World Class Talent at a Competitive Cost

Nearly 30 regional institutions of higher education train and supply the next generation of skilled professionals, enabling Richmond to attract and retain businesses of all sizes.

Higher Education

  • Virginia Commonwealth University: Ranked as a top 100 research university, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) offers a bachelor’s, masters, and doctorate program in electrical and computer engineering. The Virginia Microelectronics Center focuses on the fabrication and development of micro- and nano devices and state of the art material creation. This laboratory, which has supported the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and U.S. Department of Defense, conducts research in nanoelectronics and nanophotonic devices, micro- and nano-electromechanical systems, drug discovery, microfluidics, flexible electronics, bio-electronics, and nano-bio interfaces.
  • Reynolds Community College: Reynolds Community College offers an A.S. in Engineering degree for students wishing to transfer to a four-year college or university with Reynolds allowing students to select an Electrical/Computer Engineering specialization.
  • Brightpoint Community College: Brightpoint Community College provides high quality, hands-on instruction in areas of skilled trades relevant to semiconductor manufacturing, such as Mechanical Engineering Technology and Electrical Engineering Technology.

K-12

  • Career and Technical Education: Virginia’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs aim to raise interest and train students in a wide range of high-growth career clusters, including STEM and manufacturing. These programs not only teach academic and technical skills, but also incorporate workplace readiness skills that employers desire.
  • Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School: The #8 public high school in the United States according to Niche is a public regional magnet high school located in Richmond.

Workforce Training

Community College Workforce Alliance: A joint partnership between Brightpoint Community College and Reynolds Community College, Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA) is dedicated to providing world-class, non-credit, and custom-designed instruction, consulting, skills assessments, and educational programs and services to both the public and private sectors.