Brightpoint Community College vs. Tidewater Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Brightpoint Community College in Chester, 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 Brightpoint Community College based on total student enrollment (16,884 students vs. 9,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Brightpoint Community College is located in Chester, VA (Large Suburban setting); Tidewater Community College is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
• Brightpoint 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: Brightpoint Community College 23:1; Tidewater Community College 22:1.

Brightpoint Community College vs. Tidewater Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Brightpoint Community College 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 Brightpoint Community College than Tidewater Community College ($5,950 vs. $11,876).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brightpoint Community College are 35.5% lower than at Tidewater Community College ($9,970 vs. $15,452).
• Tidewater Community College is 10% more expensive for in-state tuition than Brightpoint Community College (about $506 more per year; $5,588.00 vs. $5,082.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at Tidewater Community College than at Brightpoint Community College (about $776 more per year; $12,296.00 vs. $11,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tidewater Community College than at Brightpoint Community College (60% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tidewater Community College students is 23.3% larger than aid received by Brightpoint Community College students ($7,648 vs. $6,201).

Brightpoint Community College vs. Tidewater Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Brightpoint Community College 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 Brightpoint Community College.

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

Brightpoint Community College vs. Tidewater Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Brightpoint Community College 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 Brightpoint Community College earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Tidewater Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Brightpoint Community College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Tidewater Community College graduates ($9,000 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Brightpoint Community College graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tidewater Community College graduates ($93 vs. $98).
• More Brightpoint Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tidewater Community College students, three years after graduation. (34% 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.