Laurel Ridge Community College vs. Southwest Virginia

Comparable Facts

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

Laurel Ridge Community College is larger than Southwest Virginia based on total student enrollment (5,902 students vs. 2,364 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Laurel Ridge Community College is located in Middletown, VA (Rural Fringe setting); Southwest Virginia Community College is in Cedar Bluff, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Laurel Ridge 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: Laurel Ridge Community College 28:1; Southwest Virginia Community College 20:1.

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. Southwest Virginia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Laurel Ridge Community College 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 Southwest Virginia Community College than Laurel Ridge Community College ($6,275 vs. $6,411).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Virginia Community College are 9.7% lower than at Laurel Ridge Community College ($9,000 vs. $9,970).
• Southwest Virginia Community College is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Laurel Ridge Community College (about $3 more per year; $5,075.00 vs. $5,072.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0% higher at Southwest Virginia than at Laurel Ridge Community College (about $3 more per year; $11,513.00 vs. $11,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest Virginia Community College than at Laurel Ridge Community College (94% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Virginia Community College students is 30% larger than aid received by Laurel Ridge Community College students ($7,232 vs. $5,563).

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. Southwest Virginia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Laurel Ridge Community College 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 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; Southwest Virginia - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Laurel Ridge Community College Jul 27, 2027.

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. Southwest Virginia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Laurel Ridge Community College 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 Laurel Ridge Community College earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than Southwest Virginia graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,600 vs. $29,100), 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.