Best Online Education Programs in Fairfax, VA (2026)
Fairfax, Virginia has a population of about 24,478. The city’s median household income is $132,774 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 62.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 83 accredited schools offering education programs near Fairfax, with tuition ranging from $6,152 to $84,696 per year for indexed programs. In the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, the top-earning education-related role is Education Administrator, K-12 at a median $133,720 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Education Schools to Fairfax
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 83 schools in our directory that offer education programs near Fairfax. Distances are calculated from Fairfax city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Mason University | Fairfax, VA | 1.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Columbia College | Vienna, VA | 5.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Marymount University | Arlington, VA | 9.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Strayer University-Virginia | Arlington, VA | 11.8 mi | $13,920 | – |
| American University | Washington, DC | 12.7 mi | $56,543 - $71,549 | – |
| Georgetown University | Washington, DC | 12.8 mi | $65,081 - $84,696 | – |
| George Washington University | Washington, DC | 13.9 mi | $64,990 - $80,727 | – |
| University of the District of Columbia | Washington, DC | 14.0 mi | $6,152 - $20,911 | – |
| Strayer University-Global Region | Washington, DC | 14.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Strayer University-District of Columbia | Washington, DC | 14.7 mi | $13,920 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Virginia schools on the Virginia education page.
Education Wages Near Fairfax
Fairfax is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (BLS area code 47900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Virginia statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teacher | $77,880 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $71,515 |
| Elementary School Teacher | $76,120 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $69,899 |
| Middle School Teacher | $75,580 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $69,403 |
| Education Teacher, Postsecondary | $72,490 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $66,566 |
| Education Administrator, K-12 | $133,720 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $122,792 |
| Education Administrator, Postsecondary | $126,620 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $116,272 |
| Tutor | $50,020 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $45,932 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $76,230 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $70,000 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Fairfax at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 24,478 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $132,774 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 62.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 108.9 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Education-related employment in Fairfax (city) County | 365 workers, 38 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Fairfax-Area Cities With Education Programs
- Herndon, VA – 9.3 mi away (24,393 pop)
- Alexandria, VA – 11.7 mi away (155,810 pop)
- Manassas, VA – 12.3 mi away (41,483 pop)
- Washington, DC – 15.7 mi away (5,191,844 pop)
- Rockville, MD – 17.7 mi away (66,940 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited education schools are near Fairfax, VA?
Our directory has 83 accredited schools offering education programs near Fairfax. The closest is George Mason University in Fairfax, VA (1.5 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Strayer University-District of Columbia (14.7 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying education roles near Fairfax?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying education-related roles near Fairfax are: Education Administrator, K-12 ($133,720), Education Administrator, Postsecondary ($126,620), Secondary School Teacher ($77,880). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Virginia statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Herndon instead of Fairfax?
Herndon, VA is 9.3 miles from Fairfax and has its own set of local education programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Fairfax an affordable place to study education?
Fairfax’s median household income of $132,774 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Fairfax while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Virginia public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.