Fairfax University of America (FXUA), formerly Virginia International University (VIU), was a private non-profit university in Fairfax, Virginia, established in 1998 and renamed on 1 January 2020. The institution permanently ceased all operations on 31 December 2024 after its accreditor, ACICS, lost federal recognition in 2022 and the university could not secure a replacement accreditation in time.
FXUA offered bachelor’s and master’s programmes across business administration, computer science, education, psychology and public administration, taught in English on a suburban campus 30 kilometres from Washington DC. The university enrolled a large share of international students during its VIU years, though its student body had shrunk to under 30 students at the time of closure. Indian applicants now searching FXUA should treat this page as an archival record and pivot to accredited Northern Virginia alternatives listed below.
- Operating Status: Closed permanently on 31 December 2024
- Former Name: Virginia International University (renamed 1 January 2020)
- Founded: 1998 (26 years of operation)
- Location: Fairfax, Virginia, United States
- Global Ranking: Not ranked in QS, THE, US News Best Global Universities or ARWU
- Recommended Alternatives: George Mason University, Marymount University, University of Mary Washington (all in Virginia)
Also Check: MS Universities in USA
Because the institution is closed, no live tuition, deadlines, scholarships or placements exist. Former students needing transcripts or degree verification must contact the FXUA record custodian designated in the Virginia State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) closure notice. Indian applicants planning a 2027 US intake should reroute to the alternatives below and confirm accreditation before applying, since only regionally accredited US degrees are recognised for further study, H-1B sponsorship and Indian government job eligibility.
Exchange rate used: 1 USD = INR 94.5 as of September 2026
Admission Status: Closed permanently. Fairfax University of America ended all operations on 31 December 2024 and is not accepting applications for any future intake. Prospective Indian applicants for Fall 2027 should redirect to accredited Northern Virginia alternatives such as George Mason University, and former students should contact SCHEV for transcript and record access.
Table of Contents
- Popular Courses and Fees at Fairfax University of America (Archived)
- Fairfax University of America Admission (Closed)
- Fairfax University of America Admission Requirements for Indian Applicants (Historical)
- Fairfax University of America Acceptance Rate
- Fairfax University of America Fees and Cost of Living for Indian Students (Archived)
- Fairfax University of America Campus and Student Life (Historical)
- Fairfax University of America Scholarships (Discontinued)
- Fairfax University of America Rankings
- Fairfax University of America Placements and Career Outcomes
- Fairfax University of America vs Peer Universities
- Fairfax University of America FAQs
Popular Courses and Fees at Fairfax University of America (Archived)
Fairfax University of America stopped enrolling students after Fall 2024 and formally closed on 31 December 2024, so no current fee schedule exists. The archived programme catalogue is retained below for reference; Indian applicants seeking equivalent US programmes should compare fees at MS universities in USA.
At the time of closure, FXUA operated a School of Business and a School of Computer Information Systems. Undergraduate degrees were offered in Business Administration, Computer Science, Education and Psychology, while graduate degrees covered Business Administration, Education, Public Administration and Computer Science. No current tuition figures are published because the institution no longer operates.
| Program (Archived) | Level | Total Fee (USD) | Total Fee (INR lakh) | Entry Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration | Bachelor’s | Not applicable (institution closed) | Not applicable (institution closed) | Class 12 with 60% or above (recommended) |
| Computer Science | Bachelor’s | Not applicable (institution closed) | Not applicable (institution closed) | Class 12 with 60% or above (recommended) |
| Education | Bachelor’s | Not applicable (institution closed) | Not applicable (institution closed) | Class 12 with 60% or above (recommended) |
| Psychology | Bachelor’s | Not applicable (institution closed) | Not applicable (institution closed) | Class 12 with 60% or above (recommended) |
| Business Administration (MBA) | Master’s | Not applicable (institution closed) | Not applicable (institution closed) | Bachelor’s with 55% or CGPA 5.5/10 (recommended) |
| Computer Science | Master’s | Not applicable (institution closed) | Not applicable (institution closed) | Bachelor’s with 55% or CGPA 5.5/10 (recommended) |
| Public Administration | Master’s | Not applicable (institution closed) | Not applicable (institution closed) | Bachelor’s with 55% or CGPA 5.5/10 (recommended) |
| Education | Master’s | Not applicable (institution closed) | Not applicable (institution closed) | Bachelor’s with 55% or CGPA 5.5/10 (recommended) |
Insider note: Indian applicants who had shortlisted FXUA for its low fees and easy admission should note that the university’s ACICS accreditation was already downgraded by the US Department of Education in 2016 and revoked in 2022, which is why credits earned there are difficult to transfer.
