Laurel Ridge Community College vs. Centura College-Newport News

Comparable Facts

Compare Laurel Ridge Community College in Middletown, VA with Centura College Newport News in Newport News, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Laurel Ridge Community College is larger than Centura College-Newport News based on total student enrollment (5,902 students vs. 203 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Laurel Ridge Community College is located in Middletown, VA (Rural Fringe setting); Centura College Newport News is in Newport News, VA (Midsize City setting).
• Laurel Ridge Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Centura College Newport News is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Laurel Ridge Community College 28:1; Centura College Newport News 15:1.

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. Centura College-Newport News Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Laurel Ridge Community College or Centura College-Newport News? 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 Laurel Ridge Community College than Centura College-Newport News ($6,411 vs. $24,842).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Laurel Ridge Community College are 13.9% lower than at Centura College Newport News ($9,970 vs. $11,581).
• Centura College Newport News is 228% more expensive for in-state tuition than Laurel Ridge Community College (about $11,565 more per year; $16,637.00 vs. $5,072.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 44.5% higher at Centura College-Newport News than at Laurel Ridge Community College (about $5,127 more per year; $16,637.00 vs. $11,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Centura College Newport News than at Laurel Ridge Community College (96% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Centura College Newport News students is 22.2% larger than aid received by Laurel Ridge Community College students ($6,800 vs. $5,563).

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. Centura College-Newport News Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Laurel Ridge Community College or Centura College-Newport News? 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 Centura College-Newport News and Laurel Ridge Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Laurel Ridge Community College - Open admission; Centura College-Newport News - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Laurel Ridge Community College Jul 27, 2027.

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. Centura College-Newport News Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Laurel Ridge Community College and Centura College-Newport News? 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 Laurel Ridge Community College earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than Centura College-Newport News graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,600 vs. $25,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Laurel Ridge Community College graduates have a $12,375 lower median loan debt than Centura College-Newport News graduates ($7,625 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Laurel Ridge Community College graduates have an estimated $128 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Centura College-Newport News graduates ($78 vs. $206).
• More Laurel Ridge Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Centura College-Newport News students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 12%)

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.