RCC vs. Tidewater Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Rappahannock Community College in Glenns, 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 RCC based on total student enrollment (16,884 students vs. 2,962 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rappahannock Community College is located in Glenns, VA (Distant Rural setting); Tidewater Community College is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
• Rappahannock 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: Rappahannock Community College 22:1; Tidewater Community College 22:1.

RCC vs. Tidewater Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RCC 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 Rappahannock Community College than Tidewater Community College ($6,265 vs. $11,876).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rappahannock Community College are 41.8% lower than at Tidewater Community College ($9,000 vs. $15,452).
• Tidewater Community College is 9.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than RCC (about $486 more per year; $5,588.00 vs. $5,102.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.6% higher at Tidewater Community College than at Rappahannock Community College (about $756 more per year; $12,296.00 vs. $11,540.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rappahannock Community College than at Tidewater Community College (80% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tidewater Community College students is 29.3% larger than aid received by Rappahannock Community College students ($7,648 vs. $5,917).

RCC vs. Tidewater Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RCC 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 RCC.

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

RCC vs. Tidewater Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RCC 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 $5,300 more per year than RCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,300 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.