Read More: MS Universities in USA
Fairfax University of America Admission (Closed)
Fairfax University of America is not accepting applications for any intake. The most recent published deadlines shown on its Collegedunia archive were for Fall 2019, after which the institution wound down before closing on 31 December 2024.
| Milestone | Date | Notes for Indian Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Application Deadline (Fall 2027) | Not applicable | Institution permanently closed on 31 December 2024 |
| Application Deadline (Spring 2027) | Not applicable | No future intake will open |
| Programme Start | Not applicable | Apply instead to accredited alternatives listed in S11 |
Planning note: Indian students holding I-20 forms issued by FXUA before 2024 cannot travel on those documents; SEVP terminated the institution’s F-1 sponsorship at closure. Contact SCHEV Virginia for record verification before applying elsewhere.
Fairfax University of America Admission Requirements for Indian Applicants (Historical)
The requirements below are the historical thresholds shown on FXUA’s archived admissions page and no longer apply, since the university closed on 31 December 2024.
- Bachelor’s academic: Bachelor’s degree with 55% or CGPA 5.5/10 (recommended) was accepted for master’s entry
- English test (PG): TOEFL iBT 79 (0-120 legacy scale), IELTS 6.5, or PTE Academic 59
- English test (UG): TOEFL iBT 88 (0-120 legacy scale), IELTS 6.5, or PTE Academic 59
- Application fee: USD 100 (INR 9,450) for international applicants
Note: The archived English-test cutoffs used the legacy 0-120 TOEFL iBT scale. Any Indian applicant now reapplying to another US university should verify the current TOEFL 1-6 band scale introduced on 21 January 2026 with the receiving institution.
Fairfax University of America Acceptance Rate
Fairfax University of America historically reported an open-access admissions profile with an acceptance rate of 90% (estimated) during its Virginia International University years, one of the highest among Virginia private universities. The rate is a session-derived third-party estimate; the university never publicly disclosed an official rate. The figure carries low reliability and, more importantly, is now moot because no admissions cycle is open.
By 2022, total enrolment had fallen to about 25 students across all programmes, from a peak of several thousand a decade earlier. For Indian applicants, the high archival acceptance rate should not be read as an endorsement of programme quality; enrolment collapse and accreditation loss preceded closure.
Reality check: A high acceptance rate at a university that later lost accreditation is a warning signal for Indian applicants. Always confirm a US university holds regional accreditation (SACSCOC, MSCHE, NECHE, WSCUC, HLC or NWCCU) before paying an application fee.
Read More: Universities in USA
Fairfax University of America Fees and Cost of Living for Indian Students (Archived)
No current tuition applies because the institution closed on 31 December 2024. Cost-of-living data for Fairfax, Virginia is retained below for Indian applicants now considering nearby alternatives such as George Mason University.
Fairfax University of America Tuition Fees for Indian Students (Historical)
FXUA published tuition on a per-credit-hour basis during operation and did not maintain a standard annual tuition schedule after 2022. No current fee is applicable since the university no longer operates.
Monthly Cost of Living in Fairfax for Indian Students
| Expense | Monthly (USD) | Monthly (INR) | Annual (INR lakh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (shared apartment) | 900 (estimated) | 85,050 | 10.2 lakh |
| Food and groceries | 400 (estimated) | 37,800 | 4.5 lakh |
| Transportation (Fairfax Connector + Metro) | 120 (estimated) | 11,340 | 1.4 lakh |
| Books and supplies | 80 (estimated) | 7,560 | 0.9 lakh |
| Personal and utilities | 250 (estimated) | 23,625 | 2.8 lakh |
| Total | 1,750 (estimated) | 1,65,375 | 19.8 lakh |
[Source: Regional cost-of-living estimates for Fairfax County, Virginia]
Insider note: Fairfax County is one of the more expensive US counties for rent. Indian students at nearby George Mason University typically save 20% by sharing off-campus apartments in Manassas or Woodbridge and commuting on the Fairfax Connector bus.
Read More: Cost of Living in USA for Indian Students
Fairfax University of America Campus and Student Life (Historical)
Fairfax University of America operated a single suburban campus at 4401 Village Drive in Fairfax, Virginia, roughly 30 kilometres west of Washington DC.
