Northern Virginia Community College vs. PVCC

Deciding between Northern Virginia Community College and Piedmont Virginia Community College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Northern Virginia Community College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA
  • PVCC Charlottesville, VA
  • Setting
  • Northern Virginia Community College Large Suburban
  • PVCC Small Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Northern Virginia Community College 56,457
  • PVCC 5,263
  • Type
  • Northern Virginia Community College Public 2 Year
  • PVCC Public 2 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northern Virginia Community College
  • PVCC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northern Virginia Community College -
  • PVCC -
  • Status
  • Northern Virginia Community College Non-profit
  • PVCC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northern Virginia Community College
  • PVCC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northern Virginia Community College $5,891
  • PVCC $5,072
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northern Virginia Community College $12,409
  • PVCC $11,510
  • Room & Board
  • Northern Virginia Community College $12,684
  • PVCC $10,665
  • Average Net Price
  • Northern Virginia Community College $9,627
  • PVCC $6,710
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northern Virginia Community College $7,519
  • PVCC $6,471
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northern Virginia Community College 54%
  • PVCC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northern Virginia Community College -
  • PVCC -
  • Admitted
  • Northern Virginia Community College -
  • PVCC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northern Virginia Community College Open
  • PVCC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Northern Virginia Community College Open
  • PVCC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northern Virginia Community College
  • PVCC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northern Virginia Community College
  • PVCC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northern Virginia Community College -
  • PVCC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northern Virginia Community College -
  • PVCC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northern Virginia Community College Unavailable
  • PVCC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northern Virginia Community College
  • PVCC
  • ACT Range
  • Northern Virginia Community College
  • PVCC
  • SAT Range
  • Northern Virginia Community College
  • PVCC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northern Virginia Community College Open admission
  • PVCC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Northern Virginia Community College
  • PVCC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northern Virginia Community College 31:1
  • PVCC 21:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northern Virginia Community College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (43%)
    • Business (19%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • PVCC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (35%)
    • Health Professions (22%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
    • Education (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northern Virginia Community College -
  • PVCC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northern Virginia Community College $46,100
  • PVCC $33,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northern Virginia Community College 45%
  • PVCC 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northern Virginia Community College $11,000
  • PVCC $7,509
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northern Virginia Community College $113
  • PVCC $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northern Virginia Community College 49%
  • PVCC 42%
  • % Women
  • Northern Virginia Community College 51%
  • PVCC 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northern Virginia Community College Very High
  • PVCC Medium
  • HBCU
  • Northern Virginia Community College No
  • PVCC No
  • % White
  • Northern Virginia Community College 35%
  • PVCC 68%
  • % Asian
  • Northern Virginia Community College 15%
  • PVCC 4%
  • % Black
  • Northern Virginia Community College 18%
  • PVCC 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northern Virginia Community College 22%
  • PVCC 7%
  • % Native American
  • Northern Virginia Community College 0%
  • PVCC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northern Virginia Community College 1%
  • PVCC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northern Virginia Community College 4%
  • PVCC 4%
  • % International
  • Northern Virginia Community College 3%
  • PVCC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northern Virginia Community College 2%
  • PVCC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northern Virginia Community College 98%
  • PVCC 99%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northern Virginia Community College 2%
  • PVCC 1%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Northern Virginia Community College No
  • PVCC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Northern Virginia Community College No
  • PVCC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Northern Virginia Community College No
  • PVCC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Northern Virginia Community College Yes
  • PVCC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Northern Virginia Community College No
  • PVCC No

Comparable Facts

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

Northern Virginia Community College is larger than PVCC based on total student enrollment (56,457 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northern Virginia Community College is located in Annandale, VA (Large Suburban setting); Piedmont Virginia Community College is in Charlottesville, VA (Small Suburban setting).
  • Northern Virginia Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Piedmont Virginia Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern Virginia Community College 31:1; Piedmont Virginia Community College 21:1.

Northern Virginia Community College vs. PVCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northern Virginia Community College or PVCC? 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 Piedmont Virginia Community College than Northern Virginia Community College ($6,710 vs. $9,627).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Piedmont Virginia Community College are 15.9% lower than at Northern Virginia Community College ($10,665 vs. $12,684).
  • Northern Virginia Community College is 16.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than PVCC (about $819 more per year; $5,891.00 vs. $5,072.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.8% higher at Northern Virginia Community College than at Piedmont Virginia Community College (about $899 more per year; $12,409.00 vs. $11,510.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Piedmont Virginia Community College than at Northern Virginia Community College (64% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Virginia Community College students is 16.2% larger than aid received by Piedmont Virginia Community College students ($7,519 vs. $6,471).

Northern Virginia Community College vs. PVCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northern Virginia Community College or PVCC? 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 PVCC 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; PVCC - Open admission.

Northern Virginia Community College vs. PVCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northern Virginia Community College and PVCC? 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 $12,800 more per year than PVCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $33,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Piedmont Virginia Community College graduates have a $3,491 lower median loan debt than Northern Virginia Community College graduates ($7,509 vs. $11,000).
  • Among borrowers, PVCC graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northern Virginia Community College graduates ($77 vs. $113).
  • More Northern Virginia Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PVCC students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 40%)

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.