ESCC vs. Southwest Virginia

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Shore Community College in Melfa, VA with Southwest Virginia Community College in Cedar Bluff, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southwest Virginia Community College is larger than ESCC based on total student enrollment (2,364 students vs. 859 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Eastern Shore Community College is located in Melfa, VA (Remote Rural setting); Southwest Virginia Community College is in Cedar Bluff, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Eastern Shore Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwest Virginia Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Shore Community College 24:1; Southwest Virginia Community College 20:1.

ESCC vs. Southwest Virginia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ESCC or Southwest Virginia? 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 Eastern Shore Community College than Southwest Virginia ($3,005 vs. $6,275).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern Shore Community College are 34.4% lower than at Southwest Virginia Community College ($5,907 vs. $9,000).
• Eastern Shore Community College is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwest Virginia (about $7 more per year; $5,082.00 vs. $5,075.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at ESCC than at Southwest Virginia Community College (about $7 more per year; $11,520.00 vs. $11,513.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest Virginia Community College than at Eastern Shore Community College (94% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Shore Community College students is 10% larger than aid received by Southwest Virginia Community College students ($7,953 vs. $7,232).

ESCC vs. Southwest Virginia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ESCC or Southwest Virginia? 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 Southwest Virginia and ESCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ESCC - Open admission; Southwest Virginia - Open admission.

ESCC vs. Southwest Virginia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ESCC and Southwest Virginia? 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 Southwest Virginia Community College earn a median of about $3,800 more per year than ESCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,100 vs. $25,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.