• college campus image by Nick Alexander from Fotolia.com
  
  The state of Virginia has 39 major colleges and universities, according to Virginia Colleges and Universities. Division I schools, named by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, generally have larger operating budgets for athletics as well as for academics, research and other operations, and large student bodies in comparison to division II and division III schools.
  
  

University of Virginia

• The University of Virginia was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville, VA. Also known as UVA, this public university is ranked 24th in the nation, according to US News and World Report 2010. The University of Virginia has 24,541 undergraduates currently enrolled. The University of Virginia's mascot is the Cavalier.
  
  University of Virginia
  Admissions Office
  Peabody Hall
  McCormick Road
  Charlottesville VA, 22903
  (434) 982-3200
  virginia.edu
  
  

The College of William and Mary

• The College of William and Mary is a public university located in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693, the College of William and Mary is the oldest university in the United States of America. Presidents such as Thomas Jefferson, John Tyler and James Monroe attended the College. The College has approximately 7,892 undergraduates and is ranked 33rd in the nation, according to US News and World Report 2010. The College of William and Mary's mascot is the Tribe.
  
  The College of William and Mary
  Admissions Office
  116 Jamestown Road
  Williamsburg, VA 23185
  (757) 221-4223
  wm.edu
  
  

Virginia Polytechnic University

• Virginia Polytechnic, also called Virginia Tech, was founded in 1872 as a polytechnic institute in Blacksburg, Virginia. The university currently offers varied disciplines but stays true to its polytechnic routes, with engineering, agriculture and veterinary medicine as its strongest and most prestigious programs. Virginia Tech is ranked 71st in the United States by US News and World Report 2010, and has 30,739 undergraduates as of 2008. Virginia Tech's mascot is the Hokie.
  
  Virginia Polytechnic University
  Admission Office
  201 Burruss Hall
  Blacksburg, VA 24061
  (540) 231-6267
  vt.edu