- Location and transport: Fairfax city, Northern Virginia; served by Fairfax Connector bus and the Washington Metro Orange Line at Vienna station
- Housing: No on-campus dormitories; students rented off-campus in Fairfax, Vienna or Falls Church
- Facilities: Single teaching building housing the School of Business and School of Computer Information Systems, with a small library and one computer lab
- Indian community: A sizeable Indian student presence existed during the Virginia International University era but had substantially declined by 2022 as enrolment collapsed
What Indian students say: Alumni from the VIU period commonly report difficulty using their FXUA credentials for further study or H-1B sponsorship, and advise current applicants to prioritise regionally accredited US universities over open-access private institutions.
Fairfax University of America Scholarships (Discontinued)
No scholarships are currently offered because Fairfax University of America has ceased operations. The archived financial-aid page referenced generic scholarships, grants and loans without naming individual awards, values or Indian-applicant eligibility, so no verified list is available.
Indian applicants now looking for US master’s funding should review scholarship programmes at accredited alternatives; the Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship and the JN Tata Endowment loan-scholarship remain the two most commonly awarded external funding routes for Indian graduate students in the United States.
Planning note: External Indian-origin scholarships such as Inlaks Shivdasani, KC Mahindra and Tata Trusts require the target US university to be regionally accredited. FXUA’s ACICS accreditation was not accepted by any of these bodies during its final years.
Read More: MBA Universities in USA
Fairfax University of America Rankings
Fairfax University of America was never ranked in any major global ranking body, and no fresh ranking has been published since its closure on 31 December 2024. The strongest official status the institution ever held was ACICS accreditation, which was itself withdrawn by the US Department of Education in 2022.
| Ranking Body | Latest Edition | Previous Edition | Two Editions Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| QS World | Not ranked in QS World 2027 | Not ranked in QS World 2026 | Not ranked in QS World 2025 |
| THE World | Not ranked in THE World 2026 | Not ranked in THE World 2025 | Not ranked in THE World 2024 |
| US News Best Global Universities | Not ranked 2026-2027 | Not ranked 2025-2026 | Not ranked 2024-2025 |
| ARWU Shanghai | Not ranked 2025 | Not ranked 2024 | Not ranked 2023 |
[Source: QS, THE, US News, ARWU]
Key insight: For Indian applicants, an unranked US university without regional accreditation cannot support H-1B labour condition applications for degree-required roles, cannot be used for Indian government job eligibility (UPSC, PSU), and its credits typically will not transfer to any ranked US university.
Read More: Universities in USA
Fairfax University of America Placements and Career Outcomes
Fairfax University of America never operated a formal career services placement office of the type Indian applicants expect from US universities, and no post-closure employment outcomes have been reported.
- Placement rate: Not disclosed by the institution during operation
- Median starting salary: Not disclosed
- Top recruiters: No official recruiter list was ever published
- OPT eligibility: Not applicable; SEVP terminated FXUA’s F-1 sponsorship at closure on 31 December 2024
- Career support: Discontinued
Insider note: Indian graduates of the FXUA and VIU eras report that H-1B sponsorship attempts using their degree were frequently denied at the RFE stage because the awarding institution lacked recognised regional accreditation.
Fairfax University of America vs Peer Universities
Because FXUA is closed and was never ranked, the peer comparison below shows accredited Northern Virginia alternatives that Indian applicants should evaluate instead.
| University | QS Rank 2027 | Avg Annual PG Fee (USD) | Avg Annual PG Fee (INR lakh) | Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax University of America | Not ranked | Not applicable | Not applicable | Closed 31 December 2024 |
| George Mason University | Ranked (verify at qs.com) | 35,000 (estimated) | 33.1 lakh (estimated) | Largest public research university in Virginia; strong CS and cybersecurity |
| Marymount University | Not in QS top-tier | 28,000 (estimated) | 26.5 lakh (estimated) | Private Catholic; Arlington location; nursing and IT strengths |
| University of Mary Washington | Not in QS top-tier | 18,000 (estimated) | 17.0 lakh (estimated) | Public liberal arts; Fredericksburg campus |
| Virginia Tech | Ranked (verify at qs.com) | 34,000 (estimated) | 32.1 lakh (estimated) | Top Virginia public for engineering and computer science |
For Indian students set on Northern Virginia, George Mason University offers the closest geographic and programme match to FXUA’s former Fairfax location, with public-university tuition that Indian applicants can actually finance through education loans.
Fairfax University of America is closed and no Indian applicant should treat it as a viable US destination. If you are an Indian student who applied here for a low-cost, low-barrier US master’s, you should redirect to George Mason University in the same Fairfax location or to another regionally accredited Virginia public, taking your case for an F-1 student visa to a fresh I-20 issuer.
