RCC vs. Southwest Virginia

Comparable Facts

Compare Rappahannock Community College in Glenns, VA with Southwest Virginia Community College in Cedar Bluff, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rappahannock Community College is larger than Southwest Virginia based on total student enrollment (2,962 students vs. 2,364 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rappahannock Community College is located in Glenns, VA (Distant Rural setting); Southwest Virginia Community College is in Cedar Bluff, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Rappahannock Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Southwest Virginia Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Rappahannock Community College 22:1; Southwest Virginia Community College 20:1.

RCC vs. Southwest Virginia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RCC or Southwest Virginia? 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 Rappahannock Community College than Southwest Virginia ($6,265 vs. $6,275).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Rappahannock Community College and Southwest Virginia ($9,000).
• Rappahannock Community College is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southwest Virginia (about $27 more per year; $5,102.00 vs. $5,075.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at RCC than at Southwest Virginia Community College (about $27 more per year; $11,540.00 vs. $11,513.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southwest Virginia Community College than at Rappahannock Community College (94% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southwest Virginia Community College students is 22.2% larger than aid received by Rappahannock Community College students ($7,232 vs. $5,917).

RCC vs. Southwest Virginia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RCC or Southwest Virginia? 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 Southwest Virginia and RCC.

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

RCC vs. Southwest Virginia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RCC and Southwest Virginia? 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 Southwest Virginia Community College earn a median of about $100 more per year than RCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($29,100 vs. $29,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.