Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia

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#VAHigherEDTogether

Our CICV Presidents were proud to join with their peers from Virginia's public institutions and community colleges to send this message of support to our current and future students. Be safe. Be informed. Be Well. #VAHigherEdTogether

https://vimeo.com/410271651

2022 Counselor Tour

Our colleges are looking forward to hosting counselors again in person in the spring of 2022. That tour will feature private colleges in the southwestern portion of the Commonwealth. Please check back as more information becomes available or contact admin@cicv.org .

Virginia Private College Week, July 26 - 31, 2021

Virginia Private College Week is a long-standing tradition for our colleges. This year we will take the best of what we can from last year (the availability of virtual options) and combine it with what our colleges have long been great at--face-to-face hospitality! Most (though not all) member colleges ARE hosting in-person visits both now and during Private College Week. If you are able to travel and wish to visit in-person, please contact each college directly to see if they are able to accommodate you and what guidelines are they working with (masks, health screening questions, limited group sizes). For more details, visit:

Virginia Private College Week

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MYTH: Only low income or extremely smart students receive financial aid for college.

FACT:There are many forms of financial assistance available that are not merit or need-based, including institutional grants and state grants, as well as work-study programs. According to a recent study by the Human Capital Research Corporation, institutional grants constitute the largest source of financial assistance for students attending Virginia private colleges.
MYTH: Private colleges cost significantly more than public colleges.

FACT:The difference is far less than many families assume, thanks to significant institutional, merit and need-based grants and the Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG). According to a recent study by the Human Capital Research Corporation, the average price gap between a Virginia private and public college is only $4,700 (after grant aid from all sources).
MYTH: Private College v. Public College – there’s not much difference, really.

FACT:Parents and students should compare graduation rates, the time it takes to earn a degree, overall class size, student/faculty ratio, and the personal attention received by students. With a strong commitment to graduating students in four years or less, an average class size of only 16 students, and a 11:1 student/ faculty ratio Virginia private schools rank very favorably in all categories.
MYTH: Private colleges are too expensive.

FACT:In 2011, 87% of freshmen at Virginia private colleges demonstrated financial need, with an average financial aid total of $20,463 (grants, work study and loans). Virginia residents attending an in-state private college also receive the undergraduate Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (TAG) award ($3,200 in 2016-17). Federal tax credits and deductions can benefit some of those who do not receive grant aid.
MYTH: Private liberal arts colleges won’t prepare me for a job.

FACT:The benefits of a private liberal arts college are more valuable than ever. Students learn to think and communicate effectively – attributes sought by employers in all professions.
MYTH: Private colleges are not diverse.

FACT:Virginia private colleges enroll a higher percentage of African American undergraduates than Virginia public institutions. They also enroll a larger percentage of Pell Grant recipients (students who receive federal need-based aid).