15 Military Friendly Colleges in Virginia

1Liberty University
1971 University Blvd | Lynchburg, VA 24515

Liberty University, listed as Virginia’s first military-friendly college, supports over 7,300 students benefiting from the GI Bill. The Liberty University Veterans Center serves as a valuable resource hub, offering dedicated spaces for military students to socialize, study, and unwind between classes. Moreover, students can seek guidance from a military student liaison and VetSuccess on Campus counselor.

Participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program without restrictions on student numbers, Liberty offers substantial rewards. Undergraduates in the online School of Aeronautics receive up to $7,500 annually, while those in the residential School of Aeronautics can obtain up to $10,000 per year. Unlimited contributions are available for students in all other programs.

Veterans qualify for transfer credits based on military training. The retention rate for full-time students availing military benefits stands at 86%, while part-time students reach a rate of 73%.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $7,406
Grad: $3,601

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 5,385
Grad: 3,8,64

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 86%
Part Time: 73%

2 Old Dominion University
5115 Hampton Blvd | Norfolk, VA 23529

Old Dominion University (ODU) equips its military Monarchs with essential tools and resources for success. The Veterans Affairs Services act as a valuable advocate, supporting students with Veteran’s Administration (VA) programs and certifications. Additionally, the Military Connection Center assists in the transition to college life.

Participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program, ODU extends awards to five graduate students in the School of Education, the School of Engineering, and the School of Nursing. Each student could receive up to $2,500 per year.

Veterans qualify for transfer credits based on their military training. The retention rate for full-time students benefiting from military benefits is 78%, while part-time students reach an 85% retention rate.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $15,637
Grad: $13,836

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 1,777
Grad: 276

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 78%
Part Time: 85%

3 George Mason University
4400 University Dr | Fairfax, VA 22030

George Mason University (GMU) serves as a valuable resource for active duty personnel, veterans, and their families. Through the Office of Military Services (OMS), the university collaborates with various organizations to provide community support and mentorship.

Participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program, GMU extends the opportunity for an unlimited number of students to receive up to $5,000 each per year.

Veterans qualify for transfer credits based on their military training. Among full-time students benefiting from military benefits, the retention rate stands at 82%, while part-time students maintain a 77% retention rate.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $11,761
Grad: $11,063

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 1,018
Grad: 413

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 82%
Part Time: 77%

4 Virginia Commonwealth University
910 W Franklin St | Richmond, VA 23284

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a military friendly college in Virginia. It offers a lot of resources on campus. Military Student Services helps ease the transition from military life to college. And, VCU participates in the Green Zone program. This trains faculty and staff to support veterans and their families during college.

VCU participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. It offers 5 undergrad students up to $6,000 per year and 5 grad students up to $6,000 per year.

Veterans are eligible for transfer credit of military training. The retention rate for full time students who get military benefits is 85%. And the rate for part time students is 75%.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $12,776
Grad: $14,240

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 597
Grad: 113

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 85%
Part Time: 75%

5 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
210 Burruss Hall, 800 Drillfield Dr | Blacksburg, VA 24061

At Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), the Office of Veterans Services provides tutoring, mentoring, and help navigating the VA system.

Virginia Tech participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. It offers 20 undergrad students up to $2,500 each, per year.

Veterans are eligible for transfer credit of military training. The retention rate for full time students who get military benefits is 67%.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $12,641
Grad: $11,766

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 725
Grad: 146

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 67%
Part Time: N/A

6 Tidewater Community College
121 College Place, Norfolk, Virginia 23510

Tidewater Community College serves South Hampton Roads with 4 campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach, 7 regional centers and 2 cultural centers. TCC is also No. 5 in Military Times’ “Best for Vets” ranking of 2-year schools. About one-third of TCC’s enrollment is made up of military-related students.

Whether you are an active-duty service member, veteran, military spouse or dependent, there are a variety of options to finance your education. TCC could help you learn about tuition assistance, GI BILL ®, MyCAA and VMSDEP, a Virginia state funding program.

Eligible military learners could also qualify for the in-state tuition rate even if not a VA resident.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: N/A
Grad: N/A

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad:N/A
Grad: N/A

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 69%
Part Time: 63%

7 Strayer University-Virginia
2121 15th St N | Arlington, VA 22201

Strayer University’s goal is to make it as easy as possible for service members and veterans to reach their college goals. The school offers special military scholarships for active duty service members and their spouses.

Strayer also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program and veterans are eligible for transfer credit of military training.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $7,840
Grad: $7,897

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 507
Grad: 147

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 87%
Part Time: 68%

8 Regent University
1000 Regent University Drive | Virginia Beach, VA 23464

Regent University has a recognized student veteran organization. And, the Military Resource Center may be helpful. It is responsible for all military student recruiting and retention. Plus, it handles community efforts at Regent.

