Ashburn, VA Colleges and Universities: Explore Career Education Options

ARTICLE: Ashburn In-Depth

Ashburn, Virginia, is located in Loudoun County, only 30 miles from Washington, DC. This makes Ashburn part of the Washington metropolitan area, which is home to over 5 million people, and is of course the nation's capital. Ashburn is conveniently located near the Dulles International Airport. Ashburn is haven for history buffs, home to the Belmont Plantation, and close to Loudoun County's rich Civil War heritage, including several battlefields.

In the Ashburn area, the average per capita income was $46,782 in 2004, fourth in the United States. This placed it 42% higher than the national average. The area has experienced income growth of about 4.4% over the last 10 years.

Ashburn, because of its proximity to Washington, DC, provides many employment opportunities. The federal government is obviously a major source of employment, but Northern Virginia is also developing a robust high-tech corridor. Ashburn, in particular, is home to Verizon and other large companies. Other major employers in the area include:

• America Online (AOL)
• Nextel
• MCI, Inc.
• Several universities
• A large healthcare industry, including many flagship hospitals

The outlook for jobs in the Ashburn area is very good, as the area is expanding and becoming home to other large corporations, especially those in the technology sector. Those looking for jobs in this area would do well with degrees in information technology and data systems, as well as healthcare.

Sources:

• Town of Ashburn, VA
• Bureau of Economic Analysis
• Quickfacts (US Census), Ashburn, Virginia
• Bureau of Labor Statistics

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