University of Northern Virginia

University of Northern Virginia

Type	For-profit/Not accredited
Active	1998–2014
Chancellor	Ali Dastmalchi
Location	Annandale, Virginia, United States
Colors	Yellow and green
Website	www.unva.edu
Location in Northern Virginia Show map of Northern Virginia Location in Northern Virginia Show map of Virginia Location in Northern Virginia Show map of the US

Coordinates: 38°49′54.7″N 77°12′27.4″W / 38.831861°N 77.207611°W / 38.831861; -77.207611

The University of Northern Virginia (UNVA) was an unaccredited for-profit private undergraduate and graduate university in Annandale, Virginia, The university offered bachelors, Masters and doctoral degrees. Although UNVA was not well known within the United States, it called itself the most popular American university for students from India.

UNVA has received government scrutiny and media coverage for its academic and immigration practices. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided UNVA offices and informed school officials on July 28, 2011, that the government was ending UNVA's authorization to admit foreign students.Kapil Sibal, a minister in India's current cabinet, compared UNVA to a "sham university," stating UNVA does not have acceptable accreditation. Although media sources in India speculated that UNVA would close permanently in 2011, the university remained open and moved to South Dakota in 2013 when the Commonwealth of Virginia revoked its license to operate in that state. On October 1, 2013, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ended UNVA's authorization to admit foreign students.

In October 2013, UNVA announced its move to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At its new location, UNVA is facing scrutiny as well. UNVA is investigated by the South Dakota Attorney General's office, and its office suite sits empty. As of March 6, 2014, UNVA has removed the references to their new location in South Dakota from their website.