Source: IPEDS, as of September 29, 2026. Cost is resident tuition plus required fees, 2023-24.
Associate Degrees in Virginia
13
Meet the Ranking Threshold
9
Median Resident Tuition and Fees
$5,256
With a Fully Online Option
9
General Studies Associate Degrees in Virginia
General studies associate degrees in Virginia are a community college product with two private exceptions: of the nine ranked programs, seven are at public community colleges charging $4,901 to $5,714 a year in tuition and required fees for residents, and the other two, Regent University in Virginia Beach and Bluefield University, are private and charge $20,686 and $29,696. Four more programs sit below the ranking threshold, at Mountain Gateway and Eastern Shore community colleges, the University of Management and Technology in Arlington and Hampton University.
Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville scores 65.2, 73rd nationally, without an online option, on 182 degrees a year, a 39% graduation rate and $4,928 in tuition and fees. Brightpoint Community College in Chester follows at 59.9, then Northern Virginia at 59.2, Southwest Virginia at 57.9, Virginia Western in Roanoke at 57.8 and Tidewater at 56.5. Northern Virginia's 760 degrees and Tidewater's 520 make them the two biggest programs, and both graduate about a third of their students, 33% and 32%.
Southwest Virginia Community College in Cedar Bluff is the small one, 17 degrees a year, but it graduates 46%, the highest rate among the ranked community colleges, at $4,901, the lowest tuition on the list. Regent graduates 57%, the highest rate among all nine, yet scores 45.1 on $20,686 tuition and 12 degrees. Bluefield graduates 18% at $29,696 and scores 9.1. J Sargeant Reynolds in Richmond, at $5,136 and 32%, rounds out the public group.
The 9 Best General Studies Associate Degrees in Virginia
The best general studies associate degrees in Virginia are ranked below by their national score, from the national associate degree ranking. The number on each card is the program's place in Virginia. Each needed at least 10 graduates in the latest year to be ranked.
1
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Virginia
65.2- Public
- College graduation rate
- 39%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $4,928 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 182
About the Program
Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a public community college with 5,263 students on its rolls. Some 182 associate's degrees were conferred in the last year on record, a bigger output than 73% of the programs ranked alongside it. Its college-wide graduation rate is 39%, the 62nd percentile, because the federal record tracks completion by institution. Residents pay $4,928 a year in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay $10,931. On the number of degrees it awards it does best, reaching the 73rd percentile.
2
Brightpoint Community College
Virginia
59.9- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 38%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $4,938 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 97
About the Program
Chester, Virginia is home to Brightpoint Community College, a public community college of 9,380 students. Some 97 associate's degrees were conferred in the last year on record, a bigger output than 58% of the programs ranked alongside it. Across the whole college, 38% of students finish, which is a higher rate than 59% of the institutions behind this list. Tuition and fees are $4,938 a year for residents and $10,941 for students from out of state, which makes it cheaper than 64% of programs at this level. Distance students can complete the whole degree online, so where you live matters less here. On price it does best, reaching the 64th percentile.
3
Northern Virginia Community College
Virginia
59.2- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 33%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $5,703 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 760
About the Program
Annandale, Virginia is home to Northern Virginia Community College, a public community college of 56,457 students. The program's last federal report shows 760 associate's degrees conferred, so it is larger than 93 in every 100 programs measured here. Of the students who start at Northern Virginia Community College, 33% graduate, and that beats 45 in every 100 institutions on this measure. Residents pay $5,703 a year in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay $11,786. Distance students can complete the whole degree online, so where you live matters less here. Strongest of its measures is the number of degrees it awards, which lands at the 93rd percentile.
