BRCC vs. Tidewater Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Tidewater Community College is larger than BRCC based on total student enrollment (16,884 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); Tidewater Community College is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
• Blue Ridge Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tidewater Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Blue Ridge Community College 21:1; Tidewater Community College 22:1.

BRCC vs. Tidewater Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BRCC or Tidewater 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 Tidewater Community College than BRCC ($11,876 vs. $14,191).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blue Ridge Community College are 39.4% lower than at Tidewater Community College ($9,366 vs. $15,452).
• Blue Ridge Community College is 1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tidewater Community College (about $58 more per year; $5,646.00 vs. $5,588.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.8% higher at Tidewater Community College than at Blue Ridge Community College (about $212 more per year; $12,296.00 vs. $12,084.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Blue Ridge Community College than at Tidewater Community College (64% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tidewater Community College students is 16.7% larger than aid received by Blue Ridge Community College students ($7,648 vs. $6,552).

BRCC vs. Tidewater Community College Admissions comparison

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

BRCC vs. Tidewater Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BRCC and Tidewater 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 $1,500 more per year than Tidewater Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,800 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Blue Ridge Community College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Tidewater Community College graduates ($8,500 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, BRCC graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tidewater Community College graduates ($87 vs. $98).
• More BRCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tidewater Community College students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 32%)

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.