New River Community College vs. Virginia Western Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Virginia Western Community College is larger than New River Community College based on total student enrollment (6,332 students vs. 4,254 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• New River Community College is located in Dublin, VA (Rural Fringe setting); Virginia Western Community College is in Roanoke, VA (Small City setting).
• New River 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: New River Community College 33:1; Virginia Western Community College 23:1.

New River Community College vs. Virginia Western Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, New River 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 New River Community College ($5,492 vs. $6,993).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Western Community College are 13.3% lower than at New River Community College ($6,936 vs. $8,000).
• Virginia Western Community College is 8.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than New River Community College (about $421 more per year; $5,400.00 vs. $4,979.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.7% higher at Virginia Western Community College than at New River Community College (about $421 more per year; $11,838.00 vs. $11,417.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Western Community College than at New River Community College (77% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by New River Community College students is 10.2% larger than aid received by Virginia Western Community College students ($6,632 vs. $6,017).

New River Community College vs. Virginia Western Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, New River 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 New River Community College.

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

New River Community College vs. Virginia Western Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for New River 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 New River Community College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Virginia Western Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,400 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, New River Community College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Virginia Western Community College graduates ($8,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, New River Community College graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Western Community College graduates ($82 vs. $124).
• More New River Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Virginia Western Community College students, three years after graduation. (41% vs. 37%)

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.