PVCC vs. Tidewater Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Tidewater Community College is larger than PVCC based on total student enrollment (16,884 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Piedmont Virginia Community College is located in Charlottesville, VA (Small Suburban setting); Tidewater Community College is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
• Piedmont Virginia Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tidewater Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Piedmont Virginia Community College 21:1; Tidewater Community College 22:1.

PVCC vs. Tidewater Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PVCC or Tidewater 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 Piedmont Virginia Community College than Tidewater Community College ($6,710 vs. $11,876).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Piedmont Virginia Community College are 31% lower than at Tidewater Community College ($10,665 vs. $15,452).
• Tidewater Community College is 10.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than PVCC (about $516 more per year; $5,588.00 vs. $5,072.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at Tidewater Community College than at Piedmont Virginia Community College (about $786 more per year; $12,296.00 vs. $11,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Piedmont Virginia Community College than at Tidewater Community College (64% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tidewater Community College students is 18.2% larger than aid received by Piedmont Virginia Community College students ($7,648 vs. $6,471).

PVCC vs. Tidewater Community College Admissions comparison

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

PVCC vs. Tidewater Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PVCC and Tidewater 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 Tidewater Community College earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than PVCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,300 vs. $33,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Piedmont Virginia Community College graduates have a $1,991 lower median loan debt than Tidewater Community College graduates ($7,509 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, PVCC graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tidewater Community College graduates ($77 vs. $98).
• More PVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tidewater Community College students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 32%)

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.