Three historic universities in Virginia that have been open for over 100 years are facing financial difficulties due to a significant decrease in the number of students enrolled and are on the verge of closure. Local media outlet WRIC reported on the 8th, citing a report from the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), that three universities, Virginia State University in Chesterfield County, Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, and Radford University in Radford, are at risk of closure due to financial problems, although not immediately.
According to the outlet, Virginia State University, which opened in 1882, has maintained low tuition fees to provide educational services to the traditionally underprivileged, but this has led to a continued decline in school revenue in recent years. Radford University, which opened in 1910, and Mary Washington University, which opened in 1908, are being cited as the cause of their crisis due to a significant decrease in the number of students enrolled.