DSLCC vs. Tidewater Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mountain Gateway Community College in Clifton Forge, 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 DSLCC based on total student enrollment (16,884 students vs. 989 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mountain Gateway Community College is located in Clifton Forge, VA (Rural Fringe setting); Tidewater Community College is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
• Mountain Gateway 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: Mountain Gateway Community College 17:1; Tidewater Community College 22:1.

DSLCC vs. Tidewater Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DSLCC 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 Mountain Gateway Community College than Tidewater Community College ($5,728 vs. $11,876).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mountain Gateway Community College are 46.3% lower than at Tidewater Community College ($8,300 vs. $15,452).
• Tidewater Community College is 11.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than DSLCC (about $566 more per year; $5,588.00 vs. $5,022.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.3% higher at Tidewater Community College than at Mountain Gateway Community College (about $836 more per year; $12,296.00 vs. $11,460.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mountain Gateway Community College than at Tidewater Community College (88% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tidewater Community College students is 17.9% larger than aid received by Mountain Gateway Community College students ($7,648 vs. $6,487).

DSLCC vs. Tidewater Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DSLCC 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 DSLCC.

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

DSLCC vs. Tidewater Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DSLCC 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 Tidewater Community College earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than DSLCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,300 vs. $30,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mountain Gateway Community College graduates have a $616 lower median loan debt than Tidewater Community College graduates ($8,884 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, DSLCC graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tidewater Community College graduates ($91 vs. $98).
• More DSLCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tidewater Community College students, three years after graduation. (50% 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.