Historic Black college in Virginia that served students from 1888 until closure in 2013.
Saint Paul's College was founded on September 24, 1888, by James Solomon Russell of the Protestant Episcopal Church as the Saint Paul Normal and Industrial School. Originally designed to train African-American teachers and workers in agricultural and industrial fields, the institution evolved significantly over its 125-year history. In 1941, it became Saint Paul's Polytechnic Institute when authorized to offer four-year programs, awarding its first bachelor's degree in 1944. The college adopted its final name in 1957 to reflect its expanded liberal arts and teacher education focus.
The college focused on liberal arts, social sciences, education, business, mathematics, and natural sciences. By the late 20th century, Saint Paul's offered undergraduate degrees for traditional students and distance learners through its Continuing Studies Program. The institution was particularly known for its Single Parent Support System (SPSS), initiated in 1987—the only program of its kind in the United States at the time. This residential program supported single parents with young children (ages 2 months to 9 years) pursuing full-time undergraduate education, providing mentoring, tutoring, counseling, and childcare assistance.
Saint Paul's athletic teams, the Tigers and Lady Tigers, competed at the NCAA Division II level, primarily in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) from 1923–24 to 2010–11. The college fielded 14 intercollegiate varsity sports across men's and women's programs. However, financial pressures led to the discontinuation of all athletic programs in July 2011, with football alone costing $300,000 to $400,000 annually. The 185-acre campus featured eleven buildings, many constructed by students, and was recognized as a historic site.
Saint Paul's College faced severe financial difficulties throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries. In June 2012, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges stripped the college of accreditation, citing violations in financial resources, institutional effectiveness, faculty qualifications, and financial stability. Although a court issued a preliminary injunction reinstating probationary accreditation, merger negotiations with St. Augustine's University in North Carolina ultimately failed. The college announced its closure on June 3, 2013, with operations ending June 30, 2013. In 2017, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation sold the former campus to a Chinese-related firm.