Type For-profit Website www.vc.edu Founded 1983 | Established 1983 Number of students 11,000 | |
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Motto It's time for a new beginning, your success starts here Owner Educational Corporation of America Location Birmingham (Main Campus), Alabama, United States Headquarters Birmingham, Alabama, United States Subsidiaries Virginia College-School of Business and Health Parent organization Education Corporation of America Similar Jefferson State Communi, University of West Alabama, Lawson State Communi, Birmingham–Southern College, Samford University Profiles | ||
Virginia college birmingham al colleges
Virginia College is a chain of private for-profit, nationally accredited, post-secondary institutions, located primarily in the southeastern United States. As a proprietary institution, Virginia College offers classes, certificates, diplomas, and degrees related to specific professions, such as health and medical, information technology, business, office management, and criminal justice. Virginia College also offers online degree programs.
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Virginia college in birmingham al
History
The original Virginia College campus was founded in 1983 in Roanoke, Virginia. In 1989, the college was purchased by Education Futures, Inc. In February 1992, Virginia College opened its first branch campus in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Homewood. Another branch campus was opened in April 1993 in Huntsville, Alabama. Several more branches have opened since as the school has expanded.
The current Virginia College has no relationship with the original Virginia College in Roanoke established in 1983.
Ownership
The company that owns and operates the schools, Education Corporation of America, is a privately held corporation headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. ECA also owns Virginia College Online, which offers distance education academic programs via the Internet; Golf Academy of America; Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College, offering degrees in the culinary arts; and Ecotech Institute, offering degrees in fields of renewable energy, sustainable design, and energy efficiency.
Locations
Brick and mortar Virginia College campus locations:
Culinard campus and teaching kitchen locations:
Golf Academy of America campuses locations:
Curriculum
Virginia College offers courses in health care, cosmetology, criminal justice, paralegal, and network engineering (Network engineering courses are not ABET-accredited), as well as several trades (professional training) programs such as truck driving. Online classes and degrees are also offered.
Accreditation
Virginia College programs are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.
Criticism
In 2012, Virginia College was sued by the Mississippi Center for Justice on behalf of seven students. The lawsuit claims that Virginia College misled students about the value of their degrees, and that it specifically targeted misleading advertising to women and minority students.
The case was remanded to arbitration.