Northern Virginia Community College vs. Centura College-Norfolk

Comparable Facts

Compare Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, VA with Centura College Norfolk in Norfolk, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern Virginia Community College is larger than Centura College-Norfolk based on total student enrollment (56,457 students vs. 163 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northern Virginia Community College is located in Annandale, VA (Large Suburban setting); Centura College Norfolk is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
• Northern Virginia Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Centura College Norfolk is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern Virginia Community College 31:1; Centura College Norfolk 14:1.

Northern Virginia Community College vs. Centura College-Norfolk Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northern Virginia Community College or Centura College-Norfolk? 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 Northern Virginia Community College than Centura College-Norfolk ($9,627 vs. $30,770).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centura College Norfolk are 8.7% lower than at Northern Virginia Community College ($11,581 vs. $12,684).
• Centura College Norfolk is 182.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northern Virginia Community College (about $10,746 more per year; $16,637.00 vs. $5,891.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.1% higher at Centura College-Norfolk than at Northern Virginia Community College (about $4,228 more per year; $16,637.00 vs. $12,409.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Centura College Norfolk than at Northern Virginia Community College (78% vs. 54%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Virginia Community College students is 23.4% larger than aid received by Centura College Norfolk students ($7,519 vs. $6,091).

Northern Virginia Community College vs. Centura College-Norfolk Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northern Virginia Community College or Centura College-Norfolk? 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-Norfolk and Northern Virginia Community College.

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

Northern Virginia Community College vs. Centura College-Norfolk Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northern Virginia Community College and Centura College-Norfolk? 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 Northern Virginia Community College earn a median of about $20,700 more per year than Centura College-Norfolk graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $25,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northern Virginia Community College graduates have a $9,000 lower median loan debt than Centura College-Norfolk graduates ($11,000 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Northern Virginia Community College graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Centura College-Norfolk graduates ($113 vs. $206).
• More Northern Virginia Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Centura College-Norfolk students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.