4
Southwest Virginia Community College
Virginia
57.9- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 46%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $4,901 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 17
About the Program
Based in Cedar Bluff, Virginia, Southwest Virginia Community College is a public community college with 2,364 students on its rolls. It conferred 17 associate's degrees in the latest reported year, which is more than 12% of the associate's programs ranked at this level. A 46% graduation rate puts the college at the 79th percentile, though that figure counts every student who started there and not this degree alone. Tuition and fees are $4,901 a year for residents and $10,904 for students from out of state, which makes it cheaper than 65% of programs at this level. Nothing in the degree requires attending in person, since it is offered fully online. Strongest of its measures is the graduation rate of its college, which lands at the 79th percentile.
5
Virginia Western Community College
Virginia
57.8- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 40%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $5,256 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 70
About the Program
Virginia Western Community College is a public community college in Roanoke, Virginia that enrolls 6,332 students. The program's last federal report shows 70 associate's degrees conferred, so it is larger than 48 in every 100 programs measured here. Of the students who start at Virginia Western Community College, 40% graduate, and that beats 65 in every 100 institutions on this measure. Expect tuition and fees of $5,256 a year as a resident and $11,259 otherwise. Because the full degree is offered online, it is open to students well outside the region. What lifts it most is the graduation rate of its college, where it reaches the 65th percentile.
6
Tidewater Community College
Virginia
56.5- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 32%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $5,714 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 520
About the Program
Some 16,884 students attend Tidewater Community College, a public community college in Norfolk, Virginia. It conferred 520 associate's degrees in the latest reported year, which is more than 91% of the associate's programs ranked at this level. Across the whole college, 32% of students finish, which is a higher rate than 41% of the institutions behind this list. Expect tuition and fees of $5,714 a year as a resident and $11,717 otherwise. Because the full degree is offered online, it is open to students well outside the region. Strongest of its measures is the number of degrees it awards, which lands at the 91st percentile.
7
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Virginia
47.9- Public
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 32%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $5,136 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 71
About the Program
Based in Richmond, Virginia, J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a public community college with 8,681 students on its rolls. The program's last federal report shows 71 associate's degrees conferred, so it is larger than 48 in every 100 programs measured here. Its college-wide graduation rate is 32%, the 41st percentile, because the federal record tracks completion by institution. Expect tuition and fees of $5,136 a year as a resident and $11,139 otherwise. Distance students can complete the whole degree online, so where you live matters less here. What lifts it most is price, where it reaches the 57th percentile.
8
Regent University
Virginia
45.1- Private nonprofit
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 57%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $20,686 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 12
About the Program
Regent University is a private nonprofit university in Virginia Beach, Virginia that enrolls 10,657 students. During the most recent year on record it awarded 12 associate's degrees, a count at the 5th percentile for size. Across the whole college, 57% of students finish, which is a higher rate than 93% of the institutions behind this list. Residents and nonresidents are both charged $20,686 a year in tuition and fees. Distance students can complete the whole degree online, so where you live matters less here. About 38% of applicants are admitted, so an application is not a formality. Its strongest mark is the graduation rate of its college, at the 93rd percentile.
9
Bluefield University
Virginia
9.1- Private nonprofit
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 18%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $29,696 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 26
About the Program
Bluefield University is a private nonprofit university in Bluefield, Virginia that enrolls 959 students. Some 26 associate's degrees were conferred in the last year on record, a bigger output than 23% of the programs ranked alongside it. Of the students who start at Bluefield University, 18% graduate, and that beats 6 in every 100 institutions on this measure. Every student pays $29,696 a year in tuition and fees, since the institution sets one rate. Nothing in the degree requires attending in person, since it is offered fully online. About 59% of applicants are admitted, so an application is not a formality. On the number of degrees it awards it does best, reaching the 23rd percentile.
Other General Studies Associate Degrees in Virginia
The other general studies associate degrees in Virginia awarded fewer than 10 degrees in the latest year or did not report a figure the ranking uses, so they are listed here without a score. That says something about size and nothing on its own about quality.
| College | Degrees Awarded | Graduation Rate | Tuition and Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Gateway Community College, Clifton Forge | 8 | 38% | $4,878 |
| University of Management and Technology, Arlington | 3 | 33% | $9,450 |
| Eastern Shore Community College, Melfa | 1 | 41% | $4,938 |
| Hampton University, Hampton | 1 | 57% | $29,162 |
Source: IPEDS, as of September 29, 2026. Graduation rate is the college's, for first-time, full-time students.
