The cost to the Commonwealth to enroll an undergraduate Virginia student at a private college is $3,100, which is the amount of a Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) award.  The TAG program helps Virginians receive a high quality education at a fraction of the cost to the Commonwealth.

Source: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) (2015-2016 Data)

Graph of the Month: August 2015

Virginia Private Colleges Continue Their Commitment to Provide Quality Education to a Diverse Student Population

Virginia's private colleges and universities enroll a higher percentage of Under-Represented Populations of Students (URPs) than Virginia's 4-year public colleges. URPs are traditionally defined with the following characteristics:

•    Race: Non-white US citizen and permanent residents
•    Pell: Students receiving Pell grants at any time during the last five years
•    Age: Non-traditional students age 25 or older at entry
•    Virginia Localities: Students from Virginia localities in the lowest quintile of associate and baccalaureate attainment rates

Source: State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Distribution and Completion of Under-Represented Populations Report

Graph of the Month: July 2015


Virginia veterans using education benefits from the Veterans Administration have tripled since the beginning of the Post 9-11 program in 2010.  On behalf of Virginia's private colleges and universities, thank you for your service to our country.

Source: National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics

Graph of the Month: June 2015

Virginia Private Colleges Give Students Nearly 4 Times More Grant Aid (Institutional) than the Federal Government Gives and 11 Times More than State/Local Government Gives

Virginia private colleges and universities invest their own resources in their students, providing almost $650 million in institutional grant aid to students last year.  73% of all grant aid given to students was awarded by the institutions, 20% from federal sources (including Pell), and 7% from state and local sources.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS Spring 2014 Finance Component)

Graph of the Month: May 2015


Employers seek college graduates with wide skill sets. They expect professionals to have both broad and major-specific knowledge and the ability to constantly learn, adapt and innovate. In the fast-paced modern workplace, liberal arts graduates from Virginia's private colleges and universities stand out as strong candidates.

Image Source:  The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) website.  Image and Creative Commons license may be accessed here: http://www.cic.edu/Research-and-Data/Liberal-Arts/Pages/Infographics.aspx.

Graph of the Month: April 2015

Graduates from Virginia Private Colleges are a Bargain for the Commonwealth

This year approximately 7,000 Virginians will receive a bachelor's degree from a Virginia private college or a university. The Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) program helps Virginians receive a high quality education at a fraction of the cost to the Commonwealth.

Source:  State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) C01 Completions Report (2013-14); SCHEV FA03 TAG Report (2013-14); Department of Planning and Budget (2013-14 General Fund Data).

Graph of the Month: March 2015

An Investment in Higher Education is the Investment of a Lifetime

A college degree is an investment that will continue to appreciate over a lifetime.  College degree holders have a much lower rate of unemployment than individuals without a college degree.

Source:  The Wall Street Journal.  2015.  [ February's Jobs Report in 10 Charts].  Retrieved from http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2015/03/06/februarys-jobs-report-in-10-charts/.

Graph of the Month: February 2015

Student Loan Default Rates at Virginia Private Colleges are Among the Lowest in Virginia

Graduates from Virginia's private colleges and universities have a lower 3-year cohort default rate on student loans than the national rate of 13.7% and the state average of 10%.

Source: U.S. Department of Education
Which schools would you like to hear from?
Appalachian College of Pharmacy
Appalachian School of Law
Averett University
Bluefield University
Bridgewater College
Eastern Mennonite University
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Emory & Henry College
Ferrum College
George Washington University - VA
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampton University
Hollins University
Liberty University
Mary Baldwin University
Marymount University
Randolph College
Randolph-Macon College
Roanoke College
Shenandoah University
Southern Virginia University
Sweet Briar College
University of Lynchburg
University of Richmond
Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - VA
Virginia Union University
Virginia Wesleyan University
Washington and Lee University
Thank you!
ERROR: Message Not Sent!