2023 Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in Virginia
There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. With more and more schools offering online options, you could even register for a great program on the other side of the country. On top of that, there are a considerable number of trade schools and bootcamps that offer fast-track entry to many fields.
The Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in Virginia ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. Our analysis looked at 51 schools in Virginia to see which master's degree programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
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Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in Virginia
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our analysis found Liberty University to be the most popular school for students who want to pursue a master’s degree in Virginia. Liberty University is a large private not-for-profit school located in Lynchburg, Virginia that handed out 10,231 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Liberty University. In fact, around 97% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means George Mason University is a great place for students working on their master’s degree. GMU is located in Fairfax, Virginia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,107 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Of those students who received their degree, 64% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at GMU. In 2019-2020 about 87% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
You’ll be in good company if you attend University of Virginia - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. University of Virginia is a large public school situated in Charlottesville, Virginia. It awarded 2,170 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 52% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Virginia does have options available for those who want to take online graduate classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. In fact, around 75% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
You’ll be in good company if you attend Virginia Tech. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in Blacksburg, Virginia, the large public school awarded 1,429 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 42% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Virginia Tech. In fact, around 63% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Out of the 51 schools in Virginia that were part of this year’s ranking, Virginia Commonwealth University landed the # 5 spot on the list. Located in Richmond, Virginia, the large public school awarded 1,274 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
VCU does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 62% took at least some of their classes online.
Regent University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Regent is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,146 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
Online graduate courses are available at Regent, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 94% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Old Dominion University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Old Dominion is located in Norfolk, Virginia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 980 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 62% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Old Dominion does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 82% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
William & Mary came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia ranking. Williamsburg, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 744 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 44% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at William & Mary. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 85% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #9, James Madison University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. JMU is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia and has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 706 master’s degrees to qualified students.
Around 74% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that JMU does offer online graduate classes in some areas. During the 2019-2020 year, about 68% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Marymount University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #10 on the list. Arlington, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 438 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 76% were women.
One thing to take note of is that Marymount does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 68% took at least some of their classes online.
Radford University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Radford, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 417 students in 2020-2021.
Around 79% of those degree recipients were women.
Radford does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In fact, around 87% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Strayer University - Virginia landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Strayer University - Virginia is a small private for-profit school situated in Arlington, Virginia. It awarded 411 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 60% of those degree recipients were women.
Since the graduate programs at Strayer University - Virginia are online, the school is an excellent choice for graduate students who need more flexibility than what is offered at some other schools.
With a ranking of #13, Shenandoah University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Shenandoah University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Winchester, Virginia that handed out 300 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 75% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Shenandoah. During the 2019-2020 year, about 79% of the graduate students at the school took at least one online course.
Eastern Virginia Medical School did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #14 on the list. Eastern Virginia Medical School is a small public school located in Norfolk, Virginia that handed out 303 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 72% of those degree recipients were women.
Eastern Virginia Medical School does offer online graduate classes for certain degree levels. In 2019-2020 about 17% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of Management and Technology ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Located in Arlington, Virginia, the small private for-profit school awarded 224 diplomas to qualifed master’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 34% were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at University of Management and Technology. In fact, around 98% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
Longwood University landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree programs. Longwood University is a small public school located in Farmville, Virginia that handed out 204 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 91% were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Longwood. In fact, around 66% of the graduate population registered for at least one online class in 2019-2020.
With a ranking of #17, ECPI University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the fairly large private for-profit school handed out 181 master’s degree awards in 2020-2021.
Around 53% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at ECPI University. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 79% took at least some of their classes online.
University of the Potomac - VA Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list. This very small private for-profit school is located in Vienna, Virginia, and it awarded 160 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 34% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Lynchburg did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #18 on the list. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 160 students in 2020-2021.
Around 72% of those degree recipients were women.
Some students may be able to take online graduate classes at Lynchburg. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 78% took at least some of their classes online.
University of Mary Washington ranked #20 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Fredericksburg, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out master’s degrees to 146 students in 2020-2021.
Around 78% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that UMW does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 91% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #21, Mary Baldwin University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Mary Baldwin is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Staunton, Virginia. It awarded 145 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 83% of those degree recipients were women.
One thing to take note of is that Mary Baldwin does offer online graduate classes in some areas. Of all the graduate students enrolled at the school during the 2019-2020 academic year, around 51% took at least some of their classes online.
With a ranking of #22, Bluefield College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for students working on their master’s degree. Bluefield, Virginia is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out master’s degrees to 142 students in 2020-2021.
Of those students who received their degree, 68% were women.
You may have the opportunity to take online graduate classes at Bluefield College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 58% of graduates took at least one course online in 2019-2020.
Averett University ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. AU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Danville, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 126 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
Stratford University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #24 on the list. Stratford University is a private for-profit institution located in Fairfax, Virginia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 127 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 46% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Stratford University. In 2019-2020 about 87% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Norfolk State University ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular Master’s Degree Schools in Virginia list. Norfolk State University is a medium-sized public school located in Norfolk, Virginia that handed out 124 master’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 65% of those degree recipients were women.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online graduate classes at Norfolk State. In 2019-2020 about 75% of the graduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Most Popular Master's Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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