Virginia's only public residential two-year college, offering affordable pathways to bachelor's degrees.
Richard Bland College offers Associate of Arts (A.A.) and Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees with a strong foundation in liberal arts. The college provides guaranteed transfer agreements with four-year universities across Virginia and serves primarily as a pathway to bachelor's degrees, particularly at the College of William & Mary. Academic programs include logistics, Army logistics, and honors coursework, with support services including tutoring, writing centers, and academic advising.
The college occupies a 750-acre rural campus split between Prince George and Dinwiddie Counties, featuring historic architecture, century-old pecan groves, and modern facilities. Residence halls (Commerce, Freedom, and Patriot Halls) house approximately 500 students with apartment-style living and state-of-the-art amenities. Campus facilities include the McNeer Building (science and technology hub), Pecan Hall (humanities), Ernst Hall (classrooms and labs), Barn Theatre, Campus Center with library, and Statesman Hall gymnasium. Student life includes athletics (NJCAA Division I), clubs, esports, and honor code traditions.
The college emphasizes affordability and accessibility, positioning itself as one of Virginia's most affordable options. Housing and meal plans range from $9,840 to $11,640 per year. The college grew enrollment by 21% during the COVID-19 pandemic, the only two-year college in Virginia to do so. Admissions services include application requirements, financial aid processing, and dedicated support for first-generation and international students through the iRBC program.
College Factual ranked RBC No. 236 out of 1,330 associate degree-granting colleges nationally (2023) and No. 13 for overall value in Virginia. The college maintains a diverse alumni network of over 18,000 individuals worldwide, including notable figures such as Kirk Cox (Virginia House Speaker) and Javaid Siddiqi (Virginia Secretary of Education). The institution plays a vital economic role in Petersburg and surrounding regions.