BRCC vs. Northern Virginia Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Northern Virginia Community College is larger than BRCC based on total student enrollment (56,457 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); Northern Virginia Community College is in Annandale, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Blue Ridge Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northern Virginia Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blue Ridge Community College 21:1; Northern Virginia Community College 31:1.

BRCC vs. Northern Virginia Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BRCC or Northern Virginia 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 Northern Virginia Community College than BRCC ($9,627 vs. $14,191).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blue Ridge Community College are 26.2% lower than at Northern Virginia Community College ($9,366 vs. $12,684).
• Northern Virginia Community College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than BRCC (about $245 more per year; $5,891.00 vs. $5,646.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.7% higher at Northern Virginia Community College than at Blue Ridge Community College (about $325 more per year; $12,409.00 vs. $12,084.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blue Ridge Community College than at Northern Virginia Community College (64% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Virginia Community College students is 14.8% larger than aid received by Blue Ridge Community College students ($7,519 vs. $6,552).

BRCC vs. Northern Virginia Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BRCC or Northern Virginia 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 Northern Virginia 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; Northern Virginia Community College - Open admission.

BRCC vs. Northern Virginia Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BRCC and Northern Virginia 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 Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of about $10,300 more per year than BRCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $35,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Blue Ridge Community College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Northern Virginia Community College graduates ($8,500 vs. $11,000).
• Among borrowers, BRCC graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northern Virginia Community College graduates ($87 vs. $113).
• More Northern Virginia Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BRCC students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 42%)

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.