Brightpoint Community College vs. Virginia Western Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Brightpoint Community College in Chester, VA with Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Brightpoint Community College is larger than Virginia Western Community College based on total student enrollment (9,380 students vs. 6,332 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Brightpoint Community College is located in Chester, VA (Large Suburban setting); Virginia Western Community College is in Roanoke, VA (Small City setting).
• Brightpoint Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Virginia Western Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Brightpoint Community College 23:1; Virginia Western Community College 23:1.

Brightpoint Community College vs. Virginia Western Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Brightpoint Community College or Virginia Western 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 Virginia Western Community College than Brightpoint Community College ($5,492 vs. $5,950).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Western Community College are 30.4% lower than at Brightpoint Community College ($6,936 vs. $9,970).
• Virginia Western Community College is 6.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Brightpoint Community College (about $318 more per year; $5,400.00 vs. $5,082.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Virginia Western Community College than at Brightpoint Community College (about $318 more per year; $11,838.00 vs. $11,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Western Community College than at Brightpoint Community College (77% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Brightpoint Community College students is 3.1% larger than aid received by Virginia Western Community College students ($6,201 vs. $6,017).

Brightpoint Community College vs. Virginia Western Community College Admissions comparison

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

Brightpoint Community College vs. Virginia Western Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Brightpoint Community College and Virginia Western 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 $4,200 more per year than Virginia Western Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,200 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Brightpoint Community College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Virginia Western Community College graduates ($9,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Brightpoint Community College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Western Community College graduates ($93 vs. $124).
• More Virginia Western Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Brightpoint Community College students, three years after graduation. (37% vs. 34%)

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.