Virginia's elite colleges are booming. Others are struggling to find students. By ERIC KOLENICH Richmond Times-Dispatch Feb 23, 2022 Feb 23, 2022 Updated May 17, 2023 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save kAm%96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 ':C8:?:2 C646:G65 ?62C=J d`[___ 2AA=:42E:@?D 7C@> 9:89 D49@@= D6?:@CD E9:D J62C[ 3C62<:?8 2 D49@@= C64@C5 7@C E96 D64@?5 DEC2:89E J62C]k^AmkAms@H? x?E6CDE2E6 g`[ ':C8:?:2 %649 D6E 2 C64@C5[ E@@[ H:E9 cd[___ 2AA=:42?ED]k^AmkAmqFE H9:=6 E96 DE2E6’D >@DE AC6DE:8:@FD AF3=:4 4@==686D 2C6 7=@FC:D9:?8[ @E96CD 2C6 DECF88=:?8 E@ 7:?5 DEF56?ED] %96 ?F>36C @7 F?56C8C25F2E6D 2E #257@C5 DF?< abT :? 7@FC J62CD[ H9:=6 {@?8H@@5 =@DE aaT 2?5 ':C8:?:2 r@>>@?H62=E9 &?:G6CD:EJ D=:5 hT]k^Am kAmp=E@86E96C[ E96 DE2E6 =@DE ac[___ F?56C8C25D :? 7@FC J62CD[ 2 fT 5C@A]k^Am People are also reading… Franklin County sheriff's deputies often make immigration arrests for ICE Manhunt ends with fatal shooting of Henry County suspect Franklin County wants to raise taxes. Here's where the money would go. Board approves carp comeback at Smith Mountain Lake to eat invasive hydrilla Lawsuit against state trooper on behalf of Franklin County girl moves forward Spanberger signs bills that tighten controls on guns Spanberger signs Virginia minimum wage increase Smith Mountain Lake State Park lecture series wraps up on Sunday Spanberger signs bills on probation, manufactured protein and Confederate license plates Franklin County chicken and bee zoning overhaul draws resident backlash Man unlawfully in US arrested in Franklin County for child sex abuse 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle Trump to visit Charlottesville Friday Carter Bank sold Justice loan portfolio to Omni parent company Martinsville council moves toward releasing forensic audit after months of secrecy kAmpE 2 E:>6 H96? 4@==686 6?C@==>6?E :D 5@H? ?2E:@?2==J[ ':C8:?:2 D49@@=D 2C6 6IA6C:6?4:?8 2 3@@>\@C\3FDE D46?2C:@] w:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E6D :? 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WgTX[ }@C7@=< $E2E6 WfTX[ &'p WcTX[ 2?5 (:==:2> U2>Aj |2CJ WcTX]k^Am Latest Headlines House budget committee asks Va. colleges to raise tuition no more than 3% BY ERIC KOLENICH Richmond Times-Dispatch kAm}@ D49@@= 92D 25565 2D >2?J DEF56?ED 2D ':C8:?:2 %649[ H9@D6 F?56C8C25F2E6 DEF56?E 3@5J ;F>A65 3J >@C6 E92? a[d__ DEF56?ED E@ ah[fe_]k^AmkAm“%649 92D 364@>6 9F>@?8@FD[” D2:5 }@C>6?E[ H9@ 56D4C:365 E96 4@==686 2D H2?E:?8 E@ 36 “6G6CJE9:?8 E@ 6G6CJ3@5J]”k^AmkAm%649’D 6?C@==>6?E 92D 32==@@?65 adT :? E96 A2DE 564256] (96? 2 AC6DE:8:@FD D49@@= 564:56D E@ 2446AE >@C6 DEF56?ED[ }@C>6?E D2:5[ :E 5:8D 566A6C :?E@ :ED 2AA=:42?E A@@= 2?5 6DD6?E:2==J C@3D @E96C D49@@=D @7 E96:C DEF56?ED]k^Am kAm}@C>6?E H@?56C65 :7 E96:C 6?C@==>6?ED D9@F=5 36 42AA65[ 2 AC@46DD E92E H@F=5 C6BF:C6 v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J 2AAC@G2=]k^AmkAmtI46AE :E’D ?@E 2 K6C@\DF> 82>6] %96C6 2C6 `cT 76H6C :?\DE2E6 F?56C8C25F2E6 DEF56?ED 4@>A2C65 E@ 2 564256 28@]k^AmkAm}6:E96C &'p ?@C ':C8:?:2 %649 6IA64ED E@ 8C@H :? 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E96 DE2E6 :D ;FDE 36=@H f_T]k^Am Virginia's public college enrollment changes from 2017-2021 College 2021 undergrad enrollment Percent change Virginia Tech 29,760 9% George Mason 27,335 8% Norfolk State 5,016 7% UVA 17,256 4% William & Mary 6,543 4% James Madison 20,070 1% Old Dominion 18,678 -4% VMI 1,652 -4% VCU 21,625 -9% Virginia State 3,894 -9% Christopher Newport 4,472 -10% UVA-Wise 1,844 -12% Mary Washington 3,660 -17% Longwood 3,485 -22% Radford 6,513 -23% Richard Bland 2,605 21.3% Comm. colleges 144,215 -14% Total 318,623 -7% ekolenich@timesdispatch.com(804) 649-6109 Twitter: @EricKolenich 0 comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Virginia’s community colleges are losing students. Can free tuition bring them back? There are 50,000 fewer students than 10 years ago. But the G3 scholarship, which covers tuition for low- and middle-income students studying i… Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio Watch Now: Related Video Unable to play video AP Top Stories April 13 AP top stories April 12 AP top stories April 12 AP top stories April 10 AP top stories April 10 A1 Minute! April 10, 2026: Week in Virginia A1 Minute! April 10, 2026: Week in Virginia
Latest Headlines House budget committee asks Va. colleges to raise tuition no more than 3% BY ERIC KOLENICH Richmond Times-Dispatch
Virginia’s community colleges are losing students. Can free tuition bring them back? There are 50,000 fewer students than 10 years ago. But the G3 scholarship, which covers tuition for low- and middle-income students studying i…