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… Lawsuit against state trooper on behalf of Franklin County girl moves forward 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle Franklin County considers 7-cent real estate tax increase Rocky Mount man charged with killing his brother Smith Mountain Lake saw increase in boating incidents and deaths in 2025 Kids invited to annual Cops and Bobbers event by Rocky Mount PD 2 Franklin County softball players among those to watch in Southwest Virginia Budget woes complicate residents' push for new dog park in Franklin County Cyanobacteria up in Smith Mountain Lake, but no harmful algal blooms last year Martinsville to scrap purchasing cards after scrutiny of $1.4M in spending This Rocky Mount police dog focuses on head pats instead of patrols Chip Sullivan, golfer and instructor 'loved by so many,' dies at 61 Roanoke County family files lawsuit against VHSL, school board over homeschool sports rule Spanberger signs 22 bills, including one concerning pharmacy benefit managers Lake Days gets students up close to nature at Smith Mountain Lake 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 :? E96 DE2E6 2C6 :?4C62D:?8=J 49@@D:?8 @FE\@7\DE2E6 4@==686D[ 2?5 @E96C DE2E6D 2C6 AC@5F4:?8 76H6C 9:89 D49@@= 8C25D]k^AmkAm%96 492?86 :? 6?C@==>6?E H:== :>A24E E96 =6G6= @7 7F?5:?8 4@==686D C646:G6 :? E96 52JD E@ 4@>6 7C@> E96 v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J]k^Am kAm“%96C6’D D@>6E9:?8 8@:?8 @?[” D2:5 $6?] %@>>J }@C>6?E[ #\y2>6D r:EJ[ 2E 2 C646?E 9:896C 65F42E:@? DF34@>>:EE66 >66E:?8] “%96C6’D D@>6E9:?8 :? E96 H2E6C]”k^AmkAmp>@?8 E96 DE2E6’D `d AF3=:4 7@FC\J62C 4@==686D[ D:I 92G6 8C@H?[ H9:=6 ?:?6 92G6 D9CF?< D:?46 a_`f] %96C6 2C6 “2 ?F>36C @7 67764ED 2E A=2J[” D2:5 !6E6C q=2<6[ 5:C64E@C @7 E96 $E2E6 r@F?4:= @7 w:896C t5F42E:@? 7@C ':C8:?:2]k^Am kAm':C8:?:2 9:89 D49@@= DEF56?ED 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ D6=64E @FE\@7\DE2E6 D49@@=D[ DF49 2D E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 p=232>2[ 96 D2:5] %96 >2;@C:EJ @7 =@DD6D 42>6 7C@> :?\DE2E6 DEF56?ED]k^Am kAmw:89 D49@@=6CD 7C@> @E96C DE2E6D 2C6 49@@D:?8 ':C8:?:2 4@==686D =6DD @7E6?] p?5 E96 DE2E6D E92E 2C6 EJA:42==J C:49 :? 7FEFC6 ':C8:?:2 4@==686 DEF56?ED — DF49 2D }6H y6CD6J 2?5 }6H *@C< — 92G6 6IA6C:6?465 5C@AD :? E96 9:89 D49@@= 286 56>@8C2A9:4[ AC@5F4:?8 76H6C AC@DA64E:G6 4@==686 2AA=:42?ED]k^AmkAmr~'xs\`h @?=J 244@F?ED 7@C 2 A@CE:@? @7 E96 564=:?6] ':C8:?:2’D AF3=:4 D49@@=D 6IA6C:6?465 @?=J 2 aT 5C@A :? F?56C8C25F2E6 6?C@==>6?E 36EH66? 72== a_`h 2?5 72== a_a_]k^Am kAm“(6 6IA64E65 2 =@E H@CD6 2?5 :E 5:5?’E 92AA6?[” q=2<6 D2:5]k^Am kAm%96 ?F>36C @7 :?E6C?2E:@?2= DEF56?ED 76== `dT 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4[ 2D >2?J 7@C6:8? DEF56?ED 49@D6 E@ DE2J 9@>6] p 564=:?6 :? :?E6C?2E:@?2= 2?5 @FE\@7\DE2E6 DEF56?ED 9:ED 2 4@==686’D 3F586E 92C56C 3642FD6 E96J @7E6? A2J EH:46 2D >F49 2D :?\DE2E6 DEF56?ED]k^AmkAm$6?] uC2?< #F77[ #\|64<=6?3FC8[ D2:5 96’5 =:<6 E@ D66 >@C6 C6D62C49 5@?6 E@ F?56CDE2?5 H9J 4@==686 6?C@==>6?E :D 5@H?]k^AmkAmp77@C523:=:EJ :D 2=H2JD 2 492==6?86[ q=2<6 25565] %96 2G6C286 4@DE @7 2 4@==686 65F42E:@? :? ':C8:?:2 D9@E FA c_T 36EH66? a__h 2?5 a_`g[ 3FE 4@DED 92G6 C6>2:?65 C6=2E:G6=J 7=2E E96 A2DE E9C66 J62CD] %96 2G6C286 :?