Frequently asked questions

Yes. Southern Virginia University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges and Universities to award bachelor's degrees, and online bachelor's degrees are covered by that accreditation.

SVU is awaiting approval from its accreditor to offer master's degrees. Until approval comes through, you can join the waitlist for the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction.

Six bachelor's degrees, all with first cohorts beginning Spring 2027: Digital Content Creation, Business Management & Leadership (B.A.), Psychology (B.A.), Liberal Arts (B.A.), Computer Science, and Data Science (B.S.); a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (first cohort planned for Summer 2027, pending accreditor approval), and individual flex-start courses you can begin at any time.

Online courses are taught by SVU's own faculty, and bachelor's students take the same core curriculum every SVU student takes.

Your diploma will note that your degree was earned online.

SVU professors teach every course. Each course also has teaching assistants and instructional support staff working alongside your professor, and the Office of Online Operations supports students and faculty.

No. Programs are 100% online, so you can study without relocating.

You can study with SVU Online from any of the 50 states.

No. Courses are asynchronous, through Canvas, with no required meeting times. Lessons, presentations, discussions, and feedback are recorded and shared online, so you can fit school around work, family, and other responsibilities.

Like any class, your courses still have due dates for assignments, so you'll plan your week around those.

Your professor teaches through recorded, structured video lessons made for your course. You record and submit video presentations, get personal video feedback from your professor, and exchange video responses with classmates. Teaching assistants also send personal video posts to keep in touch throughout the course.

Yes. SVU Online is online, but never anonymous. You'll see and hear from your professor, teaching assistants, and classmates through video lessons, feedback, and discussion.

As a general guide, college courses ask for about two to three hours of work each week for every credit hour, so a three-credit course is about six to nine hours a week.

Within each week, yes, since there are no set class times. Degree programs follow a set sequence of courses with your cohort and have assignment due dates.

Flex-start courses are the most flexible: start any time and take up to 15 weeks to finish.

Each bachelor's degree is 120 credit hours. At 15 credit hours in Fall and Spring, that's four years; summer coursework is available as an alternative pace.

The M.Ed. is 30 credit hours over three terms (Summer, Fall, and Spring), and must be completed within 24 months of first enrolling.

For bachelor's degrees, first-year applicants are expected to have a 2.5 grade point average at any high school previously attended. Homeschooled students can submit homeschool transcripts or a portfolio of schoolwork. Applicants who don't meet the minimum may be considered for provisional admission after further review and an interview.

The M.Ed. is designed for practicing teachers. If your situation is different, please ask us. We may be able to accommodate you.

Bachelor's applications are made through SVU's online application. For the M.Ed., join the waitlist and we'll contact you as soon as applications open.

The first bachelor's cohorts begin in Spring 2027, and the first M.Ed. cohort is planned for Summer 2027. Flex-start courses can be started at any time.

For bachelor's degrees, prior college credit is evaluated under SVU's standard transfer credit policy. At least 60 credit hours, or your final 30, must be completed through SVU.

The M.Ed. doesn't accept transfer credit; all 30 hours are completed through SVU. Flex-start courses you pass transfer in when you apply to an SVU degree program.

SVU Online gives former students another way to continue working toward their degree and stay connected to the university. Contact us and we'll help you see what's left.

Tuition for bachelor's degrees is $348 per credit hour. Tuition for the M.Ed. and flex-start courses: TBD.

Yes, for degree programs. Eligible students can use federal financial aid, such as Federal Pell Grants and Federal Direct Loans. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see what you qualify for.

Federal aid can't be applied to flex-start courses.

Yes. Eligible veterans, service members, and family members can use VA education benefits, such as the GI Bill, for degree programs.

Need-based scholarships may be available for flex-start courses.

Scholarships are also available for students who are in high school or homeschooled.

A laptop or desktop computer (at a minimum, a tablet), a reliable internet connection, and a built-in or external webcam for recording video assignments and feedback to classmates. Some assignments also ask you to record your screen.

No. If you can use email and a web browser, you can learn the rest. Bachelor's students start with SVU 101, which teaches the tools and habits of successful online study: Canvas (the online learning platform), the online library, and the assessment tools your courses use.

Every course has teaching assistants and instructional support staff working alongside your professor, and the Office of Online Operations supports online students.

Yes. Students with disabilities can request accommodations through SVU's Accommodation Request Form, and the same accommodation process applies to online courses.

Email admissions@svu.edu or call 540-261-8401, or use the Request Information button below.