Regent participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. It offers awards to an unlimited number of undergrad, grad, and doctoral students, plus Law School students. Each could get an unlimited max contribution per year.

Veterans are eligible for transfer credit of military training. The retention rate for full time students who get military benefits is 93%. And the rate for part time students is 85%.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $9,193
Grad: $9,508

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 413
Grad: 439

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 93%
Part Time: 85%

9 Northern Virginia Community College
4001 Wakefield Chapel Rd, Annandale, Virginia 22003-3796

NOVA is the largest public educational institution in Virginia and the second-largest community college in the United States. The college offers many areas of study including business, liberal arts, science, digital media and nursing.

Recently, NOVA was designated a Military Friendly Top 10 School 2021-22. This one adds to other accolades from various sources and times. Schools tend to receive this type of nod when they meet certain standards for services and policies.

At NOVA, the Office of Military and Veterans Services (OMVS) serves a the centralized office where military and veteran students could access resources related to using their benefits.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: N/A
Grad: N/A

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: N/A
Grad: N/A

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 81%
Part Time: 70%

10 Stratford University
3200 Jermantown Rd, Suite 500 | Fairfax, VA 22030

Stratford University participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. It offers an unlimited number of undergrad and grad students an unlimited max contribution per year. You could find this at most locations for all schools/divisions. At the School of Nursing, an unlimited number of undergraduate students get up to $2,000 each, per year. 

Veterans are eligible for transfer credit of military training. The retention rate for full time students who get military benefits is 86%. And the rate for part time students is 88%.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $13,321
Grad: $22,940

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 338
Grad: 44

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 63%
Part Time: 49%

11 James Madison University
800 South Main St | Harrisonburg, VA 22807

James Madison University (JMU) has a recognized student veteran organization. And, the Veteran Scholars Task Force is a committee of students, faculty, and staff dedicated to helping student veterans.

JMU participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. It offers 3 undergrad students up to $3,000 each, per year.

Veterans are eligible for transfer credit of military training. The retention rate for full time students who get military benefits is 80%. And the rate for part time students is 100%.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $10,172
Grad: $9,031

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 483
Grad: 28

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 80%
Part Time: 100%

12 Marymount University
2807 N Glebe Rd, Arlington, Virginia 22207-4299

Marymount University is the first Catholic college in Virginia. The school offers both undergraduate and graduate programs as well as online learning.

In keeping with their mission to help those in need, Marymount commits to help military learners. You could reach out to the school for assistance related to benefits, VA claims, job opportunities, or any other issues. There are also several military friendly policies and dedicated staff.

All military, veteran, and dependents with 100% coverage under the Post 9/11 GI Bill and Vocational Rehab (Ch. 31) will automatically receive the Yellow Ribbon Award. Marymount does not cap the amount of the Yellow Ribbon Award. And, offers it to all military, veteran, and dependent undergraduate students. This award will ensure that there is no cost for tuition and fees while completing your undergraduate studies..

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $20,798
Grad: $14,606

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 54
Grad: 62

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 63%
Part Time: 100%

13 Hampton University
200 William R. Harvey Way | Hampton, VA 23668

Hampton University, our final military-friendly college in Virginia, actively supports the educational aspirations of service members and veterans. With a recognized student veteran organization and the recently established Veterans Lounge, the university aims to provide a space for veteran students to connect and feel supported.

As part of the Yellow Ribbon Program, Hampton U offers financial support to 95 students, providing up to $4,600 per year. Additionally, students at the College of Education Continuing Studies can receive the same amount of financial assistance.

Veterans have the opportunity to transfer credits earned from military training. Among full-time students benefitting from military benefits, the retention rate stands at 67%.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $19,779
Grad: $14,237

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 77
Grad: 10

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 67%
Part Time: N/A

14 University of Mary Washington
1301 College Ave, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401-5300

University of Mary Washington has three colleges – arts and sciences, business, and education.

The college is also approved to offer GI Bill® educational benefits by the Virginia State Approving Agency. There are several campus Veterans services and programs in place that may help the military learner. You could reach out to learn about using your military benefits. UMW also offers credit for eligible military training.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $11,016
Grad: $9,097

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 173
Grad: 14

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 25%
Part Time: 50%

15 Thomas Nelson Community College
99 Thomas Nelson Drive, Hampton, Virginia 23666

Thomas Nelson serves a region that is home for many military service members and their families. In Academic Year 2019-2020, 25.1% of Thomas Nelson credit students indicated a military affiliation (e.g., active-duty, veteran, military spouse, or military dependent). There are various VA education programs available to eligible students for use at the school. Veteran Services staff may be able to help you with your questions in person or online.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $2.270
Grad: N/A

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 322
Grad: N/A

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 61%
Part Time: 53%