Virginia Western Community College

The Virginia Western Community College was established in 1966 and is a two-year public institution of higher education.

The mission of the college is to provide "affordable, accessible and quality educational opportunities and workforce training to meet individual, community, and global needs."

The school is operated under the Virginia system of community colleges and services a region that includes the cities of Roanoke and Salem, as well as the counties of Roanoke, Craig, Botetourt and Franklin.

Virginia Western's 70-acre campus is located in Southwest Roanoke, with nearby interstate access from Interstate 581, which connects to Interstate 81 and US Highway 220.

The campus has seen tremendous expansion over the past two decades and many state-of-the-art facilities are being designed and constructed.

Many of these facilities are also outstanding venues for meetings and special events.

The campus is also home to The Community Arboretum, a two-acre educational garden that is one of the premier green spaces in the Roanoke Valley. The arboretum is open daily and there is no admission fee.

The school currently has over 12,000 students, many of whom are from the Roanoke Valley area and are part-time students.

Virginia Western offers 69 different specified programs, including 23 associate degree programs.

With so many students being from the local region, the college serves as a vital resource for training and development of potential employees for local businesses.

Many Virginia Western programs connect students with local companies, creating a partnership that helps businesses in the Roanoke Valley invest in local talent and community growth.