PVCC vs. Virginia Western Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville, 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 PVCC based on total student enrollment (6,332 students vs. 5,263 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Piedmont Virginia Community College is located in Charlottesville, VA (Small Suburban setting); Virginia Western Community College is in Roanoke, VA (Small City setting).
• Piedmont Virginia 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: Piedmont Virginia Community College 21:1; Virginia Western Community College 23:1.

PVCC vs. Virginia Western Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PVCC 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 PVCC ($5,492 vs. $6,710).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Western Community College are 35% lower than at Piedmont Virginia Community College ($6,936 vs. $10,665).
• Virginia Western Community College is 6.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than PVCC (about $328 more per year; $5,400.00 vs. $5,072.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Virginia Western Community College than at Piedmont Virginia Community College (about $328 more per year; $11,838.00 vs. $11,510.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Virginia Western Community College than at Piedmont Virginia Community College (77% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Piedmont Virginia Community College students is 7.5% larger than aid received by Virginia Western Community College students ($6,471 vs. $6,017).

PVCC vs. Virginia Western Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PVCC 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 PVCC.

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

PVCC vs. Virginia Western Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PVCC 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 Piedmont Virginia Community College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than Virginia Western Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($33,300 vs. $32,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Piedmont Virginia Community College graduates have a $4,491 lower median loan debt than Virginia Western Community College graduates ($7,509 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, PVCC graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Virginia Western Community College graduates ($77 vs. $124).
• More PVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Virginia Western Community College students, three years after graduation. (40% 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.