15 Military Friendly Colleges in Virginia

1Liberty University
1971 University Blvd | Lynchburg, PA 24515

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $44.87M

Liberty University is the first military friendly college in Virginia on our list. It has over 7,300 students who get GI Bill benefits. And, the Liberty University Veterans Center may be a great resource. It has space for military students to socialize, study, and relax in between classes. And, you could get guidance from a military student liaison and VetSuccess on Campus counselor.

Liberty participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. It does not limit the number of students who can get the reward. Undergrad students in the online School of Aeronautics are offered up to $7500 per year. And, undergrad students in the residential School of Aeronautics can get up to $10,000 per year. There is an unlimited contribution for students in all other programs.

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 73%.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $6,742
Grad: $4,262

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 4,650
Grad: 3,173

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 81%
Part Time: 33%

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

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $29.14M

Old Dominion University (ODU) provides the tools and resources necessary to help their military Monarchs succeed. Veterans Affairs Services may be a great resource. It advocates for students and helps with Veteran’s Administration (VA) programs and certification. Plus, the school’s Military Connection Center offers help transitioning to college life.

ODU participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. It offers awards 5 grad students, each, in the School of Education, the School of Engineering, and the School of Nursing. Each could get 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 78%. And the rate for part time students is 85%.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $14,385
Grad: $10,166

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 1,825
Grad: 285

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 80%
Part Time: 58%

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

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $17.89M

George Mason University (GMU) stands ready to be a resource for active duty personnel, veterans, and their families. The Office of Military Services (OMS) works with several organizations to give community support and mentorship.

GMU participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. It offers an unlimited number of students up to $5,000 each, per year.

Veterans are eligible for transfer credit of military training. The retention rate for full time students who get military benefits is 82%. And the rate for part time students is 77%.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $11,051
Grad: $10,602

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 1,181
Grad: 457

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 86%
Part Time: 74%

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

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $9.94M

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: $11,823
Grad: $15,667

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 705
Grad: 103

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 83%
Part Time: 33%

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

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $9.63M

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: $11,558
Grad: $10,847

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 657
Grad: 188

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 93%
Part Time: 84%

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.

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $9.41M

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $3,365
Grad: N/A

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 2,799
Grad: N/A

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 58%
Part Time: 35%

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

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $9.37M

Strayer University Virginia participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. The school offers an unlimited number of students up to $5,000 each, per year. This is available at the Alexandria, Arlington, Chesapeake, Midlothian, and Fredericksburg campuses.  At other locations, the school does not limit the max contribution. These include: Glen Allen, Ashburn, Manassas, Newport News, Virginia Beach, Woodbridge, and Herndon (online).

Veterans are eligible for transfer credit of military training. The retention rate for full time students who get military benefits is 87%. And the rate for part time students is 68%.

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $9,730
Grad: $10,655

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 720
Grad: 222

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 43%
Part Time: 49%

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

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $8.69M

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: $9,570
Grad: $10,038

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 434
Grad: 452

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 78%
Part Time: 26%

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.

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $5.71M

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $1,904
Grad: N/A

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 3,001
Grad: N/A

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 71%
Part Time: 52%

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

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $5.51M

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

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $5.05M

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: $10,045
Grad: $9,545

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 481
Grad: 23

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 89%
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..

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $2.35M

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $18,506
Grad: $13,338

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 92
Grad: 49

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 72%
Part Time: 88%

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

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $2.29M

Hampton University is our last military friendly college in Virginia. They support the higher education goals of service members and veterans. The school has a recognized student veteran organization. And, be sure to check out the new Veterans Lounge. Its goal is to be a place where veteran students connect.

Hampton U participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program. It offers 95 students up to $4,600 per year. And, 5 students at the College of ED Continuing Studies can get up to $4,600 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: $19,324
Grad: $11,157

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 116
Grad: 5

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 75%
Part Time: 17%

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.

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $1.98M

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $11,180
Grad: $7,657

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 173
Grad: 7

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 80%
Part Time: 75%

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.

Total Post 9/11 GI Bill Sum Awarded in 2018/19: $1.75M

Average Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits Awarded

Undergrad: $2,638
Grad: N/A

# of Students Earning 9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Undergrad: 666
Grad: N/A

Retention Rates For Students Who Receive Benefits

Full Time: 62%
Part Time: 39%