PVCC vs. Centura College-Chesapeake

Comparable Facts

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

Piedmont Virginia Community College is larger than Centura College-Chesapeake based on total student enrollment (5,263 students vs. 191 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Piedmont Virginia Community College is located in Charlottesville, VA (Small Suburban setting); Centura College Chesapeake is in Chesapeake, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Piedmont Virginia Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Centura College Chesapeake is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Piedmont Virginia Community College 21:1; Centura College Chesapeake 19:1.

PVCC vs. Centura College-Chesapeake Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PVCC or Centura College-Chesapeake? 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 Centura College-Chesapeake ($6,710 vs. $26,551).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Piedmont Virginia Community College are 7.9% lower than at Centura College Chesapeake ($10,665 vs. $11,581).
• Centura College Chesapeake is 228% more expensive for in-state tuition than PVCC (about $11,565 more per year; $16,637.00 vs. $5,072.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 44.5% higher at Centura College-Chesapeake than at Piedmont Virginia Community College (about $5,127 more per year; $16,637.00 vs. $11,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Centura College Chesapeake than at Piedmont Virginia Community College (89% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Piedmont Virginia Community College students is 0.8% larger than aid received by Centura College Chesapeake students ($6,471 vs. $6,419).

PVCC vs. Centura College-Chesapeake Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PVCC or Centura College-Chesapeake? 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-Chesapeake and PVCC.

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

PVCC vs. Centura College-Chesapeake Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PVCC and Centura College-Chesapeake? 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 Piedmont Virginia Community College earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Centura College-Chesapeake graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,300 vs. $25,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Piedmont Virginia Community College graduates have a $12,491 lower median loan debt than Centura College-Chesapeake graduates ($7,509 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, PVCC graduates have an estimated $129 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Centura College-Chesapeake graduates ($77 vs. $206).
• More PVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Centura College-Chesapeake students, three years after graduation. (40% 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.