How Much Does a General Studies Associate Degree Cost in Virginia?
A general studies associate degree in Virginia costs a median of $5,256 a year in tuition and required fees for 2023-24 across the 13 programs, and the nine public community colleges sit in a band from $4,878 at Mountain Gateway to $5,714 at Tidewater, with Virginia Western at the median itself. Out-of-state students pay $10,881 to $11,786 at the same colleges. The four private programs break the pattern: the University of Management and Technology at $9,450, Regent University at $20,686, Hampton University at $29,162 and Bluefield University at $29,696.
Two state programs fund this level. Virginia G3 covers community college training in six in-demand industries for Virginia residents with household income of roughly $120,000 or less, and because it's tied to those industries, a general studies associate is covered only if your college places it under one of them, a question for the aid office. The Two-Year College Transfer Grant pays up to $3,000 annually once you complete an associate degree at a Virginia public two-year college and transfer to a participating Virginia four-year school, if you hold a 3.0 grade point average and meet financial eligibility requirements, so your associate GPA has a price on it.
Will a General Studies Associate Degree Transfer in Virginia?
Yes, a general studies associate degree transfers in Virginia with guaranteed admission to more than 30 colleges and universities, provided it's a transfer associate degree. Virginia's Community Colleges say students who graduate from one of Virginia's 23 community colleges with an associate degree and a minimum grade point average may obtain guaranteed admission to more than 30 of the commonwealth's colleges and universities, and that all of the Guaranteed Admissions Agreements require students to complete a transfer associate degree. So the first thing to ask any community college is whether its general studies associate carries the transfer designation, because the guarantee attaches to that word, not to the subject.
If you're not sure you'll finish the full degree, Virginia has a shorter credential built for the same purpose. The 32-credit Uniform Certificate of General Studies, earned at a Virginia community college, is guaranteed to transfer to all public and most private colleges in Virginia, so you can lock in your general education credits partway through.
The statewide agreements include one with the University of Virginia's Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies, a completion route a general studies graduate can enter through a GAA. Regent, Bluefield, Hampton and the University of Management and Technology are private and outside the community college system, so ask each which universities have taken its associate graduates and on what terms.
What Do Jobs With a General Studies Associate Degree Pay in Virginia?
Jobs open to a general studies associate degree in Virginia pay the state medians below, from the May 2025 federal wage survey, with the national median beside each for comparison. Each row links to the salary guide for that job.
How to Choose a General Studies Associate Degree Program in Virginia
To choose a general studies associate degree program in Virginia, let completion and format decide, because the seven ranked community colleges all charge between $4,901 and $5,714 in tuition and fees. Southwest Virginia graduates 46% but awards 17 degrees a year, so it's a small program with good odds of finishing. Virginia Western graduates 40% and Piedmont Virginia 39%, with Piedmont the larger at 182 degrees. The two biggest, Northern Virginia and Tidewater, finish 33% and 32%. Regent's 57% graduation rate costs $20,686, four times the community college rate, and Bluefield's $29,696 buys an 18% graduation rate.
Eight of the nine ranked programs can be finished online, Piedmont Virginia being the campus-only exception, so an online general studies associate at community college tuition is easy to find here. If you plan to continue to a bachelor's, ask whether the degree is a transfer associate, since every Guaranteed Admissions Agreement requires one, whether you can pick up the 32-credit Uniform Certificate of General Studies along the way, and what GPA the college's recent graduates carried into their four-year schools, because the Transfer Grant needs a 3.0.
If you plan to finish a bachelor's in the state, the general studies bachelor's degrees in Virginia have their own page.