From President Ryan: Wise, a True Gem in Southwest Virginia

At a time when many small liberal arts colleges are struggling, the University of Virginia’s College at Wise seems to have found something of a secret sauce.

UVA Wise is a public, four-year residential college that is a division of the University of Virginia, founded in 1954 to serve residents of Southwest Virginia and beyond. Every time I visit this beautiful campus in the mountains, I leave inspired by the terrific students, faculty and staff; by Chancellor Donna Henry and her leadership team; and by all that the UVA Wise community is doing to uplift the region it calls home.

I’m hardly alone in my appreciation. While peer institutions face declining enrollment, applications and enrollment at UVA Wise are steadily increasing. A record 6,380 students applied to the Class of 2028, almost double the previous year’s record. More than 2,700 were from Virginia, and more than 1,800 were from the Appalachian Regional Commission territory, which includes mountainous, rural counties from New York to Mississippi. The current enrollment of 1,280 students is up almost 20 percent over the past two years. About 88 percent receive financial aid, and 51 percent are first-generation college students. For many of these students, a UVA Wise education can be transformative, changing the trajectory of their lives and uplifting their families and communities. 

There are many factors in play, but UVA Wise owes much of its success to a firm commitment to accessibility, an outstanding liberal arts education that meets students’ and employers’ needs, and a deep connection with Southwest Virginia and Appalachia. 

First, in line with UVA’s commitment to meet 100 percent of demonstrated financial need, UVA Wise offers scholarships and financial aid that make a great education possible for talented students, regardless of their means. This support includes 88 Bicentennial Scholarships, which, with matching funds from UVA, total more than $47 million in endowed scholarships. Additionally, in September, UVA Wise doubled its Within Reach program to cover tuition and fees for families with annual earnings of $80,000 or less.

The Year in Wise program, which allows waitlisted UVA applicants to enroll at UVA Wise for one year before transferring to UVA, also keeps talented students in the commonwealth. Launched in 2019, the program has grown steadily and enrolled 100 students this year. These students often have competitive out-of-state offers, and keeping them in Virginia benefits UVA Wise, UVA and the commonwealth.

Second, UVA Wise students enjoy the benefits of an outstanding liberal arts education, plus programs focused on regional needs. For example, the College offers several nursing programs to address critical health care shortages, all housed in the newly renovated Don R. Pippin & John C. Wyllie Hall, an impressive 28,500-square-foot nursing education center.

New programs include a Master of Education program, a hospitality and tourism major, and a master’s program in data analytics, expected to begin next fall after final approval by the State Council of Higher Education. These programs cultivate in-demand skills that meet important needs in the Appalachian region.

Finally, UVA Wise’s commitment to Southwest Virginia and Appalachia extends beyond the job market. It is a campus community that is determined to give back. The Appalachian Prosperity Project, a partnership between UVA, UVA Wise, the Virginia Coalfield Coalition, the private sector, and the state, offers early language and literacy programs for Southwest Virginia families, professional development for early childhood teachers, college and career advising, health care programs, and entrepreneurship initiatives. UVA Wise students, faculty and staff are involved every step of the way, through that project and through numerous other research and service efforts that directly benefit Southwest Virginia residents. 

These efforts are paying off. In 2023, the Virginia Business Higher Education Council estimated that UVA Wise is responsible for $188 million in total economic contributions to the commonwealth. Also in 2023, UVA Wise was named an Innovation and Economic Prosperity institution, one of 91 institutions recognized for extraordinary commitment to economic and community development.

All of these efforts contribute to a sense of purpose and momentum that is palpable the moment you step on the UVA Wise campus. More than anything, I believe that sense of purpose is driving UVA Wise’s growth. People want to be part of something real and valuable. Understanding UVA Wise’s unique value to Southwest Virginia and beyond has been one of the most compelling experiences of my presidency. I’m deeply grateful to Chancellor Henry and the entire UVA Wise community, and I’m delighted more people are taking notice of this Southwest Virginia gem. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

James E. Ryan (Law class of ’92)
President of the University of Virginia