\DE2E6 DEF56?E A2JD S`b[___ :? EF:E:@? 2?5 >2?52E@CJ 766D 2?5 S`a[___ 7@C C@@> 2?5 3@2C5 2??F2==J]k^Am kAm“(92E <:5D 92G6 E@ A2J[ :E’D 36J@?5 36=:67[” $6?] y@9? t5H2C5D[ s\#@2?@<6[ D2:5]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | Omny Studio kAmrFCC6?E=J[ 72>:=:6D DA=:E E96 4@DE @7 65F42E:@? H:E9 E96 DE2E6] %96 DE2E6 7F?5D C@F89=J 92=7 E96 4@DE[ H9:=6 72>:=:6D 4@G6C E96 @E96C 92=7] t5H2C5D D2:5 96’5 =:<6 E@ D66 ':C8:?:2 C6EFC? E@ 2 >@56= :? H9:49 E96 DE2E6 4@G6CD EH@\E9:C5D @7 6G6CJ 4@==686 65F42E:@?]k^AmkAmr@>>F?:EJ 4@==686D 2C6 DECF88=:?8 E96 >@DE] %96 DE2E6 =@DE ab[___ 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686 DEF56?ED :? 7@FC J62CD[ 2 5C@A @7 `cT] %96:C ?F>36CD 92G6 366? 72==:?8 7@C 2 564256[ 7:?2==J C6249:?8 2 a_\J62C =@H]k^Am kAmq=2<6 42==65 E96 5C@A “F?AC64656?E65[” 3642FD6 H96? 2? 64@?@>J DECF88=6D[ EJA:42==J 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686 6?C@==>6?E :?4C62D6D]k^Am kAm#:492C5 q=2?5 r@==686[ E96 DE2E6’D @?=J ;F?:@C 4@==686[ 92D 3F4<65 E96 EC6?5[ 8C@H:?8 3J a`T]k^AmkAm%96 A2?56>:4 5C@G6 =@H6C\:?4@>6 DEF56?ED 2H2J 7C@> 4@==686] r@>>F?:EJ 4@==686D 2?5 @E96C D49@@=D E92E 42E6C E@ =@H\:?4@>6 72>:=:6D D2H E96:C 6?C@==>6?ED 5C@A[ H9:=6 E96 DE2E6’D H62=E9:6DE D49@@=D <6AE 8C@H:?8]k^Am kAm|:?:>F> H286 92D :?4C62D65[ 2?5 >2?J =@H\D<:== ;@3D 2C6 A2J:?8 9:896C H286D[ 5C:G:?8 9:89 D49@@= 8C25D 2H2J 7C@> 4@==686 2?5 E@H2C5 6?ECJ\=6G6= ;@3D]k^Am kAm%96 vb 3:== — “v6E D<:==65[ 86E 2 ;@3[ 86E 29625” — D:8?65 =2DE J62C 3J E96?\v@G] #2=A9 }@CE92>[ H2D 56D:8?65 E@ AF>A FA 4@>>F?:EJ 4@==686 6?C@==>6?E 3J A2J:?8 EF:E:@? 7@C DEF56?ED 6?C@==65 :? :?\56>2?5 7:6=5D]k^Am kAm%96 DE2E6’D >@DE AC6DE:8:@FD 4@==686D 2C6 2>@?8 E96 D49@@=D E92E 92G6 8C@H?i ':C8:?:2 %649 WhTX[ v6@C86 |2D@? 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 :? E96 ?6IE D:I J62CD]k^Am kAm|@G:?8 7@CH2C5[ 7:?5:?8 DEF56?ED H:== 36 6G6? 92C56C] %96 ?F>36C @7 9:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E6D :D 6IA64E65 E@ 564C62D6 `_T 36EH66? a_ad 2?5 a_bf[ E96 C6DF=E @7 76H6C 3:CE9D]k^Am kAmqFE ':C8:?:2 4@==686D DE:== 6IA64E E@ 8C@H E96:C 6?C@==>6?E — 6G6? H9:=6 E96 A@@= @7 2AA=:42?ED D=:56D — 3J <66A:?8 >@C6 DEF56?ED :? 4@==686]k^Am kAm%96 8C25F2E:@? C2E6 :? 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 A1 Minute! April 2, 2026: Hack for RVA civic hackathon; DuPont sells Kevlar and Nomex divisions; Virginia Tourism Corporation partners with Devils Backbone Brewing A1 Minute April 1, 2026: Charlottesville's Fridays After Five season lineup A1 Minute April 1, 2026: Charlottesville's Fridays After Five season lineup A1 Minute! March 28, 2025: Week in Virginia | A1 Minute A1 Minute! March 28, 2025: Week in Virginia | A1 Minute The 10 safest cities in the United States The 10 safest cities in the United States
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…
A1 Minute! April 2, 2026: Hack for RVA civic hackathon; DuPont sells Kevlar and Nomex divisions; Virginia Tourism Corporation partners with Devils Backbone Brewing
