Bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees are offered within eighty fields and departments. The University consistently draws praise in the national press and in nationwide analyses of American higher education. According to U.S. News and World Report , for example, it is one of only four public institutions ranking within the top 25 colleges and universities in the United States. The city of Charlottesville and the county of Albermarle, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Central Virginia, have a combined population just over 100,000. Light manufacturing, education, tourism, agriculture, and retail trade constitute the area's economic base.
Fine restaurants appeal to every taste and budget.
A pedestrian mall downtown offers dining, shops, and night spots in a historical section of the city. Immediately accessible by US 29 and Interstate 64, connecting with Interstates 95 and 81, Charlottesville is located 120 miles from Washington, D.C., and 70 miles from Richmond. Railroad, bus, and direct air flights from major cities serve the area.