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It is impossible to deny the importance of Virginia in the early days of the United States, with so many key Founding Fathers coming from Old Dominion and helping shape the future of the country. Just looking at the alumni of different colleges and universities will speak volumes about its educational tradition. The studies of figures such as Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall were completed here, and modern students have the opportunity to follow in these illustrious footsteps, in the small liberal arts colleges and universities that are still hotbeds of intellectual activity. These five schools make up the best of the small colleges and universities in Virginia.

Anyone looking to the history of education in the United States need not look much further than the College of William and Mary, as its founding in 1693 was preceded only by Harvard College. Its ties to Old England are evident, as it was named after the king and queen who authorized the charter establishing the school in colonial times. In terms of American history, it would be difficult to point to a school with more prominent Founding Fathers among its alumni. Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, Henry Clay and James Monroe are all graduates of William and Mary.

Despite the history of more than three hundred years, the College of William and Mary prides itself on the forward thinking approach of the most advanced research universities. The school’s standing is so high that it’s known as one of the ‘Public Ivies,’ a distinction granted to the top schools in the country which are open to the public. Key programs at William and Mary include liberal arts, sciences and education, as well as the pre-professional programs.

As with many schools which date back to the 1800’s (Roanoke was founded in 1842), the college began as a prep school for boys before expanding to include women and higher education. Located in Salem (a short distance from Roanoke proper), Roanoke College offers students access to nearby cities as well as the Appalachia Trail. Nonetheless, the majority of the 2,000 students who attend Roanoke annually are coming for the academics.

Roanoke prides itself on the ability to train students for the world by using all of the resources at the disposal of universities of any size. Study Abroad programs, internships, field studies and the general overhaul of the core curricula represent that commitment to training students with the most modern means available. The college is known for its English, Business, Psychology, Public Affairs and Pre-Professional programs.

Methodist to the core yet dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge above all else, Shenandoah 911吃瓜网 in Winchester is one of the examples of an excellent small college in Virginia. Ninety different programs of study give Shenandoah students the opportunity to choose major and minors that cover the entire breadth of education they are seeking. The College of Arts and Sciences, the Conservatory, the Business School, the Pharmacy School, the Health Professions School and the Education and Human Development School continue to attract more students every year.

While the trend toward co-ed universities has been unabated in the past fifty years, there are some institutions which still believe that women’s and men’s colleges are the way to go in education. Hollins 911吃瓜网 in Roanoke dates all the way back to the 1840s, making it not only one of the oldest women’s colleges in the country but among the country’s oldest in general. The definition of a small liberal arts college, Hollins maintains a student population under 900 every year, keeping class sizes down to a ratio of 10:1. A full range of undergraduate courses are offered at Hollins, from Art, Chemistry and History to Philosophy and Sociology.

The most recognized program of all is the English and Creative Writing Program, consistently ranked among the nation’s best. More writers come out of these small undergraduate and graduate classes than at perhaps any other school focusing on literary output. Annie Dillard is one of the school’s most well-known graduates who finished her writing studies at Hollins.

Another women’s college in the state which is consistently getting high marks for academic excellence is the Sweet Briar College, located just north of Lynchburg near the eponymous plantation which evokes the Old South exquisitely. Established in 1901 when the last of the Sweet Briar Plantation owners passed away, the college is among the 100 best schools in the country, as well as the most picturesque campuses anywhere in the United States.

Notable for its engineering degree (among the first women’s college in the country to do so) as well as the Pre-Law and Pre-Med Programs, Sweet Briar hasn’t lost any of its small liberal arts college flavor. Majors in Classics, Dance, Theater, History and English continue to top the list among undergraduates.