Laurel Ridge Community College vs. VHCC

Comparable Facts

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

Laurel Ridge Community College is larger than VHCC based on total student enrollment (5,902 students vs. 2,082 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Laurel Ridge Community College is located in Middletown, VA (Rural Fringe setting); Virginia Highlands Community College is in Abingdon, VA (Town Fringe setting).
• Laurel Ridge Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Virginia Highlands Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Laurel Ridge Community College 28:1; Virginia Highlands Community College 17:1.

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. VHCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Laurel Ridge Community College or VHCC? 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 Highlands Community College than Laurel Ridge Community College ($6,065 vs. $6,411).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Highlands Community College are 58.4% lower than at Laurel Ridge Community College ($4,150 vs. $9,970).
• Laurel Ridge Community College is 1% more expensive for in-state tuition than VHCC (about $50 more per year; $5,072.00 vs. $5,022.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at Laurel Ridge Community College than at Virginia Highlands Community College (about $50 more per year; $11,510.00 vs. $11,460.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Highlands Community College than at Laurel Ridge Community College (79% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Highlands Community College students is 21.3% larger than aid received by Laurel Ridge Community College students ($6,749 vs. $5,563).

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. VHCC Admissions comparison

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

Laurel Ridge Community College vs. VHCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Laurel Ridge Community College and VHCC? 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 $6,900 more per year than VHCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,600 vs. $27,700), 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.