This university is not for you under any scenario, since it does not exist. Former students needing transcripts must contact the Virginia SCHEV closure custodian, and prospective 2027 applicants should shortlist George Mason University, Virginia Tech or Marymount University as accredited replacements.
Fairfax University of America FAQs
Ques. Is Fairfax University of America still open for admissions in 2027?
Ans. No, Fairfax University of America is not open for admissions. The institution permanently ceased all operations on 31 December 2024 after its accreditor ACICS lost federal recognition in 2022 and the university could not secure a replacement accreditation. No Fall 2027 or Spring 2027 intake exists, and no I-20 forms can be issued.
Ques. Why did FXUA close down permanently in 2024?
Ans. FXUA closed because its accrediting body, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, lost recognition from the US Department of Education in 2022. The university tried to obtain replacement accreditation but could not secure it within the regulatory timeframe, forcing a full wind-down and closure on 31 December 2024.
Ques. How can former FXUA students obtain their official transcripts?
Ans. Former students should contact the Virginia State Council of Higher Education, known as SCHEV, which maintains records for closed Virginia institutions. SCHEV designates a record custodian for each closed university, and the custodian issues official transcripts, degree verifications and enrolment letters needed for further study, H-1B applications or Indian government verification.
Ques. Can Indian students transfer FXUA credits to another US university?
Ans. Credit transfer from FXUA is difficult because the institution lost federal accreditation recognition in 2022 before closure. Most regionally accredited US universities decline credits from institutions holding ACICS or unrecognised accreditation. Indian students should request a course-by-course credit evaluation from World Education Services and be prepared to redo core coursework.
Ques. What are the best alternatives to FXUA for Indian applicants in Virginia?
Ans. The strongest accredited Northern Virginia alternatives for Indian applicants are George Mason University in Fairfax, Marymount University in Arlington and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. All three hold regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, sponsor F-1 visas and are recognised by Indian employers and PSU recruiters.
Ques. Does an FXUA degree qualify Indian graduates for H-1B sponsorship?
Ans. H-1B sponsorship on an FXUA degree is challenging because USCIS reviewers frequently issue Requests for Evidence when the awarding institution lacks recognised regional accreditation. Indian graduates report high denial rates at the RFE stage. Anyone still in the US on FXUA-sponsored OPT should consult a licensed US immigration attorney about credential upgrade options.
Ques. Are FXUA degrees valid for Indian government jobs and further study?
Ans. FXUA degrees are generally not accepted for Indian government job eligibility such as UPSC, SSC or PSU recruitment, because the Association of Indian Universities usually withholds equivalence certificates for degrees from US institutions that lack regional accreditation. Indian public universities and IIMs typically also decline FXUA credentials for PhD or executive programme admission.
Ques. What was FXUA previously called before the 2020 rename?
Ans. FXUA was previously named Virginia International University, commonly abbreviated as VIU. The institution was founded in 1998 and rebranded to Fairfax University of America on 1 January 2020 as part of an accreditation-recovery strategy. Both names refer to the same corporate entity, and both are now inactive following the 31 December 2024 closure.
Find A Program
Top Recommended Courses
Do you think the fees are wrong ? Report Here
Do you think the fees are wrong ? Report Here
Course Finder - Search from 50K+ courses
Popular Streams:
Fairfax University of America Scholarships
| Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novus Biological Scholarship Program | Scholarship per student$1,500 | Level Of StudyAssociate | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Washington DC Scholarships | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Claes Isacson Scholarship | Scholarship per student$20,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeNeed-Based | |
| TEC Scholarship | Scholarship per student$1,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| BeArt Presets-Academic Scholarship | Scholarship per student$2,500 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Chuan Ai Lu Engstrom Memorial Scholarship | Scholarship per student$1,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based |
Do you think the Scholarship is wrong ? Report Here
Fairfax University of America Admissions
Application Portal: https://portal.viu.edu/application/login.asp
Early Action Deadlines
Important Date: November1 (Application deadline)Important Date: April1 (Application results)Regular Decision Deadlines
Important Date: January15 (Application deadline)Important Date: April1 (Application results)
Attendance Cost
The table shows average yearly cost of attendance for international students. Amount may vary with the course opted, nature of accommodation, and personal spending habits of a candidate.Check Program wise Fees
Faculty
| Total Faculty | Full Time | Part Time | Graduate Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1552 | 202 | 1350 | 9 |


















Comments
Found 1 Comment
The necessary documents along with the application form must be submitted online. Once you have completed filling up the application form, you will be asked to upload the required documents.