BRCC vs. New River Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, VA with New River Community College in Dublin, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

New River Community College is larger than BRCC based on total student enrollment (4,254 students vs. 3,790 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Blue Ridge Community College is located in Weyers Cave, VA (Distant Rural setting); New River Community College is in Dublin, VA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Blue Ridge Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. New River Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blue Ridge Community College 21:1; New River Community College 33:1.

BRCC vs. New River Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BRCC or New River Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at New River Community College than BRCC ($6,993 vs. $14,191).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at New River Community College are 14.6% lower than at Blue Ridge Community College ($8,000 vs. $9,366).
• Blue Ridge Community College is 13.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than New River Community College (about $667 more per year; $5,646.00 vs. $4,979.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at BRCC than at New River Community College (about $667 more per year; $12,084.00 vs. $11,417.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blue Ridge Community College than at New River Community College (64% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by New River Community College students is 1.2% larger than aid received by Blue Ridge Community College students ($6,632 vs. $6,552).

BRCC vs. New River Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BRCC or New River Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between New River Community College and BRCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BRCC - Open admission; New River Community College - Open admission.

BRCC vs. New River Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BRCC and New River Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Blue Ridge Community College earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than New River Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,800 vs. $33,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, New River Community College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than BRCC graduates ($8,000 vs. $8,500).
• Among borrowers, New River Community College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BRCC graduates ($82 vs. $87).
• More BRCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former New River Community College students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 41%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.