History

Averett was chartered in 1859 under the name of Union Female College. For almost 150 years it has operated continuously, though undergoing several name changes. In 1910, the college became affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia. The name Averett was given to the college by the Board of Trustees in 1917. It was also in 1917 that the college received, from the Virginia State Board of Education, its first accreditation as a junior college. The college was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1928 and by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York in 1932. In the fall of 1969, Averett undertook a major reorientation of its program by adding a four-year baccalaureate degree program and making the college co-educational.

On July 1, 2001 Averett College officially became Averett University, entering another chapter in the institution’s history.

Averett is located in a residential neighborhood adjacent to Danville’s famed Millionaires Row, a collection of vast Victorian homes recognized by historians for their architectural splendor.

Averett is a liberal arts institution that offers more than 30 different majors for its students to choose from. In addition, it also offers a master of education degree and a master of business administration degree.