ECPI University Graduates 1,950 Tech, Nursing, and Business Students

Pioneering career college salutes 2026 graduates from its Virginia Beach and online programs; with an average age of 35, half of grads have a military connection

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (May 7, 2026) — ECPI University, an innovative Virginia-based training provider and one of the Commonwealth's largest producers of nursing and allied health credentials, will award degrees to 1,950 students from its Virginia Beach campus and online programs this month. More than 700 will walk across the stage at the university's Spring Commencement ceremony, which will take place at 1 p.m. May 9 at Chartway Arena in Norfolk. U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, who represents Virginia Beach in Congress, will deliver the commencement address as the university marks its 60th anniversary.

"This graduating class represents exactly who America's workforce needs right now: experienced, motivated adults, many of them veterans, active-duty service members, or military spouses, stepping into critical roles in technology, nursing, and skilled professions that keep our communities running,” said Mark Dreyfus, president of ECPI University. "For 60 years, ECPI University has focused on preparing students for in-demand careers, and we're proud to graduate a class that will help fill the technology, healthcare, and skilled-trade jobs that our region and nation depend on.”

Here are some key facts about the Class of 2026 from ECPI University’s Virginia Beach campus and online programs:

Of the 1,950 graduates, 1,029 — about 53% — have a military affiliation. That includes 559 veterans, 260 active-duty service members who completed their degrees while still in uniform, 57 in the Reserve or National Guard, and 153 military spouses and dependents. Military spouses, a population that faces significant barriers to employment given frequent relocations, deployment and caregiving responsibilities, make up a meaningful share of the class. They’re a group rarely captured in graduation headlines but are central to the Hampton Roads workforce.

This year's graduates are entering the workforce in two sectors with the deepest regional demand: technology (921 graduates) and healthcare (544 across nursing and health sciences). Business follows with 272, culinary arts with 137, and criminal justice with 76. The technology cohort, now the single largest field of study for this class, reflects how cybersecurity, IT, and engineering technology have moved to the center of Hampton Roads' economy alongside its longtime healthcare and defense industry footprint.

ECPI University ranks among the top 10 producers of nursing graduates in the country, second nationally in practical nursing graduates, and in the top 25 for computer and information science degrees. Over the past year, the university awarded degrees to more than 4,500 students nationwide, with the majority concentrated in STEM and health sciences, including more than 1,500 nursing graduates.

ECPI University students enroll across day, night, and online formats, with year-round scheduling and new classes commencing every five weeks. The structure is built to reduce barriers, support persistence, and shorten the path to employment for adults, most of whom are already juggling work and family. Many arrive with prior college experience, while some are returning to build new skills for a career change. Academic honors in the Class of 2026 include 297 summa cum laude, 154 magna cum laude, and 111 cum laude, which speaks to the focus and discipline returning students bring to their studies.

This commencement marks the beginning of a yearlong celebration of ECPI University's 60th anniversary, a milestone reflecting six decades of expanding access to career-focused education in Virginia and beyond. Founded in Hampton Roads in 1966 by electrical engineer Alfred Dreyfus, ECPI University was built on the idea that education should be practical and directly connected to careers, growing from its roots in computer programming to encompass healthcare, cybersecurity, engineering technology, and skilled trades across 18 campuses in five states. Since its inception, the university has graduated more than 100,000 students, a legacy this graduating class now joins as ECPI University looks ahead to its next chapter.

This fall, ECPI University will host a celebration event, bringing together community members, staff, faculty, alumni, and partners to mark six decades of impact and raise funds for student scholarships.