The possibilities for a traditional college-level education in or near Fairfax, VA, include community colleges as well as public and private colleges and universities. Using information from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), see what several schools have to offer in terms of campus location, student population, net price and graduation rate.
Closest Schools to Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia, is found inside the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and as a result, it is located within a 25-mile radius of numerous postsecondary educational institutions, including large schools and smaller community colleges. These five schools are the closest to Fairfax:
- George Mason University (7.2 miles)
- Stratford University (7.2 miles)
- ECPI University--Manassas (7.8 miles)
- Strayer University-Manassas Campus (7.8 miles)
- Strayer University-Loudoun Campus (10.3 miles)
Largest Schools Near Fairfax, Virginia
The schools surrounding Fairfax, Virginia display a great deal of diversity in terms of the size of their student populations, including several that offer two and four-year degrees, as well as advanced degree programs. These Fairfax area schools have the largest student bodies:
- Northern Virginia Community College (49,560 students)
- George Mason University (38,628 students)
- Marymount University (3,555 students)
- Strayer University-Virginia (3,223 students)
- Stratford University (1,397 students)
Schools with Lowest Net Price
When calculating a school's net price, the National Center for Education Statistics subtracts the average financial aid package for full-time undergraduates from the average cost of attending that school. These five schools had the lowest net prices in the Fairfax area for the 2020-2021 academic year:
- Northern Virginia Community College ($9,627)
- George Mason University ($18,841)
- Stratford University ($23,243)
- Marymount University ($26,717)
Schools with Highest Graduation Rates
You can understand a school's graduation rate as the percentage of that school's full-time undergraduate students who complete their degree programs within 150% of the normal length of time. Each of these Fairfax schools had one of the highest graduation rates for the area in 2021:
- Stratford University (100% graduation rate)
- George Mason University (70% graduation rate)
- Marymount University (62% graduation rate)
- University of the Potomac--VA Campus (57% graduation rate)
- Northern Virginia Community College (33% graduation rate)
Given its proximity to many different types of colleges, universities and specialty schools, Fairfax students should be sure to take into consideration factors like size and expenses when deciding on a school that meets their expectations.
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